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.
五兵勢篇
孫子曰：
凡治眾如治寡，分數是也；鬥眾如鬥寡，形名是也；三軍之眾，可使必受敵而無敗者，奇正是也；兵之所加，如以□①投卵者，虛實是也。
凡戰者，以正合，以奇勝。故善出奇者，無窮如天地，不竭如江海。終而複始，日月是也。死而更生，四時是也。聲不過五，五聲之變，不可勝聽也；色不過五，五色之變，不可勝觀也；味不過五，五味之變，不可勝嚐也；戰勢不過奇正，奇正之變，不可勝窮也。奇正相生，如循環之無端，孰能窮之哉！
激水之疾，至於漂石者，勢也；鷙鳥之疾，至於毀折者，節也。故善戰者，其勢險，其節短。勢如擴弩，節如發機。紛紛紜紜，鬥亂而不可亂；渾渾沌沌，形圓而不可敗。亂生於治，怯生於勇，弱生於強。治亂，數也；勇怯，勢也；強弱，形也。
故善動敵者，形之，敵必從之；予之，敵必取之。以利動之，以卒待之。故善戰者，求之於勢，不責於人故能擇人而任勢。任勢者，其戰人也，如轉木石。木石之性，安則靜，危則動，方則止，圓則行。
故善戰人之勢，如轉圓石於千仞之山者，勢也。
【注：】
①：“瑕”的“王”旁換“石”旁。
五、兵勢篇譯文
【原文】孫子曰：凡治眾如治寡，分數是也；鬥眾如鬥寡，形名是也；三軍之眾，可使必受敵而無敗者，奇正是也；兵之所加，如以碫投卵者，虛實是也。
【譯文】孫子說：大凡治理大部隊與治理小分隊原理是一樣的，抓住編製員額有異這個特點就行了；指揮大部隊戰鬥與指揮小分隊戰鬥基本原理是一樣的，掌握部隊建製規模及其相應的名稱不同這個特點就行了。統帥三軍兵士，能讓他們一定立於受敵而不敗的地位的話，就在於巧妙地運用奇兵、正兵；軍隊所指之處，像以石擊卵一樣，就在於靈活運用虛實，以實擊虛。
【原文】凡戰者，以正合，以奇勝。故善出奇者，無窮如天地，不竭如江河。終而複始，日月是也；死而複生，四時是也。聲不過五，五聲之變，不可勝聽也；色不過五，五色之變，不可勝觀也；味不過五，五味之變，不可勝嚐也；戰勢不過奇正，奇正之變，不可勝窮也。奇正相生，如循環之無端，孰能窮之？
【譯文】大凡作戰，以正兵交合，以奇兵取勝。善於出奇製勝的人，他的妙法是豐富多彩、層出不窮的，就像天地萬物的變化無窮，就像江河流水的奔騰不息。周而複始，日月運行就是這樣；去了又來，四季更替就是這樣。音階不過五個，但五個音階融合演奏的音樂卻是賞聽不盡的；原色不過五種，但五種顏色調和繪成的畫圖之美是觀賞不完的；原味不過五種，但五味調配的滋味卻是品嚐不盡的；作戰的基本方式，不外乎奇正兩種，但奇正的變化運用，卻是無窮無盡的。奇與正相互轉化，就像順著圓環旋轉一樣沒有盡頭，有誰能窮盡它呢？
【原文】激水之疾，至於漂石者，勢也；鷙鳥之疾，至於毀折者，節也。是故善戰者，其勢險，其節短。勢如彍弩，節如發機。
【譯文】湍急的流水疾速奔瀉，以至於能衝走石頭，這便是勢；鷙鳥疾飛，竟至於毀折，這是擊發節奏掌握得準確。因而，善於作戰的人，他所造成的態勢是險峻的，他發動攻勢的節奏是短促的。勢就像張滿待發的弓弩，節就是觸發的弩機。
【原文】紛紛紜紜，鬥亂而不可亂也；渾渾沌沌，形圓而不可敗也。亂生於治，怯生於勇，弱生於強。治亂，數也；勇怯，勢也；強弱，形也。故善動敵者，形之，敵必從之；予之，敵必取之，以利動之，以卒待之。
【譯文】人馬攢動，紛紛紜紜，在混戰中指揮戰鬥一定不可使行陣混亂渾渾沌沌，結為圓陣就不會戰敗。戰場上，一方的混亂產生於對方的嚴整；一方的怯懦產生於對方的勇敢；一方的弱小產生於對方的強大。或嚴整或混亂，是由各自部隊素質決定的；或勇或怯，是由各自所處態勢決定的；或強或弱，是由各自的軍隊實力表現出來的。因而，善於調動敵人的高明的指揮員，就善於故意給對方以假的表象，敵人就會根據這個假像作出相應的錯誤舉動；給敵人一點利益，敵人就一定來取。以小利來調動敵人，以嚴整的伏兵來等待敵人進入圈套。
【原文】故善戰者，求之於勢，不責於人，故能擇人而任勢。任勢者，其戰人也，如轉木石。木石之性，安則靜，危則動，方則止，圓則行。故善戰人之勢，如轉圓石於千仞之山者，勢也
【譯文】因此，高明的指揮員，總是從自己造“勢”中去追求勝利，而不苛求部下以苦戰取勝。因而，他能恰當地選擇人材巧妙地任用“勢”。善於任用“勢”的人，他指揮軍隊作戰，就像轉動木、石一樣。木、石的稟性，置於平地則靜止，置於高峭之地則滑動；方形靜止，圓形滾動。善於指揮作戰的人所造成的態勢就像從千仞之高的山上滾下圓石一樣。這便是兵法上的“勢”。
六虛實篇 孫子曰：
凡先處戰地而待敵者佚，後處戰地而趨戰者勞。故善戰者，致人而不致於人。能使敵人自至者，利之也；能使敵人不得至者，害之也。故敵佚能勞之，飽能饑之，安能動之。出其所必趨，趨其所不意。
行千裏而不勞者，行於無人之地也；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，敵不知其所守；善守者，敵不知其所攻。微乎微乎，至於無形；神乎神乎，至於無聲，故能為敵之司命。進而不可禦者，衝其虛也；退而不可追者，速而不可及也。故我欲戰，敵雖高壘深溝，不得不與我戰者，攻其所必救也；我不欲戰，雖畫地而守之，敵不得與我戰者，乖其所之也。故形人而我無形，則我專而敵分。我專為一，敵分為十，是以十攻其一也。則我眾敵寡，能以眾擊寡者，則吾之所與戰者約矣。吾所與戰之地不可知，不可知則敵所備者多，敵所備者多，則吾所與戰者寡矣。故備前則後寡，備後則前寡，備左則右寡，備右則左寡，無所不備，則無所不寡。寡者，備人者也；眾者，使人備己者也。故知戰之地，知戰之日，則可千裏而會戰；不知戰之地，不知戰日，則左不能救右，右不能救左，前不能救後，後不能救前，而況遠者數十裏，近者數裏乎！
以吾度之，越人之兵雖多，亦奚益於勝哉！
故曰：勝可為也。敵雖眾，可使無鬥。故策之而知得失之計，候之而知動靜之理，形之而知死生之地，角之而知有餘不足之處。故形兵之極，至於無形。無形則深間不能窺，智者不能謀。因形而措勝於眾，眾不能知。人皆知我所以勝之形，而莫知吾所以製勝之形。故其戰勝不複，而應形於無窮。
夫兵形象水，水之行避高而趨下，兵之形避實而擊虛；水因地而製流，兵因敵而製勝。故兵無常勢，水無常形。能因敵變化而取勝者，謂之神。故五行無常勝，四時無常位，日有短長，月有死生。
六、虛實篇譯文
【原文】孫子曰：凡先處戰地而待敵者佚，後處戰地而趨戰者勞，故善戰者，致人而不致於人。能使敵人自至者，利之也；能使敵人不得至者，害之也。故敵佚能勞之，飽能饑之，安能動之。
【譯文】孫子說：大凡先到達戰地而等待敵人到來就沉穩、安逸，後到達戰地而疾行奔赴應戰就緊張、勞頓。因而，善於指揮作戰的人，總是設法調動敵人而自己不為敵人所調動。能使敵人主動來上鉤的，是誘敵以利；能使敵人不得前來的，是相逼以害。因而，敵若閑逸，可使它勞倦，敵若飽食，可使它饑餓，敵若安穩，可使它動亂。
【原文】出其所不趨，趨其所不意。行千裏而不勞者，行於無人之地也。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，敵不知其所守；善守者，敵不知其所攻。微乎微乎，至於無形；神乎神乎，至於無聲，故能為敵之司命。進而不可禦者，衝其虛也；退而不可追者，速而不可及也。故我欲戰，敵雖高壘深溝，不得不與我戰者，攻其所必救也；我不欲戰，雖畫地而守之，敵不得與我戰者，乖其所之也。
【譯文】在敵人無法緊急救援的地方出擊，在敵人意想不到的條件下進攻。行軍千裏而不勞頓的原因，是行進在敵人無設防的地方；進攻而必取的原因，是進攻敵人不能固守的地方；防守而一定穩固，是在敵人不可能進攻的地方防守。因而，善於進攻的人，敵人不知該於何處設防；善於防守的人，敵人不知該於何處進攻。微妙啊，微妙啊，達到了無形可窺的境界；神奇啊，神奇啊，以至於不露一絲聲息的程度，因而能成為敵人命運的主宰者。進攻而敵方不可抵禦，那是衝擊在敵人的薄弱環節；撤退而敵人不可追及，那是行動神速，敵人追之不及。我想與敵交戰，雖然敵人高築防禦工事也不得不出來與我交戰，是因為我攻擊它必然要救援的地方；我不想同敵交戰，隻要在地上畫個界線便可守住，敵人無法與我交鋒，是因為我設法調動它，使它背離所要進攻的方向。
【原文】故形人而我無形，則我專而敵分；我專為一，敵分為十，是以十攻其一也，則我眾而敵寡；能以眾擊寡者，則吾之所與戰者約矣。吾所與戰之地不可知，不可知，則敵所備者多；敵所備者多，則吾所與戰者寡矣。故備前則後寡，備後則前寡；備左則右寡，備右則左寡；無所不備，則無所不寡。寡者，備人者也；眾者，使人備己者也。
【譯文】因此，示敵以假像而我不露真情，那麽，我就可以集中兵力而敵勢必分散兵力。我集中兵力為一處，敵分散兵力為十處，這就形成局部的以十攻一的態勢，那麽，我就兵力眾多而敵人就兵力寡少了；能以眾多兵力對付寡少兵力，與我交戰的敵人就陷入困境了。我與敵交戰的地點敵人不知道，不知道，那麽敵人防備的方麵就多；敵人防備的方麵多，在局部與我交戰的敵兵就少了啊。著重防備前方，後方就薄弱；著重防備後方，前方就薄弱；著重防備左翼，右翼就薄弱；著重防備右翼，左翼就薄弱；無處不防備，那就無處不薄弱。造成兵力薄弱的原因就是處處設防啊，形成兵力集中的優勢在於迫使敵人處處防備我啊。
【原文】故知戰之地、知戰之日，則可千裏而會戰；不知戰地、不知戰日，則左不能救右、右不能救左，前不能救後、後不能救前，而況遠者數十裏、近者數裏乎？以吾度之，越人之兵雖多，亦奚益於勝敗哉？故曰：勝可為也。敵雖眾，可使無鬥。
【譯文】知道作戰的地點、知道作戰的時間，哪怕奔赴千裏也可如期會合交戰；不知作戰地點、不知作戰時間，那就左翼也難救右翼，右翼也難救左翼；前軍難救後軍，後軍難救前軍；何況遠者相隔幾十裏、近者相隔幾裏的呢？依我推測，越國的兵力雖然眾多，又於勝利有何補益呢？敵人雖多，可使它無法戰鬥。
【原文】故策之而知得失之計，作之而知動靜之理，形之而知死生之地，角之而知有餘不足之處。故形兵之極，至於無形。無形，則深間不能窺、智者不能謀。因形而錯勝於眾，眾不能知。人皆知我所以勝之形，而莫知吾所以製勝之形。故其戰勝不複，而應形於無窮。
【譯文】分析研究雙方情況，可得知雙方所處條件的優劣得失；挑動敵人，可了解敵人的行動規律；偵察戰地，可知戰地各處是否利於攻守進退；小規模的兵力與敵試探性較量，可知敵人兵力部署的或有餘或不足等虛實情況。以假像迷惑敵人的用兵方法運用到極至程度，就會不露一絲真跡，使人無形可窺，那麽，即使埋藏很深的間諜也不能窺測到實情，即使很有智謀的人也無法設謀。通過以假像迷惑敵人的“示形”方法取得的勝利放置在眾人麵前，眾人不能了解其中的因由，眾人都知道我取勝的外在作戰狀況，而沒有誰了解我導致勝利所用的內在方略。因而，我取勝的謀略方法不重複，而隨著敵情變化所采取的應變“示形”方法是無窮無盡的。
【原文】夫兵形象水。水之形，避高而趨下；兵之形，避實而擊虛。水因地而製流，兵因敵而製勝。故兵無常勢，水無常形，能因敵變化而取勝者，謂之神。故五行無常勝，四時無常位，日有短長，月有死生。
【譯文】用兵的規律有如流水的規律。流水的規律是避開高處趨向低處；用兵的規律是避開實處攻擊虛處。水流根據地形決定流向，用兵根據敵情采取致勝方略。戰爭無固定不變的態勢，流水無固定不變的流向。能隨著敵情發展變化而采取靈活變化的措施取勝的人，才稱得上是神秘莫測的高明者。須知五行是沒有常勝的，四時是沒有不更替的，日照的時間也有短有長，月亮也有晦有朔。
