V. ENERGY
Sun Tzu said: The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.
Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.
To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy's attack and remain unshaken-- this is effected by maneuvers direct and indirect.
That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg--this is effected by the science of weak points and strong.
In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.
Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.
There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.
In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack--the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle--you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?
The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.
The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.
Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.
Energy may be likened to the bending of a cros*****ow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger.
Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.
Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.
Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it.
By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body of picked men he lies in wait for him.
The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy.
When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped, to go rolling down.
Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject of energy.
VI. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG
Sun Tzu said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.
Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.
By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or, by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near.
If the enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him; if well supplied with food, he can starve him out; if quietly encamped, he can force him to move.
Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.
An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches through country where the enemy is not.
You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.
Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.
O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.
You may advance and be absolutely irresistible, if you make for the enemy's weak points; you may retire and be safe from pursuit if your movements are more rapid than those of the enemy.
If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.
If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way.
By discovering the enemy's dispositions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated, while the enemy's must be divided.
We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up into fractions. Hence there will be a whole pitted against separate parts of a whole, which means that we shall be many to the enemy's few.
And if we are able thus to attack an inferior force with a superior one, our opponents will be in dire straits.
The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points; and his forces being thus distributed in many directions, the numbers we shall have to face at any given point will be proportionately few.
For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.
Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible attacks; numerical strength, from compelling our adversary to make these preparations against us.
Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.
But if neither time nor place be known, then the left wing will be impotent to succor the right, the right equally impotent to succor the left, the van unable to relieve the rear, or the rear to support the van. How much more so if the furthest portions of the army are anything under a hundred LI apart, and even the nearest are separated by several LI!
Though according to my estimate the soldiers of Yueh exceed our own in number, that shall advantage them nothing in the matter of victory. I say then that victory can be achieved.
Though the enemy be stronger in numbers, we may prevent him from fighting. Scheme so as to discover his plans and the likelihood of their success.
Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.
Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.
In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them; conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest brains.
How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy's own tactics--that is what the multitude cannot comprehend.
All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.
Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.
Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards.
So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.
Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.
The five elements (water, fire, wood, metal, earth) are not always equally predominant; the four seasons make way for each other in turn. There are short days and long; the moon has its periods of waning and waxing.
五兵势篇
孙子曰：
凡治众如治寡，分数是也；斗众如斗寡，形名是也；三军之众，可使必受敌而无败者，奇正是也；兵之所加，如以□①投卵者，虚实是也。
凡战者，以正合，以奇胜。故善出奇者，无穷如天地，不竭如江海。终而复始，日月是也。死而更生，四时是也。声不过五，五声之变，不可胜听也；色不过五，五色之变，不可胜观也；味不过五，五味之变，不可胜尝也；战势不过奇正，奇正之变，不可胜穷也。奇正相生，如循环之无端，孰能穷之哉！
激水之疾，至于漂石者，势也；鸷鸟之疾，至于毁折者，节也。故善战者，其势险，其节短。势如扩弩，节如发机。纷纷纭纭，斗乱而不可乱；浑浑沌沌，形圆而不可败。乱生于治，怯生于勇，弱生于强。治乱，数也；勇怯，势也；强弱，形也。
故善动敌者，形之，敌必从之；予之，敌必取之。以利动之，以卒待之。故善战者，求之于势，不责于人故能择人而任势。任势者，其战人也，如转木石。木石之性，安则静，危则动，方则止，圆则行。
故善战人之势，如转圆石于千仞之山者，势也。
【注：】
①：“瑕”的“王”旁换“石”旁。
五、兵势篇译文
【原文】孙子曰：凡治众如治寡，分数是也；斗众如斗寡，形名是也；三军之众，可使必受敌而无败者，奇正是也；兵之所加，如以碫投卵者，虚实是也。
【译文】孙子说：大凡治理大部队与治理小分队原理是一样的，抓住编制员额有异这个特点就行了；指挥大部队战斗与指挥小分队战斗基本原理是一样的，掌握部队建制规模及其相应的名称不同这个特点就行了。统帅三军兵士，能让他们一定立于受敌而不败的地位的话，就在于巧妙地运用奇兵、正兵；军队所指之处，像以石击卵一样，就在于灵活运用虚实，以实击虚。
【原文】凡战者，以正合，以奇胜。故善出奇者，无穷如天地，不竭如江河。终而复始，日月是也；死而复生，四时是也。声不过五，五声之变，不可胜听也；色不过五，五色之变，不可胜观也；味不过五，五味之变，不可胜尝也；战势不过奇正，奇正之变，不可胜穷也。奇正相生，如循环之无端，孰能穷之？
【译文】大凡作战，以正兵交合，以奇兵取胜。善于出奇制胜的人，他的妙法是丰富多彩、层出不穷的，就像天地万物的变化无穷，就像江河流水的奔腾不息。周而复始，日月运行就是这样；去了又来，四季更替就是这样。音阶不过五个，但五个音阶融合演奏的音乐却是赏听不尽的；原色不过五种，但五种颜色调和绘成的画图之美是观赏不完的；原味不过五种，但五味调配的滋味却是品尝不尽的；作战的基本方式，不外乎奇正两种，但奇正的变化运用，却是无穷无尽的。奇与正相互转化，就像顺着圆环旋转一样没有尽头，有谁能穷尽它呢？
【原文】激水之疾，至于漂石者，势也；鸷鸟之疾，至于毁折者，节也。是故善战者，其势险，其节短。势如彍弩，节如发机。
【译文】湍急的流水疾速奔泻，以至于能冲走石头，这便是势；鸷鸟疾飞，竟至于毁折，这是击发节奏掌握得准确。因而，善于作战的人，他所造成的态势是险峻的，他发动攻势的节奏是短促的。势就像张满待发的弓弩，节就是触发的弩机。
【原文】纷纷纭纭，斗乱而不可乱也；浑浑沌沌，形圆而不可败也。乱生于治，怯生于勇，弱生于强。治乱，数也；勇怯，势也；强弱，形也。故善动敌者，形之，敌必从之；予之，敌必取之，以利动之，以卒待之。
【译文】人马攒动，纷纷纭纭，在混战中指挥战斗一定不可使行阵混乱浑浑沌沌，结为圆阵就不会战败。战场上，一方的混乱产生于对方的严整；一方的怯懦产生于对方的勇敢；一方的弱小产生于对方的强大。或严整或混乱，是由各自部队素质决定的；或勇或怯，是由各自所处态势决定的；或强或弱，是由各自的军队实力表现出来的。因而，善于调动敌人的高明的指挥员，就善于故意给对方以假的表象，敌人就会根据这个假像作出相应的错误举动；给敌人一点利益，敌人就一定来取。以小利来调动敌人，以严整的伏兵来等待敌人进入圈套。
【原文】故善战者，求之于势，不责于人，故能择人而任势。任势者，其战人也，如转木石。木石之性，安则静，危则动，方则止，圆则行。故善战人之势，如转圆石于千仞之山者，势也
【译文】因此，高明的指挥员，总是从自己造“势”中去追求胜利，而不苛求部下以苦战取胜。因而，他能恰当地选择人材巧妙地任用“势”。善于任用“势”的人，他指挥军队作战，就像转动木、石一样。木、石的禀性，置于平地则静止，置于高峭之地则滑动；方形静止，圆形滚动。善于指挥作战的人所造成的态势就像从千仞之高的山上滚下圆石一样。这便是兵法上的“势”。
六虚实篇 孙子曰：
凡先处战地而待敌者佚，后处战地而趋战者劳。故善战者，致人而不致于人。能使敌人自至者，利之也；能使敌人不得至者，害之也。故敌佚能劳之，饱能饥之，安能动之。出其所必趋，趋其所不意。
行千里而不劳者，行于无人之地也；攻而必取者，攻其所不守也。守而必固者，守其所必攻也。故善攻者，敌不知其所守；善守者，敌不知其所攻。微乎微乎，至于无形；神乎神乎，至于无声，故能为敌之司命。进而不可御者，冲其虚也；退而不可追者，速而不可及也。故我欲战，敌虽高垒深沟，不得不与我战者，攻其所必救也；我不欲战，虽画地而守之，敌不得与我战者，乖其所之也。故形人而我无形，则我专而敌分。我专为一，敌分为十，是以十攻其一也。则我众敌寡，能以众击寡者，则吾之所与战者约矣。吾所与战之地不可知，不可知则敌所备者多，敌所备者多，则吾所与战者寡矣。故备前则后寡，备后则前寡，备左则右寡，备右则左寡，无所不备，则无所不寡。寡者，备人者也；众者，使人备己者也。故知战之地，知战之日，则可千里而会战；不知战之地，不知战日，则左不能救右，右不能救左，前不能救后，后不能救前，而况远者数十里，近者数里乎！
以吾度之，越人之兵虽多，亦奚益于胜哉！
故曰：胜可为也。敌虽众，可使无斗。故策之而知得失之计，候之而知动静之理，形之而知死生之地，角之而知有余不足之处。故形兵之极，至于无形。无形则深间不能窥，智者不能谋。因形而措胜于众，众不能知。人皆知我所以胜之形，而莫知吾所以制胜之形。故其战胜不复，而应形于无穷。
夫兵形象水，水之行避高而趋下，兵之形避实而击虚；水因地而制流，兵因敌而制胜。故兵无常势，水无常形。能因敌变化而取胜者，谓之神。故五行无常胜，四时无常位，日有短长，月有死生。
六、虚实篇译文
【原文】孙子曰：凡先处战地而待敌者佚，后处战地而趋战者劳，故善战者，致人而不致于人。能使敌人自至者，利之也；能使敌人不得至者，害之也。故敌佚能劳之，饱能饥之，安能动之。
【译文】孙子说：大凡先到达战地而等待敌人到来就沉稳、安逸，后到达战地而疾行奔赴应战就紧张、劳顿。因而，善于指挥作战的人，总是设法调动敌人而自己不为敌人所调动。能使敌人主动来上钩的，是诱敌以利；能使敌人不得前来的，是相逼以害。因而，敌若闲逸，可使它劳倦，敌若饱食，可使它饥饿，敌若安稳，可使它动乱。
【原文】出其所不趋，趋其所不意。行千里而不劳者，行于无人之地也。攻而必取者，攻其所不守也；守而必固者，守其所不攻也。故善攻者，敌不知其所守；善守者，敌不知其所攻。微乎微乎，至于无形；神乎神乎，至于无声，故能为敌之司命。进而不可御者，冲其虚也；退而不可追者，速而不可及也。故我欲战，敌虽高垒深沟，不得不与我战者，攻其所必救也；我不欲战，虽画地而守之，敌不得与我战者，乖其所之也。
【译文】在敌人无法紧急救援的地方出击，在敌人意想不到的条件下进攻。行军千里而不劳顿的原因，是行进在敌人无设防的地方；进攻而必取的原因，是进攻敌人不能固守的地方；防守而一定稳固，是在敌人不可能进攻的地方防守。因而，善于进攻的人，敌人不知该于何处设防；善于防守的人，敌人不知该于何处进攻。微妙啊，微妙啊，达到了无形可窥的境界；神奇啊，神奇啊，以至于不露一丝声息的程度，因而能成为敌人命运的主宰者。进攻而敌方不可抵御，那是冲击在敌人的薄弱环节；撤退而敌人不可追及，那是行动神速，敌人追之不及。我想与敌交战，虽然敌人高筑防御工事也不得不出来与我交战，是因为我攻击它必然要救援的地方；我不想同敌交战，只要在地上画个界线便可守住，敌人无法与我交锋，是因为我设法调动它，使它背离所要进攻的方向。
【原文】故形人而我无形，则我专而敌分；我专为一，敌分为十，是以十攻其一也，则我众而敌寡；能以众击寡者，则吾之所与战者约矣。吾所与战之地不可知，不可知，则敌所备者多；敌所备者多，则吾所与战者寡矣。故备前则后寡，备后则前寡；备左则右寡，备右则左寡；无所不备，则无所不寡。寡者，备人者也；众者，使人备己者也。
【译文】因此，示敌以假像而我不露真情，那么，我就可以集中兵力而敌势必分散兵力。我集中兵力为一处，敌分散兵力为十处，这就形成局部的以十攻一的态势，那么，我就兵力众多而敌人就兵力寡少了；能以众多兵力对付寡少兵力，与我交战的敌人就陷入困境了。我与敌交战的地点敌人不知道，不知道，那么敌人防备的方面就多；敌人防备的方面多，在局部与我交战的敌兵就少了啊。着重防备前方，后方就薄弱；着重防备后方，前方就薄弱；着重防备左翼，右翼就薄弱；着重防备右翼，左翼就薄弱；无处不防备，那就无处不薄弱。造成兵力薄弱的原因就是处处设防啊，形成兵力集中的优势在于迫使敌人处处防备我啊。
【原文】故知战之地、知战之日，则可千里而会战；不知战地、不知战日，则左不能救右、右不能救左，前不能救后、后不能救前，而况远者数十里、近者数里乎？以吾度之，越人之兵虽多，亦奚益于胜败哉？故曰：胜可为也。敌虽众，可使无斗。
【译文】知道作战的地点、知道作战的时间，哪怕奔赴千里也可如期会合交战；不知作战地点、不知作战时间，那就左翼也难救右翼，右翼也难救左翼；前军难救后军，后军难救前军；何况远者相隔几十里、近者相隔几里的呢？依我推测，越国的兵力虽然众多，又于胜利有何补益呢？敌人虽多，可使它无法战斗。
【原文】故策之而知得失之计，作之而知动静之理，形之而知死生之地，角之而知有余不足之处。故形兵之极，至于无形。无形，则深间不能窥、智者不能谋。因形而错胜于众，众不能知。人皆知我所以胜之形，而莫知吾所以制胜之形。故其战胜不复，而应形于无穷。
【译文】分析研究双方情况，可得知双方所处条件的优劣得失；挑动敌人，可了解敌人的行动规律；侦察战地，可知战地各处是否利于攻守进退；小规模的兵力与敌试探性较量，可知敌人兵力部署的或有余或不足等虚实情况。以假像迷惑敌人的用兵方法运用到极至程度，就会不露一丝真迹，使人无形可窥，那么，即使埋藏很深的间谍也不能窥测到实情，即使很有智谋的人也无法设谋。通过以假像迷惑敌人的“示形”方法取得的胜利放置在众人面前，众人不能了解其中的因由，众人都知道我取胜的外在作战状况，而没有谁了解我导致胜利所用的内在方略。因而，我取胜的谋略方法不重复，而随着敌情变化所采取的应变“示形”方法是无穷无尽的。
【原文】夫兵形象水。水之形，避高而趋下；兵之形，避实而击虚。水因地而制流，兵因敌而制胜。故兵无常势，水无常形，能因敌变化而取胜者，谓之神。故五行无常胜，四时无常位，日有短长，月有死生。
【译文】用兵的规律有如流水的规律。流水的规律是避开高处趋向低处；用兵的规律是避开实处攻击虚处。水流根据地形决定流向，用兵根据敌情采取致胜方略。战争无固定不变的态势，流水无固定不变的流向。能随着敌情发展变化而采取灵活变化的措施取胜的人，才称得上是神秘莫测的高明者。须知五行是没有常胜的，四时是没有不更替的，日照的时间也有短有长，月亮也有晦有朔。
