Military Strategy Classics of Ancient China

by Shawn Conners

  试问军队也能像率然一样吗？答案是可以。吴国人与越国人是相互仇视的,但当他们同乘一条船渡河而遇到风险时，他们互相救援，就像一个人的左右手。所以用联马埋车轮以示死战，是靠不住的，使士卒齐心协力勇往直前如同一人，是治理军队的方法。所以善于用兵的将帅，能使军队携起手来像一个人一样，这是由于客观形势迫使军队不得不这样。

  The art of generalship is to be calm and somber in thought, inscrutable and comprehensive in strategizing; and strict, just and fair in the management of military affairs. He must be able to keep information away from the knowledge of his officers and men, so that they will not know his plans. He changes his methods of doing things and alters his strategies so that no one can see through his plans and schemes. He changes his campsites and travels by unexpected routes so that no one can guess his motives. The shrewd and capable general, on a specific military mission, is like someone who leads his men to scale great heights and, at the most crucial moment, removes the ladder that leads them up. He would lead his army deep into the hostile territory of the enemy and then reveal his real intention after burning the boats and breaking the cooking pots. He would lead the army like a flock of sheep, herding them in one direction, and then switching back to another without them understanding what he is trying to accomplish. To assemble all the divisions of the army and expose them to great danger is what a general is expected to do.

  将帅用兵，要做到冷静而沉稳，端庄稳重，严正而有条理。要能蒙蔽士卒而耳目，使他们对军事新行动毫无所知。经常变换作战内部署，改变计划，使人们什么也搞不清楚。经常改换宿营地，故意迂回行军，使人们什么也无法推测。将帅与他们约期会战，就像登高而抽取梯子一样，断其归路。将帅与士卒深入别国境内，然后才告之于作战目的，下令作战。这就像驱赶羊群赶过来，赶过去，不知道要上哪儿去。聚集三军士卒，把他们头置于危险的境地，这就是统帅军队应当做的事情。

  The variations and changes of the various types of ground, the advantages pertaining to defensive and aggressive actions and the understanding of human nature are all important aspects that must be carefully studied.

  九地的变化，通便的利处，士卒心理的掌握，都是不可不加以考察的。

  The principle governing occupation of hostile territory is: When an army penetrates deep into hostile territory, it will be more united and focused in battle; when it makes only a shallow penetration, its fighting spirit is likely to be threatened and diluted. When the army leaves its own country behind and crosses the border into another country for battle, it is on isolated ground. When an area is high accessible and communicative to various parties, it is focal ground. When an army penetrates deep into hostile territory, it is on serious ground. When an army makes only a shallow penetration into hostile territory, it is on frontier ground. When the area to the rear of the army is highly dangerous, and the area before it is very narrow, it is on constricted ground. An area from which there is no escape route is called death ground.

  一般进攻敌国作战，进入敌国深则意志专一，进入敌国浅则意志溃散。离开本国进入敌境作战，称作绝地；四通八达的地区，称作衢地；进入敌国很深的地区，称作重地；进入敌国浅的地区，称作轻地；背有险固前为隘口，称作围地；无处可走的地区，称作死地。

  On dispersive ground, the general must unite the determination of the army. On frontier ground, the general must keep the forces in close contact. When encountering key ground, the general must rush his forces forward to occupy it before the enemy does. On communicative ground, the general must be vigilant in defense. On focal ground, the general must strengthen his alliances. On serious ground, a general must ensure a continuous supply of food and provisions. On treacherous ground, a general must push his forces quickly forward so as to pass it. On constricted ground, a general must seal the points of entry and exit. On death ground, the general must fight as if he does not wish to live.

  所以散地要使军队意志统一，轻地要使军队紧密连接，争地要使军队迅速迂回敌后，交地要固守关口，衢地要谨慎防守，重地要补充粮食，圮地要迅速通过，围地要堵塞缺口，死地则要显示死战的决心，殊死拼斗。

  It is the intuitive nature of soldiers to resist when they are surrounded, to fight until death when they do not have any alternative and to obey when they are in a highly dangerous situation.

  所以士卒的心理情况是，遭敌包围就会尽力抵抗，形势危急，迫不得已就会拼死决斗，深入困境就会听从指挥。

  Thus, if the schemes and ploys of the neighboring warlords are not known, one should not be keen to enter into any alliances with them. Those who do not know the conditions of forested mountains, the dangerous terrain of mountain paths and the treacherous nature of swamps and marshes will not be able to conduct the movement of troops. Those who do not use local guides will not be able to gain the advantages of the terrain.

  所以，不知道诸侯的谋略，不能与之结交；不知道山林、险阻、沼泽等地形，就不能行军；没有向导，则不能得地利之便。

  If one fails to understand and exploit even one of the nine types of ground, one cannot claim to be the supreme commander of an all-conquering army. When a supreme commander attacks a large state, he ensures that it is impossible for the enemy to assemble all his forces against him. He will overpower his enemy convincingly and overawe the other states so much that none of the allies of the enemy would dare unite against him. Thus, he does not have to contend with securing alliances with other states. He does not have to foster or cultivate its power over other states. Rather, he relies on his supreme ability to overpower the enemy to achieve his own agenda and goals. Thus, he is able to conquer cities and overthrow the states in his enemies.

  这几方面，如果有一方面考虑不到，就不能算是霸王之兵。霸王之兵，攻击大国，就会使敌方召集不到民众；威加于敌国，就能使敌国不能缔结外交。所以不必去争取于天下诸侯交结，也不必去培植自己在天下的势力，只要伸展自己的力量，施加威严于敌国，就可以拔取敌人城池，毁灭敌国国都。

  In a war situation, bestow rewards that do not adhere to conventions and norms. Implement orders that do not conform to customary law and regulations. Direct the various forces of the army as if instructing one person. Order the officers and men to carry out tasks, but do not tell them the reason or intention. Order them to go after advantages and gains but do not divulge the dangers involved. Throw the officers and men on dangerous ground and they will attempt to survive. Place the troops on death ground and they will strive to remain alive. When the troops are thrown into situations of grave danger, they are capable of turning defeat into victory.

  施行没有常规的奖赏，执行不用规定的指令，使用三军的官兵，如同使用一个人一样。令其执行任务，不要用言语申说；令其执行取利的命令，不要告之于不利条件。头士卒于死亡之地，然后他们才能转死为生，使士卒陷于危境，然后才能夺取胜利。

  Thus the art of warfare is to pretend to accommodate the motives and desire of the enemy. Concentrate your forces on a single position of the enemy. Thus, even coming from a thousand li, you can still kill the generals of the enemy. This is what is meant by the art of accomplishing tasks in a skillful and capable manner.

  所以，用兵作战，在于谨慎地审查敌人的意图，根据敌人意图，集中兵力指向敌军的一点，千里攻敌，斩杀敌将，这就叫做用巧妙的办法克敌制胜。

  Thus, when the date for war is decided upon, close all border exits, cancel all travel permits and disallow the movement of emissaries from other states. Finalize and oversee closely all final preparations, plans and strategies for war in the temple of the ancestors.

  所以，
决定作战之日，要闭锁关口，销毁符节，禁止敌国使节往来，在庙堂上再三激励士卒，以责成具体任务。

  When the enemy provides an opening, move in swiftly to exploit it. Capture first what the enemy treasures most, and do not let the enemy know the date of the attack. Military strategy must be adapted to the circumstances of the enemy so that actions and decisions can be determined accordingly. Thus, at the beginning of a battle, be as coy as a virgin girl so as to lure the enemy into providing an opening. As the battle progresses, be as swift as an escaping hare so as to catch the enemy unaware.

  敌人打开门户，就要迅速进入。首先夺取敌人要害，暗地里透露会战期限。紧密跟随敌人，寻找进攻的机会。所以，战争开始时好像处女那样沉静，使敌人打开门户不加防范，然后就像撒开的兔子一样迅速敏捷，是敌人措手不及，无法抵挡。

  Chapter 12

  Attacking with Fire

  There are five ways to use fire to attack the enemy. The first way is to burn the enemy soldiers in their camp. The second way is to burn enemy stockpiles and provisions. The third way is to burn the heavy military equipment and supplies of the enemy. Fourth is to burn the armory and warehouses of the enemy. The fifth way is to torch the transportation trains of the enemy.

  火攻的形式有五种：一是烧敌人军队，二是烧敌人储备，三是烧敌人辎重，四是烧敌军军械仓库，五是烧敌军补充军队。

  To launch attacks by fire, one must possess the necessary conditions. The materials and equipment needed to start and use a fire must be available at all times. There are opportunistic times for launching attacks by fire. There are also suitable days to start a fire. Opportunistic time refers to periods of dry and hot weather. Suitability of days refers to the location of the moon in relation to the four positions of the stars among the constellations. These four positions of the moon and stars among the constellation signal the days on which strong winds will arrive.

  实行火攻要具备一定的条件，这些条件都要在平时就有所准备。点火要选择一定的天时和日子。天时，要选择气候干燥的天气。日子，要选择月亮行经箕、壁、翼、轸四个星宿的时候。月亮行经这四个星宿的时候，就是起风之日。

  In assaults by fire, one must use the five ways of attacking interchangeably, depending on circumstances. When the fire breaks out within the camp of the enemy, prepare quickly to attack the enemy from outside. When fire breaks within the camp of the enemy and there is no confusion nor commotion among soldiers, wait patiently and do not be eager to attack. When the fire is burning ferociously with opportunities to be gained, follow through quickly with your attacks. When there are no opportunities to be gained and followed through, cease immediately. Fire can be started from outside the camp of the enemy. There is no need to wait for the fire to start within the camp of the enemy. Fires can always be started at suitable times and occasions.

  凡是用火攻，必须根据五中火攻所引起的不同变化，在以兵力灵活地配合。火从里面烧起，就要预先派兵在外策应。火烧起来而敌军并无动静，要保持冷静和等待，不可贸然进攻，让火一直烧下去，然后可借火势发起进攻，不能借则停止。火可以在外面烧，不需内应起火，按天时发起。

  When fire is burning in the windward direction, do not assault the leeward position. If the wind blows strongly, and continuously, during the day, it then tends to cease blowing during the night.

  从上风点火时，不可在下风进攻。白天风刮得时间长了，夜晚就会停止。

  The adept in warfare knows the five interchangeable methods of attacking with fire and would plan and prepare for their usage with vigilance. Thus, those who use fire as a means to support attacks are wise and shrewd. Those who use water as a means to support attacks are powerful. Water can be used to cut off and isolate an enemy, but it cannot be used to destroy and deprive him of his equipment, provisions and supplies.

  军队必须懂得灵活运用物种火攻的变化，掌握好时机和分寸。所以用火来帮助军队进攻有明显的好处，在以水来帮助进攻会更强。但水攻只可以把军队隔绝，并不可以夺取。

  Now in warfare, those who are able to win battles and secure land and cities but are unable to exploit the gains swiftly and expediently will jeopardize their interest. This is tantamount to a waste of time and resources. Thus, it is said that it is the enlightened leader who deliberates on the plan, while the capable general implements it. Move only when there are advantages to be gained. Strike only when there are definite chances of success. Fight only when there are definite dangers.

  凡是打了胜战、夺取城邑，但不能巩固其成果，是很危险的，叫做耗费资财的“费留”。所以说，贤明的国君要慎重的考虑它，优秀的将领也会认真的处理它。没有利益就不行动，不能取胜就不使用，不到万不得已的危险之时就不决战。

  A warlord must not embark on a military campaign simply out of anger. A general must not go into battle out of rage. Move when there are advantages to be gained. Cease when there are no advantages to be gained.

  国君不可以因一时愤怒而发动战争，将领不可以因一时气愤而请求出战。符合国家利益就行动，不符合国家利益就停止。

  Anger can return to happiness. Anger can return to joy. But a destroyed nation cannot be reinstated. A dead person cannot be resurrected.

  愤怒可以从新变为喜悦，气愤也可以转变为高兴。但国家灭亡了却不能再复存，人死不可以再复生。

  Thus, an enlightened ruler must always be prudent in matters of war, and a general must always be cautious and attentive. This is the way to ensure security for a nation and to preserve the strength and entirety of the army.

  所以贤明的国君对战争极其慎重，优秀的将领对之也十分警惕，这是保证国家和军队安全的关键所在。

  Chapter 13

  Intelligence and Espionage

  Raising an army of 100,000 for a distant military campaign will impose severe strains on the incomes of the people. This, together with the drain on the state treasury, will amount to a daily expenditure of 1,000 pieces of gold. There will be great commotion and disruption of peace at home and abroad, and people will be exhausted from transporting military supplies along supply routes. The disruption to work, jobs and various professions will affect 700,000 households.

  凡兴兵十万，出征千里，百姓的耗费，国家的开支，每天要花费千金；全国上下动荡不安，运输军需物资的队伍疲惫于道路上，不能从事耕作的有七十万家。

  Two opposing armies may be at war with each other for many years, seeking the ultimate day of victory. However, if one is reluctant to part with honors and ranks, money and gold for espionage purposes and remains ignorant of the situation of the enemy, he is extremely inhumane. Indeed such a person can never be a general of men, can never be a good assistant to the ruler and can never be a master of victories. Thus, the enlightened ruler and the capable general are able to secure victories for their military campaigns and achieve successes that surpass those of many others. The reason is because of foreknowledge.

  战争双方相持数年，是为了取胜于一旦，如果吝啬爵禄和金钱不重用间谍，以致不能了解敌情而导致失败，那就是不仁到极点。这样的将帅，不是军队的好将帅，不是国君的好帮手；这样的国君不是能打胜战的好国君。英明的国君、良好的将帅，之所以一出兵就能战胜敌人，成功地超出众人，就在于事先了解敌情。

  This foreknowledge cannot be obtained from the spirits or from the gods. It cannot be obtained by comparing with similar present or past events and situations. Neither can it be obtained from the study of astrology. This foreknowledge must be obtained from men who have knowledge of the situation of the enemy.

  要事先了解敌情，并非祈求鬼神取得，并非用相似的
事做推测，也并非观察日月星辰运行来验证，而是取于了解敌情的人。

  There are five kinds of secret agents which can be used. They are local agents, inside agents, double agents, doomed agents and live agents. When these five types of agents are deployed simultaneously, their complex modes of operations will be beyond comprehension of the enemy. They are like mythical and divine schemes that can be deemed the most precious treasures and weapons of the ruler.

  使用间谍有五种：有因间，有内间，有反间，有死间，有生间。物种间谍都用起来，能使敌人不知道我方用间的规律，这是它神妙之处，国君胜敌的法宝。

  Local agents are ordinary people recruited from the homeland of the enemy and used as spies. Inside agents are officials of the enemy who are recruited and employed. Double agents are spies of the enemy who have been recruited to work. Doomed agents refer to our own spies who are unable to keep secrets and are then deliberately fed false information to leak to the spies of the enemy. Living agents are our spies who have returned safely from the territory of the enemy with information.

  利用敌国乡里的普通人作间谍，称作为因间；收买敌国官吏做间谍，称作为内间；收买或利用敌方所派来的间谍，称作为反间；故意散布假情报，使我方间谍知道，然后传给敌方敌人上当后将间谍处死，称作为死间；派往敌方侦查后能活着回来报告敌情的人，称作为生间。