Sun Tzu said:
In war
It is best to preserve a country,
Not to destroy it.
It is best to preserve an army,
Not to destroy it.
It is best to preserve a squadron,
Not to destroy it.
It is best to preserve a company,
Not to destroy it.
It is best to preserve a five-man squad,
Not to destroy it.
To win every battle is no mark of great skill.
The mark of great skill is to beat the enemy without fighting.
The best military policy is to attack the enemy's strategy.
The next, to attack the enemy's alliances.
The next, to attack the enemy's army.
The worst, to attack the enemy's cities.
Attack a city only if there is no choice.
Constructing protective shields,
Preparing assault wagons and other equipment
Will take three months.
Piling up earthen mounds
Will take three months more.
If a general cannot curb his impatience,
And sets the soldiers swarming at the walls,
He will kill a third of his officers and men
Without taking the city.
This is the calamity of attacking cities.
Those skilled in warfare
Defeat the enemy without fighting.
They take the enemy's cities without attacking them.
They conquer the enemy's state without a protracted war.
They strive to conquer the world yet to keep it intact.
So their army is not worn out
And their gain is complete.
This is the art of offensive strategy.
This is the way to employ troops:
If you are ten times the enemy strength surround him,
If five times his strength attack him,
If twice his strength divide him,
If equally strong be able to engage him,
If not as strong be able to resist him,
If he is stronger be able to evade him.
A small troop of warriors that stubbornly continues to fight
Will be crushed by a large one.
The general is the prop of the state.
If his support is solid, the state will certainly be strong.
If his support is flawed, the state will certainly be weak.
The ruler can bring distress to his army
In three ways:
When not knowing that the army cannot advance,
He orders the army to advance,
Or when not knowing that the army cannot retreat,
He orders the army to retreat.
This is what is meant by the saying
"Tying up the army."
When ignorant of military affairs
He meddles with the administration of the army
This makes the army officers confused.
When ignorant of the system of military command
He meddles with military appointments.
This makes the army officers distrustful.
When the army is confused and distrustful,
Trouble is sure to come from neighboring rulers.
This is what is meant by the saying
"An army in chaos leads the enemy to victory."
There are five circumstances which portend victory:
Victory comes to those
Who know when to fight
And when not to fight.
Victory comes to those
Who know how to use small forces
And how to use large forces.
Victory comes to those
Whose officers and men
Share the same purpose.
Victory comes to those
Who are prepared
But whose enemy is unprepared.
Victory comes to those
Who have a capable commander,
Unhampered by the ruler.
These five are the Tao of predicting victory.
Thus it is said:
If you know the enemy and know yourself,
In a hundred battles you will find no peril.
If you know yourself but not the enemy,
Some battles you'll win, others you will lose.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself,
In every battle you will be defeated.
