Military power – Station your troops at an advantageous location and wait for adversaries traveling from distant places. During that period, take sufficient rest and wait for your opponents to become exhausted. Keep your troops well fed and wait for the enemy to be starved. This is called sapping the “power” of the enemy.
4. Change – Deploy powerful troops and prepare for a battle. Avoid a head-on clash with the enemy on the offensive. This is called taking control of the “change.”
Basic Rules to Follow
There are basic rules to be followed and to be avoided in battle. There are two sides to everything. You should be able to discern the different sides. Try to identify the underlying laws of progress; it will be the first step toward victory.
1. Do not attack enemy troops stationed on higher ground.
2. Do not attack enemy troops positioned with their backs against a hill.
3. Do not pursue opponents taking flight intentionally.
4. Do not attack adversaries full of aggression.
5. Do not jump on soldiers acting as a decoy.
6. Do not stand in the way of opponents who are on their way home.
7. Before surrounding enemy troops, make sure to secure an escape route.
8. Do not approach adversaries driven into a corner.
Opponents without a way out may launch a frenzied counterattack. This can cause significant damage. The same can be said for personal relationships. When an adult is driven into a corner, he may eventually strike back fiercely and viciously. When a child is driven into a corner, he may choose to take his life.
Kyu-hen (Nine Changes)
Kyu-hen refers to adaptability in war situations. Even if you are armed with knowledge of great principles, the knowledge alone will not be sufficient to secure victory. As a military commander, you need to know how to respond flexibly. Adherence to inflexible thinking will inevitably result in failure. Success requires a flexible, well-balanced way of thinking.
Five rules commanders should follow on the battleground
1. There are paths that should not be taken. Do not station your troops at a disadvantageous location.
2. There are enemies that should not be attacked. In a region under the influence of multiple nations, diplomatic negotiations should be emphasized.
3. There are castles that should not be besieged. Once you have penetrated deep into the hostile territory, avoid lingering in the same spot for a long time.
4. There are territories that should not be seized. If unable to move freely after being surrounded by enemy forces, use a clever scheme to find a way out.
5. There are orders that should not be obeyed. When in a life-threatening situation, fighting courageously is the only option. When a golden opportunity is presented before their eyes, people will jump at it without much thought. There are benefits that should not be enjoyed.
Advantages and Disadvantages
A wise man will weigh both advantages and disadvantages when devising a strategy. When analyzing advantages of a plan, you should also take its disadvantages into account. Likewise, when analyzing disadvantages of a plan, you should also take its advantages into account.
1. In order to force your adversary to surrender, inflict damage on him.
2. In order to deplete the national wealth of the enemy, purposefully cause a disturbance to exhaust them.
3. In order to win over the support of your opponents, lure them into your camp by offering some benefits.
4. In a war, do not simply wish that the enemy will not attack; rather, make it difficult for the enemy to attack. Reinforce defense to deprive your adversaries of a chance to counterattack.
5. Abandon wishful thinking and be ready for all types of weather.
Five Dangerous Situations for Commanders
Since ancient times, there are five reasons or causes for the demise of the military and its commanders.
1. Sheer desperation can result in death on the battlefield. When it is time to retreat, you must withdraw.
2. Do not make a frantic attempt to survive. You may end up being captured.
3. Do not lose your temper or become irritable. You may play into the hands of the enemy.
4. Do not insist on being morally right. You may end up responding to provocation by your opponents.
5. Do not be too sympathetic toward common people. You may suffer emotional breakdown.
The most important quality of a commander is the ability to judge comprehensively. The commander’s duty is to encourage his subordinates to make frantic efforts without being desperate himself. Do not be too fastidious. Fastidiousness can be a weakness. Every action will set off a reaction.
Ko-gun (March)
The prerequisite for advancing your troops to the combat zone is to become familiar with the topography of the region and alter your fighting methods accordingly. Do not neglect to examine the status of the enemy. Do not overlook even seemingly trivial phenomena. Every phenomenon has its cause and reason. Analyze it with utmost caution. When the condition of the enemy is known, prepare your troops for a battle, being mindful of the situation of the other side. Do not rush recklessly.
Fighting According to the Terrain
1. When fighting in the mountainous terrain – When marching in the mountainous region, move along the valley. Position your troops on higher ground where you can have an unobstructed view. When enemy forces are positioned on higher ground, do not strike. Think of a way to lure them into action.
2. When fighting in the river region – When your adversaries are crossing the river to strike, launch an attack after half of them have reached the shore. When taking the offensive, stay away from the riverbank where your footing is not secure. Engage in combat away from the riverbank. When your troops have to be stationed near the riverbank, choose higher ground where you can have an unobstructed view. Do not fight with opponents positioned upstream when you are located downstream.
3. When fighting in wetlands – When crossing marshy areas where your footing is not firm, move as fast as you can. An attack by the opposition can have devastating effects. When fighting in wetlands, take advantage of swamps and bushes and position yourself in front of trees. Fight there to turn the tide in your favor.
4. When fighting in flatlands – To deploy your troops, choose a flat area with lowland in the front and highland in the rear. To station your troops, choose an area with highland on either side and in the rear, which allows free movement. The above is the stratagem to take advantage of the terrain.
5. Choose higher ground rather than lower ground to deploy your troops.
6. Be sure to closely manage your soldiers’ health. Choose a place with sufficient sunlight rather than a humid spot in the shade. This will raise soldiers’ spirits, thereby avoiding health-related issues and energizing them.
7. When your troops need to be positioned on a hill or embankment, pick a southeastern location, which is geographically favorable. This will enable you to run a campaign to your advantage.
8. If water levels are rising due to rainfall upriver, wait until the current is manageable to cross. Do not rush.
Terrain to Avoid
1. A ravine with precipitous cliffs on both sides and a stream inbetween.
2. A deeply depressed area surrounded by precipices in all four directions.
3. An area surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides, with a narrow passage on one side. Such an area is difficult to escape.
4. A place with dense vegetation, where communication with fellow soldiers is difficult and movement