The Army on the March

N ow to placing the army and reading the enemy. In the mountains, keep to the valleys. Camp high, where the ground faces the light. If he holds the heights, do not climb to fight him. That is how to handle an army in the mountains. Sun Tzu said: As to posting the army and observing the enemy. Cross mountains keeping to the valleys; camp on high ground that faces the sun; if the enemy holds the heights, do not climb up to engage him. This is how to position troops in the mountains.

Cross a river and put it well behind you. If the enemy comes over toward you, do not meet him in the water. Let half his force cross, then strike — that is the moment. If you want the fight, do not line up at the water's edge to receive him. Camp high, facing the light, and never with the current at your back. That is how to handle an army by water. When you cross a river, move well away from it. If the enemy crosses to come at you, do not meet him in the water; let him get half across, then strike — this is the advantage. If you wish to fight, do not draw up close to the water to meet him. Camp on high ground facing the sun, and do not station yourself downstream. This is how to position troops near water.

Cross salt marshes fast and do not linger. If a fight catches you in the marsh, keep water and grass at hand and a stand of trees at your back. That is how to handle an army in the marshes. When you cross salt marshes, get through quickly and do not linger. If you must give battle in a marsh, keep close to water and grass with a screen of trees behind you. This is how to position troops in salt marshes.

“Humble words and growing preparations mean he is coming on. Loud words and a forward show mean he is about to retreat.”

On open ground, take the easy footing, with the high land on your right and behind you. Keep the dead ground in front and the living ground at your back. That is how to handle an army on the plain. Master these four, and you have what let the Yellow Emperor beat four rival lords. On level ground, take an easy position with high ground on your right and to your rear, the dangerous ground before you and safe ground behind. This is how to position troops on the plain. The advantages of these four kinds of placement are what enabled the Yellow Emperor to overcome four sovereigns.

An army likes high and dry, and hates low and wet. Prize the sunlit side, keep off the shadowed. Camp on firm ground where men stay well, and the army goes free of sickness. That is the army that wins. All armies prefer high ground to low and the sunny side to the shaded. Care for your men's health and camp on solid ground, and the army will be free of disease. This is what is called certain victory.

When the enemy is near and stays still, he is trusting his ground. When he hangs back and tries to bait a fight, he wants you to come on. He camps on easy footing because it suits him. When the enemy is close and quiet, he relies on the strength of his position. When he keeps his distance and tries to provoke a fight, he wants you to advance. If he settles on open, easy ground, it is because it gives him an advantage.

The trees stir — he is coming. Thick screens thrown up in the grass — a bluff, to make you wary. Birds break upward — an ambush waits below. The wild animals bolt — he is sweeping in to surround you. Watch the dust: high and sharp, his chariots are coming; low and wide, his foot soldiers; thin trails scattered about, his men are gathering wood; small and shifting, he is making camp. When the trees move, he is advancing. When there are many blinds set up in the grass, he means to mislead you. Birds rising in flight reveal an ambush. Startled animals reveal a surprise attack coming. Dust rising high and in a sharp column means chariots are approaching; low and spread wide, infantry; scattered in thin streaks, the gathering of firewood; sparse and coming and going, the army making camp.

Humble words and growing preparations mean he is coming on. Loud words and a forward show mean he is about to retreat. Light chariots rolling out to his flanks — he is forming line of battle. Suing for peace with no terms behind it — he is plotting. Men running about and falling in under arms — the attack is set for its hour. Half advancing, half pulling back — he is luring you on. Humble words while increasing his preparations: he is about to advance. Strong words and a show of driving forward: he is about to retreat. Light chariots moving out first to the flanks: he is deploying for battle. Asking for peace without any agreement behind it: he is scheming. His men hurrying to form ranks under arms: the appointed time has come. Half advancing and half retreating: he is trying to lure you.

Numbers are not the advantage. Do not push forward on strength alone. Concentrate your force, read the enemy, and take your men with you — that is enough. The man who plans nothing and takes his enemy lightly will end up his prisoner. In war, mere numbers are no advantage. Do not advance on raw force alone. It is enough to concentrate your strength, read the enemy, and win your men over. He who lacks forethought and takes the enemy lightly is sure to be captured by him.

Punish soldiers before they are bound to you and they will not submit; unsubmissive, they are hard to use. Bind them to you and then let punishment slide, and they are useless too. So lead them with kindness, hold them together with iron — that is the certain way to win. Train them by a standing rule and they obey; rule them by no settled standard and they will not. A standing rule, kept, means commander and men have closed ranks. If you punish troops before they are attached to you, they will not submit; unsubmissive, they are hard to employ. If they are attached to you and discipline is not enforced, they cannot be used either. So command them with civility and humane treatment, and unify them with martial discipline — this is called certain victory. If orders are consistently enforced in training the men, they obey; if orders are not consistently enforced, they do not. Orders consistently enforced reflect a commander and his men in accord.

行軍 The original Chinese · honored as an artifact

孫子曰：凡處軍相敵，絕山依谷，視生處高，戰隆無登，此處山之軍也。

Opening lines, classical Chinese · The Art of War 孫子兵法