第 9 章 行军篇

Sunzi said: When an army marches and fights, observing the enemy's situation, pay attention to these matters.

When marching in mountainous terrain, stay close to valleys with water and grass.

When encamping, choose a safe location, at a high place, facing the sun.

If the enemy occupies high ground, do not attack from below upward.

This is the method for marching and fighting in mountainous terrain.

When crossing a river, encamp at a place a bit farther from the river.

If the enemy crosses the river to attack, do not engage in battle in the water.

Wait to attack when part of the enemy has crossed the river and part has not yet crossed; this is better.

If you want to fight the enemy, do not engage in battle near the riverbank.

When encamping by the river, also be at a high place, facing the sun, and do not encamp or deploy formations in low ground downstream of the enemy.

This is the method of marching and fighting by the river.

When passing through saline-alkali land and swamp land, leave quickly and do not stay.

If encountering the enemy there, occupy a place with water and grass, close to the forest.

This is the method of marching and fighting in saline-alkali land and swamp land.

When stationed in the plain area, choose a flat place, preferably with high ground behind, low in front and high in back.

This is the method of marching and fighting in the plain area.

The benefits of these four methods of stationing the army are great.

This is also an important reason why the Yellow Emperor could defeat enemies from all directions.

Generally speaking, the army likes dry high ground and dislikes damp low ground.

Face the sun and avoid dark and damp places.

Stationing in places with convenient living conditions and high terrain, soldiers are less likely to get sick, which is an important condition for the army to win battles.

When stationing on hills or embankments, one must face the sunny side and have their back against it.

These arrangements beneficial for fighting are the help brought by the terrain.

When it rains heavily upstream in a river, and you see foam floating down in the water, wait until the water flow stabilizes before crossing the river to prevent sudden mountain floods from arriving.

Whenever encountering dangerous terrains such as steep ravines, sky wells, sky prisons, sky nets, sky traps, and sky gaps, one must quickly leave and not approach them.

We stay away from it, letting the enemy approach it; we face it, letting the enemy have their back to it.

When the army moves in dangerous mountainous areas, lowlands with many reeds, or dense forests with lush vegetation, it must search carefully and repeatedly, because these places easily hide enemy ambushes and spies.

The enemy is very close to me, yet very quiet, which is because they rely on occupying advantageous terrain.

The enemy is very far from me, yet comes to challenge, which is to lure us forward.

The enemy does not occupy advantageous places but stays on flat ground, which must have benefits and plans for them.

Many trees in the forest are shaking, indicating that the enemy is coming toward us.

There are many concealed things in the grass, indicating that the enemy wants to confuse us.

Birds suddenly fly up, indicating that there are ambush troops below.

Wild beasts are startled and run fiercely, indicating that the enemy is launching a large-scale attack.

Dust flies high and sharp, indicating that the enemy's chariots are coming.

Dust flies low and wide, indicating that the enemy's infantry is coming.

Dust disperses into slender shapes, indicating that the enemy is cutting firewood.

Dust is little, rising and falling intermittently, indicating that the enemy is surveying the terrain and preparing to camp.

The enemy's envoy speaks very politely, but the army is intensifying preparations for battle, indicating that they intend to attack us.

The enemy's envoy speaks very firmly, and the army is advancing toward us, indicating that they are preparing to retreat.

The enemy's chariots come out first, occupying both sides, this is deploying their formation, preparing to fight.

The enemy has no prior agreement, suddenly comes to request peace talks, there must be a conspiracy in this.

The enemy quickly runs, deploying their military chariots, this is hoping to engage in battle with us.

The enemy advances for a while, then retreats, possibly pretending to be chaotic, wanting to lure us.

Enemy soldiers lean on their weapons to stand, they are hungry, have no food.

Enemy soldiers draw water from a well, urgently drinking first, they are thirsty, have no water.

The enemy sees advantages but does not advance, they are too tired.

Birds are perching on the enemy's camp, indicating the camp is already empty, has no people.

There are people shouting loudly in the enemy's camp at night, indicating the soldiers are afraid in their hearts.

The enemy's camp is very chaotic, has no order, indicating their general lacks authority.

The enemy's flags are moving chaotically, indicating their formation is disordered.

The enemy's officers are easily angered, indicating their army is too tired.

The enemy uses grain to feed horses, kills livestock to eat, packs up cooking utensils, and does not return to camp; these are desperate enemies, enemies with no way out.

Enemy soldiers gather together and whisper, indicating their general is unpopular.

The enemy repeatedly rewards soldiers, indicating they have no other methods.

The enemy repeatedly punishes subordinates, indicating they are in a difficult situation.

The general is first very harsh to the soldiers, then later fears them, indicating this general is not very clever.

The enemy finds excuses to send envoys to negotiate, wanting to cease war and rest.

The enemy comes very angrily, but does not fight for a long time and does not leave; one must carefully observe their purpose.

In war, it is not that the more troops, the better.

As long as you do not underestimate the enemy and rush forward recklessly, can concentrate forces, and understand the enemy's situation, it is enough to defeat the enemy.

Those who have no long-term consideration and underestimate the enemy while acting recklessly will definitely be captured by the enemy.

If a general casually punishes soldiers before they have become close to and trust him, the soldiers will definitely be dissatisfied, making it difficult to use them in battle.

If soldiers have already become close to and trust the general, but the general does not enforce military discipline, such an army cannot fight either.

Therefore, use the civil method, which means educating soldiers with reason; use the military method, which means unifying actions with military discipline.

Such an army will definitely achieve victory in battle.

If you can seriously execute orders and educate soldiers in peacetime, soldiers will develop the habit of obedience.

If you do not seriously execute orders and educate soldiers in peacetime, soldiers will develop the habit of disobedience.

The reason why orders can be seriously executed in peacetime is because the general and soldiers have mutually gained trust.