第 3 章 谋攻篇

Sunzi said, in warfare, the best method is to make the enemy's entire country surrender without fighting.

Defeating the enemy's country is a less good method.

Making the enemy's entire army surrender without fighting is the best.

Defeating the enemy's army is a less good method.

Making the enemy's entire brigade surrender without fighting is the best.

Defeating the enemy's brigade is a less good method.

Making the enemy's entire company surrender without fighting is the best.

Defeating the enemy's company is a less good method.

Making the enemy's entire squad surrender without fighting is the best.

Defeating the enemy's squad is a less good method.

Therefore, fighting a hundred battles and winning a hundred times is not the best method.

Making the enemy surrender without fighting is the best method.

Therefore, the best method is to defeat the enemy with strategy.

Next is to defeat the enemy with diplomatic means.

Then, fighting in the field to defeat the enemy.

The worst method is to attack the enemy's city.

Attacking a city is something done only when there is absolutely no other way.

To attack a city, many siege vehicles and tools need to be built, which takes three months.

Also, to build siege mounds, which takes another three months.

At this time, the generals are already very anxious and angry.

They made the soldiers climb the city wall like ants.

The soldiers suffered one-third casualties, but the city still could not be captured.

This is the disadvantage of attacking a city.

Therefore, those who are skilled in using troops make the enemy surrender, without the method of fighting in the open field.

Capture the enemy's cities, without the method of making soldiers climb the walls.

Destroy the enemy's country, without the method of fighting for a long time.

They must achieve making the enemy surrender completely without fighting.

In this way, their own army will not suffer losses, yet can achieve complete victory.

This is the principle of attacking with strategy.

According to the rules of using troops, if your forces are ten times that of the enemy, you can surround and eliminate the enemy.

If your military strength is five times that of the enemy, you can fiercely attack the enemy.

If your military strength is twice that of the enemy, you can separate to destroy the enemy.

If your military strength is the same as the enemy, you can confront the enemy.

If your military strength is less than the enemy, you must find ways to avoid the enemy.

If your military strength is much weaker than the enemy, you must avoid fighting the enemy.

If the military strength is very little, but you insist on fighting a powerful enemy, you will be captured by the enemy.

The general is the assistant of the ruler.

If the assistant does well, the country becomes strong.

If the assistant does poorly, the country will become weak.

The ruler causes harm to the army in three situations.

The first type: the ruler does not know that the army cannot advance, yet orders the army to advance.

Does not know that the army cannot retreat, yet orders the army to retreat.

This is called restraining the army.

The second type: the ruler does not understand military affairs, yet wants to manage the army.

In this way, the soldiers will feel confused.

The third type: the ruler does not understand the changes in military strategies, yet wants to command the army.

In this way, the generals and soldiers will feel doubtful.

If the army is both confused and doubtful, other countries will take the opportunity to attack.

This is called messing up one's own army, thereby losing victory.

To predict whether victory can be achieved, there are five criteria.

The first rule: those who know when to fight and when not to fight will be victorious.

The second rule: those who know how to flexibly use the number of troops will be victorious.

The third rule: those who have the whole country united in heart and face the enemy together will be victorious.

The fourth rule: those who use a prepared army to attack an unprepared enemy will be victorious.

The fifth rule: those where the general is very capable and the ruler does not interfere arbitrarily will be victorious.

These five rules are the method for predicting victory or defeat.

Therefore, if you understand the enemy and also understand yourself, you will not be in danger no matter how many battles you fight.

If you do not understand the enemy but understand yourself, the chance of victory or defeat is fifty-fifty.

If you neither understand the enemy nor understand yourself, you will fail every time you fight.