August 7, 2025 • 12 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter eleven, The nine situations. Sansu said, the art of
woir recognizes nine varieties of ground. Dispersive ground, facile ground,
contentious ground, open ground, ground of intersecting highways, serious ground,
(00:21):
difficult ground, hemmed in ground, desperate ground. When a chieftain
is fighting in its own territory, it is dispersive ground.
When he has penetrated into hostile territory but to no
great distance, it is facile ground. Ground the possession of
(00:42):
which imports great advantage to either side is contentious ground.
Ground on which each side has liberty of movement. Is
open ground. Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states,
so that he who occupies at first has most of them.
Pirate is command is a ground of intersecting highways. When
(01:05):
an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country,
leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it
is serious ground. Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fins
all country that is hard to traverse. This is difficult ground,
(01:26):
ground which is reached through narrow gorges and from which
we can only retire by tortuous paths, so that a
small number of the enemy would suffice to crush a
large body of our men. This is hemmed in ground.
Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction
by fighting without delay, is desperate ground on dispersive ground. Therefore,
(01:52):
fight not on fascile ground. Halt not on contentious ground.
Attack not on open ground. Do not try to block
the enemy's way on the ground of intersecting highways. Join
hands with your allies on serious ground, Gather in plunder
(02:13):
in difficult ground, keep steadily on the march on hemmed
in ground. Resort to stratagem on desperate ground. Fight. Those
who were called skillful leaders of old knew how to
drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear to
(02:33):
prevent co operation between his large and small divisions, to
hinder the good troops from rescuing the band, the officers
from rallying their men. When the enemy's men were united,
they managed to keep them in disorder. When it was
to their advantage, they made a forward move when otherwise
(02:54):
they stopped still. If asked how to cope with a
great host of the enemy in order, array and on
the point of marching to the attack, I should say,
begain by seizing something which your opponent holds dear, then
he will be amenable to your will. Rapidity is the
essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make
(03:18):
your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots. The
following are the principles to be observed by an invading force.
The further you penetrate into a country, the greater will
be the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders
will not prevail against you. Make forays in fertile country
(03:42):
in order to supply your army with food. Carefully study
the well being of your men, and do not overtax them.
Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army
continually on the move, and devise unfathomable plans. Throw your
soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they
(04:05):
will prefer death to flight. If they will face death,
there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men
alike will put forth their uttermost strength. Soldiers, when in
desperate straits, lose the sense of fear. If there is
no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they
(04:25):
are in hostile country, they will show a stubborn front.
If there is no help for it. They will fight
hard thus, without waiting to be marshaled. The soldiers will
be constantly on the quivive, without waiting to be asked,
and they will do your will without restrictions. They will
be faithful without giving orders. They can be trusted. Prohibit
(04:49):
the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then,
until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared. If
our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not
because they have a distaste for riches. If their lives
are not unduly long, it is not because they are
disinclined to longevity. On the day they are ordered out
(05:13):
to battle, your soldiers may weep those sitting up bedewing
their garments, and those lying down letting the tears run
down their cheeks. But let them once be brought to bay,
and they will display the courage of a chew or kwai.
The skillful tactician may be likened to a shuejan. Now,
(05:34):
the shuejan is a snake that is found in the
Chung mountains. Strike at its head and you will be
attacked by its tail. Strike at its tail, and you
will be attacked by its head, strike at its middle,
and you will be attacked by head and tail. Both.
Asked if an army can be made to imitate the
Shiue Jan, I should answer yes. For the men of
(05:57):
Wu and the men of Hue are enemies. Yet if
they are crossing a river in the same boat and
are caught by a storm, they will come to each
other's assistance, just as the left hand helps the right. Hence,
it is not enough to put one's trust in the
tethering of horses and the burying of chariot wheels in
(06:18):
the ground. The principle on which to manage an army
is to set up one standard of courage which all
must reach. How to make the best of both strong
and weak, that is a question involving the proper use
of ground. Thus, the skillful general conducts his army just
as though he were leading a single man willingly by
(06:41):
the hand. It is the business of a general to
be quiet and thus insure secrecy, upright and just, and
thus maintain order. He must be able to mystify his
officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus
keep them in total ignorance. By altering his arrangements and
(07:03):
changing his plans. He keeps the enemy without definite knowledge.
By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents
the enemy from anticipating his purpose At the critical moment.
The leader of an army acts like one who is
climbed up a height and then kicks away the latter
behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile territory
(07:28):
before he shows his hand. He burns his boats and
breaks his cooking pots. Like a shepherd driving a flock
of sheep. He drives his men this way and that,
and nothing knows whither he is going to muster his
host and bring it into danger. This may be termed
the business of the general in different measures suited to
(07:51):
the nine varieties of ground, the expediency of aggressive or
defensive tactics, and the fundamental laws of human nature, These
are things that must most certainly be studied when invading
hostile territory. The general principle is that penetrating deeply brings cohesion.
Penetrating but a short way means dispersion. When you leave
(08:15):
your own country behind and take your army across neighborhood territory,
you find yourself on critical ground. When there are means
of communication on all four sides. The ground is one
of intersecting highways. When you penetrate deeply into a country,
it is serious ground. When you penetrate but a little way,
(08:38):
it is facile ground. When you have the enemy's strongholds
on your rear and narrow passes in front. It is
hemmed in ground. When there is no place of refuge
at all, it is desperate ground. Therefore, on dispersive ground,
I would inspire my men with unity of purpose. On
(08:59):
fatist ground, I would see that there is close connection
between all parts of my army. On contentious ground, I
would hurry up my rear. On open ground, I would
keep a vigilant eye on my defenses. On ground of
intersecting highways, I would consolidate my alliances. On serious ground,
(09:19):
I would try to ensure a continuous stream of supplies.
On difficult ground, I would keep pushing on along the road.
On himned in ground, I would block any way of retreat.
On desperate ground, I would proclaim to my soldiers the
hopelessness of saving their lives. For it is the soldier's
(09:40):
disposition to offer an obstinate resistance when surrounded. To fight
hard when he cannot help himself, and to obey promptly
when he has fallen into danger. We cannot enter into
alliance with neighboring princes until we are acquainted with their designs.
We are not fit to lead in army on on
the march unless we are familiar with the face of
(10:02):
the country, its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices,
its marshes and swamps. We shall be unable to turn
natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.
To be ignorant of any one of the following four
or five principles does not befit a warlike prince. When
(10:27):
a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, his generalship shows
itself in preventing the concentration of the enemy's forces. He
overawes his opponents, and their allies are prevented from joining
against him. Hence, he does not strive to ally himself
with all in sundry, nor does he foster the power
(10:47):
of other states. He carries out his own secret designs,
keeping his antagonists in awe. Thus he is able to
capture their cities and overthrow their kingdoms, bestow rewards without
regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements,
(11:07):
and you will be able to handle a whole army
as though you had to do with but a single man.
Confront your soldiers with the deed itself. Never let them
know your design. When the outlook is right, to bring
it before their eyes, but tell them nothing. When the
situation is gloomy. Place your army in deadly peril and
(11:29):
it will survive. Bunge it into desperate straits, and it
will come off in safety. For it is precisely when
a force has fallen into harm's way that it is
capable of striking a blow for victory. Success in warfare
is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose.
By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank, we shall succeed
(11:53):
in the long run in killing the commander in chief.
This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer cunning.
On the day that you take up your command, block
the frontier passes, destroy the official tallies, and stop the
passage of all emissaries. Be stern in the council chamber,
(12:14):
so that you may control the situation. If the enemy
leaves a door open, you must rush in. Forestall your
opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtly contrive
to time his arrival on the ground, walk in the
path to find by rule, and accommodate yourself to the
enemy until you can fight a decisive battle at first,
(12:38):
Then exhibit the coyness of a maiden until the enemy
gives you an opening. Afterwards, emulate the rapidity of a
running hare, and it will be too late for the
enemy to oppose you. End of Chapter eleven.
Chapter eleven, The nine situations. Sansu said, the art of
woir recognizes nine varieties of ground. Dispersive ground, facile ground,
contentious ground, open ground, ground of intersecting highways, serious ground,
(00:21):
difficult ground, hemmed in ground, desperate ground. When a chieftain
is fighting in its own territory, it is dispersive ground.
When he has penetrated into hostile territory but to no
great distance, it is facile ground. Ground the possession of
(00:42):
which imports great advantage to either side is contentious ground.
Ground on which each side has liberty of movement. Is
open ground. Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states,
so that he who occupies at first has most of them.
Pirate is command is a ground of intersecting highways. When
(01:05):
an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country,
leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it
is serious ground. Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fins
all country that is hard to traverse. This is difficult ground,
(01:26):
ground which is reached through narrow gorges and from which
we can only retire by tortuous paths, so that a
small number of the enemy would suffice to crush a
large body of our men. This is hemmed in ground.
Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction
by fighting without delay, is desperate ground on dispersive ground. Therefore,
(01:52):
fight not on fascile ground. Halt not on contentious ground.
Attack not on open ground. Do not try to block
the enemy's way on the ground of intersecting highways. Join
hands with your allies on serious ground, Gather in plunder
(02:13):
in difficult ground, keep steadily on the march on hemmed
in ground. Resort to stratagem on desperate ground. Fight. Those
who were called skillful leaders of old knew how to
drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear to
(02:33):
prevent co operation between his large and small divisions, to
hinder the good troops from rescuing the band, the officers
from rallying their men. When the enemy's men were united,
they managed to keep them in disorder. When it was
to their advantage, they made a forward move when otherwise
(02:54):
they stopped still. If asked how to cope with a
great host of the enemy in order, array and on
the point of marching to the attack, I should say,
begain by seizing something which your opponent holds dear, then
he will be amenable to your will. Rapidity is the
essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make
(03:18):
your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots. The
following are the principles to be observed by an invading force.
The further you penetrate into a country, the greater will
be the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders
will not prevail against you. Make forays in fertile country
(03:42):
in order to supply your army with food. Carefully study
the well being of your men, and do not overtax them.
Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army
continually on the move, and devise unfathomable plans. Throw your
soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they
(04:05):
will prefer death to flight. If they will face death,
there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men
alike will put forth their uttermost strength. Soldiers, when in
desperate straits, lose the sense of fear. If there is
no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they
(04:25):
are in hostile country, they will show a stubborn front.
If there is no help for it. They will fight
hard thus, without waiting to be marshaled. The soldiers will
be constantly on the quivive, without waiting to be asked,
and they will do your will without restrictions. They will
be faithful without giving orders. They can be trusted. Prohibit
(04:49):
the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then,
until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared. If
our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not
because they have a distaste for riches. If their lives
are not unduly long, it is not because they are
disinclined to longevity. On the day they are ordered out
(05:13):
to battle, your soldiers may weep those sitting up bedewing
their garments, and those lying down letting the tears run
down their cheeks. But let them once be brought to bay,
and they will display the courage of a chew or kwai.
The skillful tactician may be likened to a shuejan. Now,
(05:34):
the shuejan is a snake that is found in the
Chung mountains. Strike at its head and you will be
attacked by its tail. Strike at its tail, and you
will be attacked by its head, strike at its middle,
and you will be attacked by head and tail. Both.
Asked if an army can be made to imitate the
Shiue Jan, I should answer yes. For the men of
(05:57):
Wu and the men of Hue are enemies. Yet if
they are crossing a river in the same boat and
are caught by a storm, they will come to each
other's assistance, just as the left hand helps the right. Hence,
it is not enough to put one's trust in the
tethering of horses and the burying of chariot wheels in
(06:18):
the ground. The principle on which to manage an army
is to set up one standard of courage which all
must reach. How to make the best of both strong
and weak, that is a question involving the proper use
of ground. Thus, the skillful general conducts his army just
as though he were leading a single man willingly by
(06:41):
the hand. It is the business of a general to
be quiet and thus insure secrecy, upright and just, and
thus maintain order. He must be able to mystify his
officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus
keep them in total ignorance. By altering his arrangements and
(07:03):
changing his plans. He keeps the enemy without definite knowledge.
By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents
the enemy from anticipating his purpose At the critical moment.
The leader of an army acts like one who is
climbed up a height and then kicks away the latter
behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile territory
(07:28):
before he shows his hand. He burns his boats and
breaks his cooking pots. Like a shepherd driving a flock
of sheep. He drives his men this way and that,
and nothing knows whither he is going to muster his
host and bring it into danger. This may be termed
the business of the general in different measures suited to
(07:51):
the nine varieties of ground, the expediency of aggressive or
defensive tactics, and the fundamental laws of human nature, These
are things that must most certainly be studied when invading
hostile territory. The general principle is that penetrating deeply brings cohesion.
Penetrating but a short way means dispersion. When you leave
(08:15):
your own country behind and take your army across neighborhood territory,
you find yourself on critical ground. When there are means
of communication on all four sides. The ground is one
of intersecting highways. When you penetrate deeply into a country,
it is serious ground. When you penetrate but a little way,
(08:38):
it is facile ground. When you have the enemy's strongholds
on your rear and narrow passes in front. It is
hemmed in ground. When there is no place of refuge
at all, it is desperate ground. Therefore, on dispersive ground,
I would inspire my men with unity of purpose. On
(08:59):
fatist ground, I would see that there is close connection
between all parts of my army. On contentious ground, I
would hurry up my rear. On open ground, I would
keep a vigilant eye on my defenses. On ground of
intersecting highways, I would consolidate my alliances. On serious ground,
(09:19):
I would try to ensure a continuous stream of supplies.
On difficult ground, I would keep pushing on along the road.
On himned in ground, I would block any way of retreat.
On desperate ground, I would proclaim to my soldiers the
hopelessness of saving their lives. For it is the soldier's
(09:40):
disposition to offer an obstinate resistance when surrounded. To fight
hard when he cannot help himself, and to obey promptly
when he has fallen into danger. We cannot enter into
alliance with neighboring princes until we are acquainted with their designs.
We are not fit to lead in army on on
the march unless we are familiar with the face of
(10:02):
the country, its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices,
its marshes and swamps. We shall be unable to turn
natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.
To be ignorant of any one of the following four
or five principles does not befit a warlike prince. When
(10:27):
a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, his generalship shows
itself in preventing the concentration of the enemy's forces. He
overawes his opponents, and their allies are prevented from joining
against him. Hence, he does not strive to ally himself
with all in sundry, nor does he foster the power
(10:47):
of other states. He carries out his own secret designs,
keeping his antagonists in awe. Thus he is able to
capture their cities and overthrow their kingdoms, bestow rewards without
regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements,
(11:07):
and you will be able to handle a whole army
as though you had to do with but a single man.
Confront your soldiers with the deed itself. Never let them
know your design. When the outlook is right, to bring
it before their eyes, but tell them nothing. When the
situation is gloomy. Place your army in deadly peril and
(11:29):
it will survive. Bunge it into desperate straits, and it
will come off in safety. For it is precisely when
a force has fallen into harm's way that it is
capable of striking a blow for victory. Success in warfare
is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose.
By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank, we shall succeed
(11:53):
in the long run in killing the commander in chief.
This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer cunning.
On the day that you take up your command, block
the frontier passes, destroy the official tallies, and stop the
passage of all emissaries. Be stern in the council chamber,
(12:14):
so that you may control the situation. If the enemy
leaves a door open, you must rush in. Forestall your
opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtly contrive
to time his arrival on the ground, walk in the
path to find by rule, and accommodate yourself to the
enemy until you can fight a decisive battle at first,
(12:38):
Then exhibit the coyness of a maiden until the enemy
gives you an opening. Afterwards, emulate the rapidity of a
running hare, and it will be too late for the
enemy to oppose you. End of Chapter eleven.
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