第 10 章 地形篇

Sunzi said, there are six types of places for fighting battles.

The first type of place, we can go, and the enemy can also come.

This type of place is called tong.

Here, we must first go to high ground, facing the sun.

And also make the route for transporting supplies very safe.

In this way, fighting is beneficial for us.

The second type of place, one can advance, but it is difficult to return.

This type of place is called gua.

Here, if the enemy is unprepared, we suddenly attack them.

If the enemy is prepared, we cannot win, and it is difficult to return.

This is not good.

The third type of place, it is not good for us to go out and fight, and it is also not good for the enemy to come out and fight.

This type of place is called "zhi".

Here, if the enemy uses good things to call us out, we should not go out either.

The best method is, we pretend to leave.

When the enemy comes out halfway, we then suddenly attack them.

This is good.

The fourth type of place is a very narrow mountain pass.

If we arrive first, we use many soldiers to guard the mountain pass and wait for the enemy to come.

If the enemy arrives first and also uses many soldiers to guard it, we should not fight.

If the enemy does not use many soldiers to defend, we will attack quickly and capture it.

The fifth type of place is very dangerous mountainous terrain.

If we arrive first, we stand on high ground, facing the sun, and wait for the enemy to come.

If the enemy arrives first, we leave and do not fight.

The sixth type of place is very far from us.

If the numbers on both sides are similar, do not initiate the fight first.

If we must fight, it is not good for us.

These six points are the methods of using terrain.

The general must know this.

There are six situations in which the army fails.

The first type, both sides have similar numbers, but we attack enemies ten times more numerous than ourselves, so we fail.

This is called "走".

The second type, the soldiers are strong, but the officers are weak, so we fail.

This is called "弛".

The third type, the officers have high skills, but the soldiers are very timid, so we fail.

This is called "陷".

The fourth type, the subordinate generals are very angry, do not obey orders, and go out to fight on their own.

The commander-in-chief does not know his capabilities, cannot control him, so we fail.

This is called "崩".

The fifth type, the commander-in-chief is very weak, lacks authority, training is unclear, soldiers do not know what to do, the troops are chaotic, so we fail.

This is called chaos.

The sixth type, the commander does not know the enemy's situation, uses a small army to fight a large army, uses a weak army to fight a strong army, and does not have good troops, so it fails.

This is called defeat.

These six situations will all cause the army to fail.

The general must know this.

Terrain is helpful for fighting.

Knowing the enemy's situation, planning how to win, checking if the terrain is dangerous or not, if the road is far or not, these are the general's work.

Knowing these and going to fight, one will win.

Not knowing these and going to fight, one will lose.

Therefore, if judging the situation one can win, even if the monarch says not to fight, one can still fight.

If judging the situation, one cannot win, even if the ruler says to fight, one can also not fight.

A good general should be like this: when advancing, not thinking of merit and fame; when retreating, not afraid to take responsibility.

Only wanting to protect the country and army, doing what is good for the ruler.

Such a general is the most precious person of the country.

If the general is good to soldiers, like to infants, soldiers are willing to follow the general to dangerous places.

If the general is good to soldiers, like to his own children, soldiers are willing to live and die together with the general.

However, if too good to soldiers, yet cannot make them work; too loving them, yet cannot command them; if they make mistakes, also do not care.

Such an army is like spoiled children, cannot fight.

Only knowing one's own army can fight, not knowing the enemy's army cannot fight, the chance of winning is only half.

Only knowing the enemy's army can be fought, not knowing one's own army cannot fight, the chance of winning is also only half.

Know that the enemy's army can be fought, and also know that one's own army can fight, but do not know that the terrain is not favorable for fighting, the chance of winning is still half.

Therefore, a general who truly knows how to fight, he has clear goals in his actions and many methods.

Thus it is said: understand the enemy, understand oneself, then one can win.

Understand the timing of heaven, understand the advantages of terrain, then one can keep winning.