The chief tenet of this chapter is that it is necessary to place one’s army in an unassailable position, then to seek out weaknesses in the enemy’s deployment that can be exploited. To strike at the enemy from a vantage of overwhelming superiority is the aim of the capable commander.
Master Sun said,
Those in the past who were skilled in battle first made themselves invincible so as to confront the vincibility of the enemy. Invincibility depends upon oneself; vincibility depends upon the enemy.
Therefore,
he who is skilled in battle can make himself invincible, but cannot cause the enemy to be vincible.
Therefore,
it is said, “Victory can be foretold, but cannot be forced.” When the enemy is invincible, we should adopt a defensive posture; when the enemy is vincible, we should launch an attack.1 We adopt a defensive posture when our resources are insufficient; we launch an attack when our resources are abundant.2 He who is skilled at adopting a defensive posture will hide away beneath the deepest level of earth; he who is skilled at launching an attack will take action to the highest level of heaven.
Therefore,
he can protect himself and achieve total victory.
Foreseeing victory does not exceed that which may be known to the masses of men; it is not the most excellent approach.3 Being victorious in battle and having all under heaven4 acknowledge one’s skill is not the most excellent approach.
Therefore,
lifting up a strand of fine animal hair newly grown in autumn5 does not require great strength; seeing the sun and the moon does not require keen eyesight; hearing thunder does not require a sensitive ear. Those in antiquity who were said to be skilled in battle won their victories against those who were easy to vanquish.
Therefore,
the victories of one who is skilled in battle do not evince a reputation for wisdom and do not bespeak brave merit.6
Therefore,
that he will be victorious in battle is not in doubt, and the reason it is not in doubt is because the arrangements he makes necessarily lead to victory; that is to say, he is victorious over an opponent who has already been placed in a situation that leads to defeat.
Therefore,
he who is skilled in battle establishes himself in an undefeatable position, and does not let slip the inevitable defeat of his enemy.
For this reason,
being victorious in war depends upon first preparing the conditions for victory and then seeking battle with the enemy;7 being defeated in war results from first engaging in battle and then seeking victory. He who is skilled at waging war cultivates the way8 and protects the law.
Therefore,
he can serve as the governor of victory and defeat.
The method of war: first is measuring,9 second is estimating,10 third is counting,11 fourth is comparing,12 fifth is gauging.13 The actual conditions of the battleground give rise to measuring, measuring gives rise to estimating, estimating gives rise to counting, counting gives rise to comparing, and comparing gives rise to gauging.
Therefore,
the victor in war vis-à-vis the vanquished is like comparing a hundredweight to an ounce; the vanquished in war vis-à-vis the victor is like comparing an ounce to a hundredweight.14 The victor directing his men in battle is like releasing a thousand fathoms15 of water that have been dammed up in a chasm. It is all a matter of positioning.16