Generals stay calm and conceal all battle plans to confuse troops. Cut off soldiers’ retreat to push them into combat. Commanders must master nine terrains, tactical flexibility and soldiers’ mental states to lead armies into danger.
Sun Tzu divides battlefields into six terrain types and lays out targeted tactics for each. Generals must seize high ground, guard supply lines and avoid reckless assaults, as mastering terrain rules is their most vital military duty.