Six Secret Teachings, Dragon Teaching — Signs in the Army六韜 兵徵
1Knowing strength and weakness before the battle and seeing the signs of victory and defeat
武王問太公曰：「吾欲未戰先知敵人之強弱，預見勝敗之徵，為之奈何？」太公曰：「勝敗之徵，精神先見，明將察之，其敗在人。謹候敵人出入進退，察其動靜，言語妖祥，士卒所告。凡三軍悅懌，士卒畏法，敬其將命，相喜以破敵，相陳以勇猛，相賢以威武，此強徵也；三軍數驚，士卒不齊，相恐以強敵，相語以不利，耳目相屬，妖言不止，眾口相惑，不畏法令，不重其將，此弱徵也。三軍齊整，陳勢巳固，深溝高壘，又有大風甚雨之利，三軍無故，旌旂前指，金鐸之聲揚以清，鼙鼓之聲宛以鳴，此得神明之助，大勝之徵也；行陣不固，旌旂亂而相遶，逆大風甚雨之利，士卒恐懼，氣絕而不屬，戎馬驚奔，兵車折軸，金鐸之聲下以濁，鼙鼓之聲濕如沐，此大敗之徵也。凡攻城圍邑，城之氣色如死灰，城可屠；城之氣出而北，城可克；城之氣出而西，城必降；城之氣出而南，城不可拔；城之氣出而東，城不可攻；城之氣出而復入，城主逃北；城之氣出而覆我軍之上，軍必病；城之氣出而無所止，用日長久。凡攻城圍邑，過旬不雷不雨，必亟去之，城必有大輔。此所以知可攻而攻，不可攻而止。」武王曰：「善哉！」
King Wu asked Taigong, "I wish to know the enemy's strength and weakness before the battle, and to see beforehand the signs of victory and defeat. What should be done?" Taigong said, "The signs of victory and defeat appear first in the spirit. The clear-sighted general looks into them, and the defeat lies with men. Watch closely how the enemy goes out and comes in, advances and withdraws. Look into their movement and their stillness, their talk, their strange and lucky happenings, and what the soldiers report. When the three armies are glad, when the soldiers fear the law and honor their general's command, when they rejoice with one another in the breaking of the enemy, draw up with one another in bravery and boldness, and hold one another worthy in martial might — these are the signs of strength. When the three armies are startled again and again, when the soldiers are not in order, when they frighten one another with the enemy's strength and speak to one another of disadvantage, when ear and eye are drawn to one another and strange talk does not stop, when many mouths lead one another astray, when they do not fear the law and orders and do not hold their general in weight — these are the signs of weakness. When the three armies are in good order and the formation is already firm, when the ditches are deep and the ramparts high, when there is besides the advantage of great wind and heavy rain, when nothing has befallen the three armies, when the banners point to the front, when the sound of the gong rises clear and the sound of the drum rolls low and deep — this is to have gained the help of the bright spirits, and it is the sign of a great victory. When the marching ranks are not firm, when the banners are in disorder and tangle with one another, when they go against the advantage of great wind and heavy rain, when the soldiers are afraid and their breath is cut off and does not run on, when the war horses take fright and bolt and the axles of the chariots break, when the sound of the gong is low and muddy and the sound of the drum is damp as though soaked — this is the sign of a great defeat. In attacking a city and surrounding a town, if the air and color of the city is like dead ashes, the city can be put to the sword. If the vapor of the city goes out and northward, the city can be taken. If the vapor of the city goes out and westward, the city will surely surrender. If the vapor of the city goes out and southward, the city cannot be plucked up. If the vapor of the city goes out and eastward, the city cannot be attacked. If the vapor of the city goes out and comes in again, the lord of the city will flee. If the vapor of the city goes out and covers over our army, the army will surely sicken. If the vapor of the city goes out and nowhere comes to rest, the days will be long. In attacking a city and surrounding a town, if ten days pass with no thunder and no rain, leave in haste for certain, for the city surely has a great helper. This is how one knows what may be attacked and attacks it, and what may not be attacked and stops." King Wu said, "Good."