Chapter Nine
On The March
When positioning an army to observe the enemy, cross over the mountains and stay close to the valleys. Position yourself on high ground with a wide view.
Never ascend to attack but only fight downhill. This is mountain positioning.
After crossing a river, we must keep away from it. When the enemy crosses the river towards us, do not engage him in mid-stream. It will be advantageous to wait until half of the enemy troops are ashore, and then attack. If we wish to fight, do not confront the enemy near the river. Choose a high position with a wide view. Never be positioned at downstream. This is river positioning.
Avoid swamps but if there is a need to cross them, do so quickly and without delay. If forced to fight in swamps, keep close to the grass and have the trees to your rear. This is positioning in swamps.
In level ground, choose a position easy to move on and easy to get your supplies. With higher ground to the right and the rear, open plain in front and safety to the rear. This is a positioning in level ground.
All these four methods of positioning armies were used by the Yellow Emperor when he conquered the four neighboring countries.
An army prefers high ground to low; sunny places to cold and wet shady areas. Nourish your soldiers well and build up their internal strength so that they are free of hundreds of diseases, and this will ensure victory.
When hear hills, mounds, embankments or dikes, take up the position that faces the sun and have higher ground to the right and rear. This is to benefit from the natural advantages of the ground.
When crossing a river with much bubbles in the water, this means that there were heavy rains at the upper stream, you should wait until the water subsides and calms down before crossing.
Whenever there are torrents – ‘Heavenly Wells’, ‘Heavenly Prisons’, ‘Heavenly Nets’, ‘Heavenly Traps’ and ‘Heavenly Gaps’ – get away quickly. Do not go near them.
I keep away from them and lure the enemy towards them. I face the enemy and force him to put his back to them.
When on the march, there are dangerous defiles, swamps with aquatic grass and reeds, forests with dense tangled undergrowth, which must be carefully and repeatedly searched out, for these are the places where the enemy can lay ambushes or hide spies.
When the enemy is near but remains quiet, this means he is confidently relying on his impregnable position.
When the enemy is far but keeps on challenging, he is trying to lure us to advance.
If the enemy takes up a position that is easy for us to discover and attack, he could be offering an ostensible advantage to trap us. When there is movement among the trees, we know the enemy is advancing.
When obstacles are set up the undergrowth, the enemy is seeking to deceive us. Birds that suddenly rise in flight show that there are men hiding in ambush positions; wild animals scurrying show the enemy is making surprise advances.
When dust rises in high columns, this shows that chariots are rushing forwards; when dust is low and widespread, this means infantry is approaching.
When dust is scattered in different directions, the enemy is gathering firewood; when dust clouds are few and moving to and fro, the enemy is encamping his army.
When the enemy’s envoys speak humbly but he is secretly preparing his force, he will advance. But when the language is fierce and the enemy threatens to attack, he is looking for a way to retreat.
When his chariots take up positions at both wings, he is ready to fight.
When without a previous understanding, the enemy presents peace proposals, he must be plotting against you.
When enemy troops are seen running about and getting into formations, then the ‘expectant date’ of attack as forewarned by the enemy’s spies is drawing near.
When half his force is advancing and half is withdrawing, he is putting out a bait.
When his soldiers lean on their weapons, they are weakened by hunger.
When those sent to draw water rush to drink before carrying back to camp, the troops are suffering from water shortage.
When the enemy sees an advantage but makes no effort to advance and seize it, his army is exhausted.
When birds gather around the camp, it has been vacated. When soldiers shout loudly at night, they are nervous.
When the troops are in disorder, the general has lost his authority. When the flags and banners are shifted about, the army is in chaos. If the officers are short-tempered, it means that they are tired.
When the troops feed grain to their horses, slaughter the transport cattle for food, and do not hang up their cooking pots properly or do not return to their shelters, they are desperate and are preparing to fight to the death.
When troops are seen whispering amongst themselves in small groups, the general has lost the confidence of his men. Too frequent rewards show that the general is losing control over his men as only rewards can keep them in even temper. Too frequent punishments show him to be in dire distress as nothing else can keep them in check.
If the officers at first treat their men harshly and later fear them, then the limit of indiscipline is reached.
When the enemy sends envoys to apologize, this shows he wants truce.
When facing enemy troops who are in high spirits for some time without either joining battle or withdrawing, we must carefully analyze and observe the situation.
In battle, having more soldiers will not necessarily secure victory. Never advance by relying blindly on the strength of military power alone. It is sufficient to concentrate our strength, estimate the enemy’s position and seek his capture. But anyone who lacks consideration and treats the enemy with contempt and disdain will only end up being captured himself.
Secure the loyalty of your troops first before punishing them or they will not be submissive. When they are loyal and if punishment is not enforced, you still cannot use them.
Therefore, treat your men kindly but keep strict control over them to ensure victory. If the commands used in training troops are consistent, soldiers will be disciplined. If not, soldiers are inclined to be disobedient. If a general’s commands are consistently credible and obeyed, he enjoys good relationship with his men.
This article is excerpted from the book Sun Tzu's Art of War edited by Khoo Kheng-Hor and translated by Hwang Chung-Mei. You can purchase the book from Feng Shui Time Bookshop
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