Art of War Chapter – 11.7

If you do not know the schemes of vassal states, you cannot form alliances in advance. If you do not know terrain like mountains, forests, barriers and marshes, you cannot march armies. Without local guides, you cannot gain geographical advantages. Lacking any one of these three, you can never command an army fit for supremacy.

A supreme army strikes large states before their people can gather. Its might breaks the enemy’s alliances. It does not scramble for allies or court influence. Relying on its own power to overawe foes, it captures cities and conquers states.

Bestow extraordinary rewards and issue unconventional orders. Command the whole army as if it were a single man. Assign tasks without explaining plans; reveal advantages without mentioning dangers. Place troops in peril to let them survive; drive them into deadly ground to let them prevail.

When in danger, the army fights with all strength to decide victory or defeat. In warfare, feign compliance with the enemy’s intent, concentrate forces on one target, and march a thousand li to slay their general. This is how wisdom accomplishes great deeds.

Note

Three military prerequisites are stressed: grasping rival plots, terrain and local guides. A dominant army relies on its own strength, uses special rewards, drives troops into deadly straits, feints compliance and concentrates forces to slay enemy generals far away.

Sun Tzu (Sun Wu)

A great military strategist and thinker in ancient China, who lived in the late Spring and Autumn Period. He authored The Art of War, the world’s earliest and most influential military classic. His strategic thoughts have been widely applied in military, politics and management worldwide.

Three essentials

Diplomacy knowledge, terrain awareness and local guides.

Supreme army

An army relying on its own overwhelming strength.

Unconventional rules

Special rewards and orders to unify troops.

Feint and concentration

Core tactics for long-distance raids.

是故不知諸侯之謀者，不能預交，不知山林險阻沮澤之形者，不能行軍，不用鄉導者，不能得地利，此三者不知一，非霸王之兵也。夫霸王之兵，伐大國則其眾不得聚，威加于敵，則其交不得合。是故不爭天下之交，不養天下之權，信己之私，威加于敵，故其城可拔，其國可墮。施無法之賞，懸無政之令，犯三軍之眾，若使一人。犯之以事，勿告以言；犯之以利，勿告以害；投之亡地然後存，陷之死地然後生。夫眾陷于害，然後能為勝敗，故為兵之事，在于順詳敵之意，併力一向，千里殺將，是謂巧能成事。