VIII. The Nine Variations

Sun Tzu said: In general, in the method of using troops, the general receives his orders from the sovereign, gathers the army, and assembles the host. On difficult ground, do not camp; on crossroads ground, join with allies; on cut-off ground, do not linger; on enclosed ground, use stratagem; on deadly ground, fight. There are roads not to be taken, armies not to be attacked, cities not to be besieged, ground not to be contested, and commands of the sovereign not to be obeyed.¹

So a general who understands the advantages of the nine variations knows how to use troops. A general who does not understand the advantages of the nine variations, though he knows the lay of the land, cannot gain the advantage of the ground. One who commands troops without knowing the art of the nine variations, though he knows the five advantages, cannot get the use of his men.

So the deliberations of the wise always take advantage and harm together. Because they take advantage into account, their undertakings can be relied on; because they take harm into account, their troubles can be resolved. So one subdues the feudal lords with harm, keeps them busy with undertakings, and sends them running with advantage.

So the method of using troops is this. Do not rely on the enemy’s not coming; rely on our having the means to meet him. Do not rely on his not attacking; rely on our having made ourselves unassailable.

So a general has five dangers. One bent on dying can be killed; one bent on living can be captured; one quick to anger can be provoked by insult; one fastidious about his honor can be shamed; one who loves the people can be harassed. These five are the faults of a general and a calamity in the use of troops. When an army is overthrown and its general killed, it is always through these five dangers. They must be examined.

Notes

1. 1. The list does not come to nine in any obvious way, and what the “nine variations” of the next paragraph are has been disputed since antiquity.