If you march with the entire army and baggage to seize advantage, you will fail to arrive on time. If you abandon baggage to hurry ahead, supplies will be lost.
If soldiers roll up armor and march day and night, doubling their pace for a hundred li to contend for gain, all three army generals will be captured. The strong go forward while the weak lag behind, and only one-tenth of the troops will reach the destination.
For a march of fifty li, the leading general will suffer defeat, and only half the army arrives. For a march of thirty li, two-thirds of the troops will make it.
An army without baggage cannot survive; without provisions it will perish; without reserves it will collapse.
He who does not know the schemes of neighboring lords cannot form alliances in advance. He who does not know the terrain of mountains, forests, barriers and marshes cannot march. He who has no guides cannot make use of favorable ground.
Note
This passage warns against reckless forced marches: rushing ahead loses supplies, while full baggage slows troops. Longer rapid marches cause severe troop attrition. It stresses armies need supplies, plus knowing allies, terrain and guides for safe movement.
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.
Forced march
Long-distance rapid movement that causes heavy troop losses.
Baggage, provisions, reserves
Three essential supplies for the survival of an army.
Alliance diplomacy
Form alliances only after learning the plans of other states.
Terrain and guide
Basic guarantees for safe marching and gaining geographical advantages.
舉軍而爭利，則不及；委軍而爭利，則輜重捐。是故卷甲而趨，日夜不處，倍道兼行，百里而爭利，則擒三將軍，勁者先，疲者後，其法十一而至；五十里而爭利，則蹶上將軍，其法半至；卅里而爭利，則三分之二至。是故軍無輜重則亡，無糧食則亡，無委積則亡。故不知諸侯之謀者，不能豫交；不知山林、險阻、沮澤之形者，不能行軍，不能鄉導者，不能得地利。
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