IX. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH

SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR

THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD

孫子兵法

Translated from the Chinese

By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910)

IX.  THE ARMY ON THE MARCH

 1. Sun Tzu said:  We come now to the question of

    encamping the army, and observing signs of the enemy. 

    Pass quickly over mountains, and keep in the neighborhood

    of valleys.

 2. Camp in high places, facing the sun.  Do not climb

    heights in order to fight.  So much for mountain warfare.

 3. After crossing a river, you should get far away

    from it.

 4. When an invading force crosses a river in its

    onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream.

    It will be best to let half the army get across,

    and then deliver your attack.

 5. If you are anxious to fight, you should not go

    to meet the invader near a river which he has to cross.

 6. Moor your craft higher up than the enemy, and facing

    the sun.  Do not move up-stream to meet the enemy. 

    So much for river warfare.

 7. In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern

    should be to get over them quickly, without any delay.

 8. If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should

    have water and grass near you, and get your back

    to a clump of trees.  So much for operations in salt-marches.

 9. In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible

    position with rising ground to your right and on your rear,

    so that the danger may be in front, and safety lie behind. 

    So much for campaigning in flat country.

10. These are the four useful branches of military

    knowledge which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish

    four several sovereigns.

11. All armies prefer high ground to low and sunny

    places to dark.

12. If you are careful of your men, and camp on hard

    ground, the army will be free from disease of every kind,

    and this will spell victory.

13. When you come to a hill or a bank, occupy the

    sunny side, with the slope on your right rear. 

    Thus you will at once act for the benefit of your soldiers

    and utilize the natural advantages of the ground.

14. When, in consequence of heavy rains up-country,

    a river which you wish to ford is swollen and flecked

    with foam, you must wait until it subsides.

15. Country in which there are precipitous cliffs

    with torrents running between, deep natural hollows,

    confined places, tangled thickets, quagmires and crevasses,

    should be left with all possible speed and not approached.

16. While we keep away from such places, we should

    get the enemy to approach them; while we face them,

    we should let the enemy have them on his rear.

17. If in the neighborhood of your camp there should

    be any hilly country, ponds surrounded by aquatic grass,

    hollow basins filled with reeds, or woods with thick

    undergrowth, they must be carefully routed out and searched;

    for these are places where men in ambush or insidious

    spies are likely to be lurking.

18. When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet,

    he is relying on the natural strength of his position.

19. When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle,

    he is anxious for the other side to advance.

20. If his place of encampment is easy of access,

    he is tendering a bait.

21. Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the

    enemy is advancing.  The appearance of a number of screens

    in the midst of thick grass means that the enemy wants to make us suspicious.

22. The rising of birds in their flight is the sign

    of an ambuscade.  Startled beasts indicate that a sudden

    attack is coming.

23. When there is dust rising in a high column,

    it is the sign of chariots advancing; when the dust is low,

    but spread over a wide area, it betokens the approach

    of infantry.  When it branches out in different directions,

    it shows that parties have been sent to collect firewood. 

    A few clouds of dust moving to and fro signify that the army

    is encamping.

24. Humble words and increased preparations are signs

    that the enemy is about to advance.  Violent language

    and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he

    will retreat.

25. When the light chariots come out first and take

    up a position on the wings, it is a sign that the enemy

    is forming for battle.

26. Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant

    indicate a plot.

27. When there is much running about and the soldiers

    fall into rank, it means that the critical moment has come.

28. When some are seen advancing and some retreating,

    it is a lure.

29. When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears,

    they are faint from want of food.

30. If those who are sent to draw water begin

    by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst.

31. If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and

    makes no effort to secure it, the soldiers are exhausted.

32. If birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. 

    Clamor by night betokens nervousness.

33. If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's

    authority is weak.  If the banners and flags are shifted

    about, sedition is afoot.  If the officers are angry,

    it means that the men are weary.

34. When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills

    its cattle for food, and when the men do not hang their

    cooking-pots over the camp-fires, showing that they

    will not return to their tents, you may know that they

    are determined to fight to the death.

35. The sight of men whispering together in small

    knots or speaking in subdued tones points to disaffection

    amongst the rank and file.

36. Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is

    at the end of his resources; too many punishments betray

    a condition of dire distress.

37. To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright

    at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.

38. When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths,

    it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

39. If the enemy's troops march up angrily and remain

    facing ours for a long time without either joining

    battle or taking themselves off again, the situation

    is one that demands great vigilance and circumspection.

40. If our troops are no more in number than the enemy,

    that is amply sufficient; it only means that no direct attack

    can be made.  What we can do is simply to concentrate all

    our available strength, keep a close watch on the enemy,

    and obtain reinforcements.

41. He who exercises no forethought but makes light

    of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.

42. If soldiers are punished before they have grown

    attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and,

    unless submissive, then will be practically useless. 

    If, when the soldiers have become attached to you,

    punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless.

43. Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first

    instance with humanity, but kept under control by means

    of iron discipline.  This is a certain road to victory.

44. If in training soldiers commands are habitually

    enforced, the army will be well-disciplined; if not,

    its discipline will be bad.

45. If a general shows confidence in his men but always

    insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.