The Chapter on Deception and RealitySun Tzu said: In all battles, those who occupy the battlefield first and await the enemy are at ease, while those who arrive later and rush into battle are fatigued. Therefore, a good warrior causes others to come to him, but does not go to others. If one can make the enemy come to him, it is advantageous; if one can prevent the enemy from coming, it is harmful. Thus, if the enemy is at ease, one can tire him; if he is well-fed, one can make him hungry; if he is secure, one can make him move.One should advance where the enemy does not expect and retreat where the enemy is not prepared. To march a thousand miles without fatigue is to move in an uninhabited area. To attack and be sure of victory is to strike where the enemy is unguarded; to defend and be sure of security is to guard where the enemy does not attack. Therefore, a good attacker is unknown to the enemy in his defenses; a good defender is unknown to the enemy in his attacks. Subtle and elusive, reaching the point of being formless; mysterious and profound, reaching the point of being soundless, thus one can command the enemy’s fate.To advance where one cannot be resisted is to strike at the enemy’s weakness; to retreat where one cannot be pursued is to be swift and unreachable. Therefore, if I desire to fight, even if the enemy has high ramparts and deep moats, they must engage me in battle; I will attack where they must save themselves. If I do not wish to fight, I will draw a line and defend it, preventing the enemy from engaging me, thus causing them to stray from their position.Thus, if I can shape the enemy while I remain formless, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is divided. I concentrate my forces into one, while the enemy divides into ten; hence, when ten attack one, I am numerous while the enemy is few. If I can defeat the few with the many, then I have determined the battlefield. The battlefield I engage in is unknown; if it is unknown, then the enemy’s preparations are numerous, and if the enemy’s preparations are numerous, then my forces are few. Therefore, if I prepare in front, the rear is few; if I prepare in the rear, the front is few; if I prepare on the left, the right is few; if I prepare on the right, the left is few. If I prepare everywhere, then I will have few everywhere. The few are those who prepare against others; the many are those who make others prepare against themselves.Thus, knowing the battlefield and the day of battle allows one to meet the enemy a thousand miles away. Not knowing the battlefield and the day of battle means that one cannot save the left when the right is in danger, nor the right when the left is in danger, nor the front when the back is in danger, let alone those far away or close by. By my estimation, even if the enemy’s troops are numerous, what benefit is there in victory? Therefore, it is said: victory can be achieved. Even if the enemy is numerous, they can be made to fight without engaging.Thus, by strategizing, one knows the calculations of gains and losses; by acting, one understands the principles of movement and stillness; by shaping, one knows the places of life and death; by confronting, one knows the areas of surplus and deficiency. Therefore, the ultimate form of military strategy reaches the point of formlessness; formlessness means that the deep can’t be seen, and the wise cannot devise plans. By taking shape and achieving victory over the many, the many cannot know. Everyone knows the form by which I win, but no one knows the form by which I control victory. Therefore, my victories do not repeat, and I respond to forms infinitely.Military formations resemble water; the form of water avoids the high and seeks the low. The form of military strategy avoids the solid and strikes the void. Water flows according to the terrain, and military strategy wins according to the enemy. Therefore, military formations have no constant shape, and water has no constant form. Those who can adapt to the enemy’s changes and achieve victory are called divine. Therefore, the five elements have no constant victory, and the four seasons have no constant position; the sun has its lengths and shortness, and the moon has its births and deaths.
