21. Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.

22. He will conquer who has learnt the artifice

of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.

23. The Book of Army Management says: On the field

of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough:

hence the institution of gongs and drums. Nor can ordinary

objects be seen clearly enough: hence the institution

of banners and flags.

24. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means

whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused

on one particular point.

25. The host thus forming a single united body,

is it impossible either for the brave to advance alone,

or for the cowardly to retreat alone. This is the art

of handling large masses of men.

26. In night-fighting, then, make much use of signal-fires

and drums, and in fighting by day, of flags and banners,

as a means of influencing the ears and eyes of your army.

27. A whole army may be robbed of its spirit;

a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind.

28. Now a soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning;

by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening,

his mind is bent only on returning to camp.

29. A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when

its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish

and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods.

30. Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance

of disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy:- this is the art

of retaining self-possession.

31. To be near the goal while the enemy is still

far from it, to wait at ease while the enemy is

toiling and struggling, to be well-fed while the enemy

is famished:- this is the art of husbanding one's strength.

32. To refrain from intercepting an enemy whose

banners are in perfect order, to refrain from attacking

an army drawn up in calm and confident array:- this

is the art of studying circumstances.

33. It is a military axiom not to advance uphill

against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.

34. Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight;

do not attack soldiers whose temper is keen.

35. Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy.

Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.

36. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free.

Do not press a desperate foe too hard.

37. Such is the art of warfare.

VIII. Variation in Tactics

1. Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives

his commands from the sovereign, collects his army

and concentrates his forces

2. When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country

where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies.

Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions.

In hemmed-in situations, you must resort to stratagem.

In desperate position, you must fight.

3. There are roads which must not be followed,

armies which must be not attacked, towns which must

be besieged, positions which must not be contested,

commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.

4. The general who thoroughly understands the advantages

that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle

his troops.

5. The general who does not understand these, may be well

acquainted with the configuration of the country, yet he

will not be able to turn his knowledge to practical account.

6. So, the student of war who is unversed in the art

of war of varying his plans, even though he be acquainted

with the Five Advantages, will fail to make the best use

of his men.

7. Hence in the wise leader's plans, considerations of

advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together.

8. If our expectation of advantage be tempered in

this way, we may succeed in accomplishing the essential

part of our schemes.

9. If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties

we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate

ourselves from misfortune.

10. Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage

on them; and make trouble for them, and keep them

constantly engaged; hold out specious allurements,

and make them rush to any given point.

11. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the

likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness

to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking,

but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

12. There are five dangerous faults which may affect

a general:

(1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction;

(2) cowardice, which leads to capture;