XI. THE NINE SITUATIONS

by Sun Tzu

　　1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground:(1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground;(4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways;(6) serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground;(9) desperate ground. 2. When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory,it is dispersive ground. 3. When he has penetrated into hostile territory,but to no great distance, it is facile ground. 4. Ground the possession of which imports greatadvantage to either side, is contentious ground. 5. Ground on which each side has liberty of movementis open ground. 6. Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states,so that he who occupies it first has most of the Empireat his command, is a ground of intersecting highways. 7. When an army has penetrated into the heart of ahostile country, leaving a number of fortified citiesin its rear, it is serious ground. 8. Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens--allcountry that is hard to traverse: this is difficult ground. 9. Ground which is reached through narrow gorges,and from which we can only retire by tortuous paths,so that a small number of the enemy would suffice to crusha large body of our men: this is hemmed in ground. 10. Ground on which we can only be saved fromdestruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground. 11. On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not.On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground,attack not. 12. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way.On the ground of intersecting highways, join handswith your allies. 13. On serious ground, gather in plunder.In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march. 14. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem.On desperate ground, fight. 15. Those who were called skillful leaders of old knewhow to drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear;to prevent co-operation between his large and small divisions;to hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad,the officers from rallying their men. 16. When the enemy's men were united, they managedto keep them in disorder. 17. When it was to their advantage, they madea forward move; when otherwise, they stopped still. 18. If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemyin orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack,I should say: "Begin by seizing something which youropponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will." 19. Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage ofthe enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes,and attack unguarded spots. 20. The following are the principles to be observedby an invading force: The further you penetrate intoa country, the greater will be the solidarity of your troops,and thus the defenders will not prevail against you. 21. Make forays in fertile country in order to supplyyour army with food. 22. Carefully study the well-being of your men,and do not overtax them. Concentrate your energy and hoardyour strength. Keep your army continually on the move,and devise unfathomable plans. 23. Throw your soldiers into positions whence thereis no escape, and they will prefer death to flight.If they will face death, there is nothing they maynot achieve. Officers and men alike will put forththeir uttermost strength. 24. Soldiers when in desperate straits losethe sense of fear. If there is no place of refuge,they will stand firm. If they are in hostile country,they will show a stubborn front. If there is no helpfor it, they will fight hard. 25. Thus, without waiting to be marshaled, the soldierswill be constantly on the qui vive; without waiting tobe asked, they will do your will; without restrictions,they will be faithful; without giving orders, they canbe trusted. 26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away withsuperstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes,no calamity need be feared. 27. If our soldiers are not overburdened with money,it is not because they have a distaste for riches;if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because theyare disinclined to longevity. 28. On the day they are ordered out to battle,your soldiers may weep, those sitting up bedewingtheir garments, and those lying down letting the tears rundown their cheeks. But let them once be brought to bay,and they will display the courage of a Chu or a Kuei. 29. The skillful tactician may be likened to theshuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is foundin the ChUng mountains. Strike at its head, and youwill be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and youwill be attacked by its head; strike at its middle,and you will be attacked by head and tail both. 30. Asked if an army can be made to imitate the shuai-jan,I should answer, Yes. For the men of Wu and the menof Yueh are enemies; yet if they are crossing a riverin the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will cometo each other's assistance just as the left hand helps the right. 31. Hence it is not enough to put one's trustin the tethering of horses, and the burying of chariotwheels in the ground 32. The principle on which to manage an army is to setup one standard of courage which all must reach. 33. How to make the best of both strong and weak--thatis a question involving the proper use of ground. 34. Thus the skillful general conducts his army justas though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, bythe hand. 35. It is the business of a general to be quiet and thusensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order. 36. He must be able to mystify his officers and menby false reports and appearances, and thus keep themin total ignorance. 37. By altering his arrangements and changinghis plans, he keeps the enemy without definite knowledge.By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes,he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose. 38. At the critical moment, the leader of an armyacts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicksaway the ladder behind him. He carries his men deepinto hostile territory before he shows his hand. 39. He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots;like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he driveshis men this way and that, and nothing knows whither heis going. 40. To muster his host and bring it into danger:--thismay be termed the business of the general. 41. The different measures suited to the ninevarieties of ground; the expediency of aggressive ordefensive tactics; and the fundamental laws of human nature:these are things that must most certainly be studied. 42. When invading hostile territory, the generalprinciple is, that penetrating deeply brings cohesion;penetrating but a short way means dispersion. 43. When you leave your own country behind, and takeyour army across neighborhood territory, you find yourselfon critical ground. When there are means of communicationon all four sides, the ground is one of intersecting highways. 44. When you penetrate deeply into a country, it isserious ground. When you penetrate but a little way,it is facile ground. 45. When you have the enemy's strongholds on your rear,and narrow passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground.When there is no place of refuge at all, it is desperate ground. 46. Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspiremy men with unity of purpose. On facile ground, I wouldsee that there is close connection between all partsof my army. 47. On contentious ground, I would hurry up my rear. 48. On open ground, I would keep a vigilant eyeon my defenses. On ground of intersecting highways,I would consolidate my alliances. 49. On serious ground, I would try to ensurea continuous stream of supplies. On difficult ground,I would keep pushing on along the road. 50. On hemmed-in ground, I would block any wayof retreat. On desperate ground, I would proclaimto my soldiers the hopelessness of saving their lives. 51. For it is the soldier's disposition to offeran obstinate resistance when surrounded, to fight hardwhen he cannot help himself, and to obey promptly when hehas fallen into danger. 52. We cannot enter into alliance with neighboringprinces until we are acquainted with their designs. We arenot fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiarwith the face of the country--its mountains and forests,its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps.We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to accountunless we make use of local guides. 53. To be ignored of any one of the following fouror five principles does not befit a warlike prince. 54. When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state,his generalship shows itself in preventing the concentrationof the enemy's forces. He overawes his opponents,and their allies are prevented from joining against him. 55. Hence he does not strive to ally himself with alland sundry, nor does he foster the power of other states.He carries out his own secret designs, keeping hisantagonists in awe. Thus he is able to capture theircities and overthrow their kingdoms. 56. Bestow rewards without regard to rule,issue orders without regard to previous arrangements;and you will be able to handle a whole army as thoughyou had to do with but a single man. 57. Confront your soldiers with the deed itself;never let them know your design. When the outlook is bright,bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing whenthe situation is gloomy. 58. Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive;plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come offin safety. 59. For it is precisely when a force has fallen intoharm's way that is capable of striking a blow for victory. 60. Success in warfare is gained by carefullyaccommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose. 61. By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank, we shallsucceed in the long run in killing the commander-in-chief. 62. This is called ability to accomplish a thingby sheer cunning. 63. On the day that you take up your command,block the frontier passes, destroy the official tallies,and stop the passage of all emissaries. 64. Be stern in the council-chamber, so that youmay control the situation. 65. If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in. 66. Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear,and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground. 67. Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodateyourself to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle. 68. At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden,until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulatethe rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too latefor the enemy to oppose you.