Chapter 4 - Tactical Dispositions

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Episode Transcript

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Chapter four, Tactical Dispositions. One, Sunzer said, the good fighters of
old first put themselves beyond the possibilityof defeat, and then waited for an
opportunity of defeating the enemy. Two. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in

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our own hands. But the opportunityof defeating the enemy is provided by the
enemy himself. Three. Thus thegood fighter is able to secure himself against
defeat, but cannot make certain ofdefeating the enemy. Four. Hence the

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saying one may know how to conquerwithout being able to do it. Five.
Security against defeat implies defensive tactics.Ability to defeat the enemy means taking
the offensive. Six. Standing onthe defensive indicates insufficient strength. Attacking a

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superabundance of strength. Seven. Thegeneral who is skilled in defense hides in
the most secret recesses of the earth. He who is skilled in attack flashes
forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Thus, on the one hand,

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we have ability to protect ourselves,on the other, a victory that is
complete. Eight. To see victoryonly when it is within the ken of
the common heart is not the acmeof excellence. Nine. Neither is it

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the acme of excellence. If youfight and conquer, and the whole empire
says well done. Ten. Tolift an autumn hair is no sign of
great strength. To see the sunand moon is no sign of sharp sight.
To hear the noise of thunder isno sign of a quick ear Eleven.

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What the ancients called a clever fighteris one who not only wins,
but excels in winning with ease.Twelve. Hence, his victories bring him
neither the reputation for wisdom nor creditfor carriage. Thirteen. He wins his

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battles by making no mistakes. Makingno mistakes is what established the certainty of
victory, for it means conquering inan enemy that is already defeated. Fourteen.
Hence, the skillful fighter puts himselfinto a position which makes defeat impossible,

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and does not miss the moment fordefeating the enemy. Fifteen. Thus
it is that in war, thevictorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory
has been won, whereas he whois destined to defeat first fights and afterwards

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looks for victory. Sixteen. Theconsummate leader cultivates the moral law and strictly
adheres to method and discipline. Thusit is in his power to control success
seventeen. In respect of military method, we have firstly measurement, secondly estimation

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of quantity, thirdly calculation, fourthlybalancing of chances, fifthly victory. Eighteen.
Measurement owes its existence to earth,estimation of quantity to measurement, calculation

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to estimation of quantity, balancing ofchances to calculation, and victory to balancing
of chances. Nineteen. A victoriousarmy opposed to a rooted one is as
a pound's weight placed in the scaleagainst a single grain. Twenty. The

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onrush of a conquering force is likethe bursting of pent up waters into a
chasm a thousand fathoms deep. Endof Chapter four