Wuzi — Governing the Troops吳子 治兵

Marquis Wu asked, "In the way of using troops, what comes first?" Wu Qi answered, "First make clear the four kinds of lightness, the two kinds of weight, and the one trust." The marquis said, "What does that mean?" He answered, "It is to make the ground make light of the horses, the horses make light of the chariots, the chariots make light of the men, and the men make light of battle. When the rough ground and the easy ground are clearly known, the ground makes light of the horses. When fodder and feed come in their season, the horses make light of the chariots. When there is grease and axle iron to spare, the chariots make light of the men. When the blades are sharp and the armor is firm, the men make light of battle. For going forward there is heavy reward, for falling back there is heavy punishment, and both are carried out with trust. He who can look into this and reach it is the master of victory."

Marquis Wu asked, "By what does an army win?" Wu Qi answered, "It wins by order." The marquis asked again, "Does it not lie in numbers?" He answered, "If the laws and orders are not clear, if reward and punishment are not trusted, if the men do not halt when the gong sounds and do not advance when the drum sounds, then though there be a million, what good are they in use? What is called order is this. At rest there is courtesy; in motion there is awe. Going forward, they cannot be withstood; falling back, they cannot be pursued. Advance and retreat have measure, and left and right answer the signal flag. Though cut apart, they form ranks; though scattered, they form lines. They are at ease together and in danger together. Such a host can be joined but cannot be split, can be used but cannot be worn out. Throw them wherever you will, and nothing under heaven can withstand them. This is called an army of fathers and sons."

Master Wu said, "The way of marching an army is this. Do not break the measure of advance and halt. Do not lose the fitness of food and drink. Do not cut off the strength of men and horses. These three are how the men bear the orders from above. When they bear the orders from above, order is born from that. If advance and halt have no measure, if food and drink are not fitting, if the horses are tired and the men are weary and yet they are not unharnessed and quartered, this is why they cannot bear the orders from above. Once the orders from above fall away, in camp there is disorder, and in battle there is defeat."

Master Wu said, "The field where soldiers fight is ground where corpses stand. Set on death, you live; hoping by luck to live, you die. The general who is good at this is like a man sitting in a leaking boat or lying under a burning house, so that the wise have no time to plan and the brave have no time to rage. Then the enemy may be met. Therefore it is said, in using troops the greatest harm is hesitation, and the disaster of the three armies is born of doubt."

Master Wu said, "A man always dies where he is unable, and is beaten where he is unpracticed. Therefore the law of using troops puts teaching and warning first. When one man has learned battle, he teaches ten and they are made. When ten men have learned battle, they teach a hundred and they are made. When a hundred men have learned battle, they teach a thousand and they are made. When a thousand men have learned battle, they teach ten thousand and they are made. When ten thousand men have learned battle, they teach the three armies and they are made. Wait for the far with the near, for the toiling with the rested, for the hungry with the full. Make them round, then make them square. Seat them, then raise them. March them, then halt them. Send them left, then send them right. Put them in front, then put them behind. Divide them, then join them. Bind them, then loose them. Only when every change has been practiced are they given their arms. This is called the business of a general."

Master Wu said, "The order for teaching battle is this. The short men hold spear and halberd, the tall men hold bow and crossbow, the strong men hold the banners, the brave men hold the gong and drum, the weak men serve at the chores, and the wise men are the masters of planning. Village stands beside village, and tens and files stand surety for one another. At one drum they set the ranks in order, at two drums they practice the formation, at three drums they hurry to their food, at four drums they make ready in earnest, at five drums they go to their lines. Only after the drumbeats are heard together is the flag raised."

Marquis Wu asked, "In the advance and halt of the three armies, is there a way?" Wu Qi answered, "Do not face the heaven stove (天灶), and do not face the dragon head (龍頭). The heaven stove is the mouth of a great valley; the dragon head is the end of a great mountain. Be sure to have the Blue Dragon on the left, the White Tiger on the right, the Red Bird in front, and the Dark Warrior behind, with the Zhaoyao star above, and do your work beneath it. When you are about to fight, look well to where the wind comes from. If the wind is with you, raise a shout and follow it. If the wind is against you, make the ranks firm and wait."

Marquis Wu asked, "In keeping foot soldiers and horsemen, is there a method?" Wu Qi answered, "A horse must have its quarters made easy, its water and grass made fitting, and its hunger and fullness kept in measure. In winter warm the stable; in summer cool the eaves. Trim the coat and the mane, and dress the four hooves with care. Shield its ears and eyes so that it is not startled. Practice it in running and chasing, and make it used to advance and halt. Only after man and horse are close to each other can the horse be used. The gear of chariot and horseman, the saddle, the headstall, the bit and the reins, must be kept whole and strong. A horse that is not hurt at the end is sure to be hurt at the beginning; one that is not hurt by hunger is sure to be hurt by fullness. When the day is late and the road is long, mount and dismount often. Sooner tire the men than tire the horses, and take care of this. Always keep strength to spare, ready for an enemy who would overturn us. He who can make this clear ranges freely over all under heaven."