第 5 章 兵势篇

Sunzi said, managing a large army is like managing a small team, this requires good organization.

Commanding a large army in battle is like commanding a small team, this requires clear signals.

The entire army will not fail in battle, this requires correctly using the changes of orthodox and unorthodox.

Attacking the enemy is as easy as using a stone to hit an egg, the key is to use powerful force to attack the enemy's weak points.

During battle, typically use orthodox troops to engage the enemy on the front, and use unorthodox troops to achieve victory unexpectedly.

A person who can use unorthodox troops, his methods change a lot, just like heaven and earth have no end, like rivers and seas do not dry up.

Like the sun and moon, they set and rise again.

Like the four seasons, they pass and return.

Music has only five basic tones, but their combinations and changes, one can never finish listening to them.

Colors have only five basic colors, but their combinations and changes, one can never finish seeing them.

The methods of warfare are only two: orthodox and unorthodox, but their combinations and changes have no end.

Orthodox and unorthodox produce each other and change into each other, like a circle with no beginning or end.

When the water flow is very fast, it can wash away big stones, because the water flow has powerful force.

When an eagle attacks a small bird, it can kill it instantly, because the eagle moves very fast and seizes the best opportunity.

Therefore, a general who knows how to fight creates a very dangerous situation, and his attack rhythm is very short and fast.

A dangerous situation is like a fully drawn bow, with great force.

A short and fast rhythm is like pulling the trigger of a bow, with sudden action.

On the battlefield, the situation is very complex, but one's own command and organization must not be chaotic.

When two armies are entangled in melee, the situation is unclear, but victory must be grasped in one's own hands.

One side's army is in chaos because the other side's army is managed better.

One army is timid because the other army is braver.

One army is weak because the other army is stronger.

Whether an army is well managed depends on its organization.

Whether soldiers are brave depends on the situation created by the army.

A person who can mobilize the enemy shows the enemy some real or false situations, and the enemy will act based on these situations.

Give the enemy a little benefit, and the enemy will come for the benefit, thus mobilizing the enemy.

On one hand, use these methods to mobilize the enemy; on the other hand, prepare oneself.

Therefore, a person who knows how to fight pursues creating a favorable situation, not just demanding soldiers.

He will choose suitable people to utilize this situation.

A general who can create a favorable situation commands the army like turning wood and stone.

The characteristic of wood and stone is that they do not move on flat ground, but will roll down on steep slopes.

Square ones are easy to stop, round ones are easy to roll.

Therefore, the momentum created by those who are skilled in warfare is like letting a round stone roll down from a very high and steep mountain, with great force and fast speed.

This is what is called momentum.