Wuzi — Discussing the General吳子 論將

Master Wu said, "He who holds both the civil and the martial together is the general of an army, and to join hardness with softness is the business of arms. When men discuss a general they always look at courage, but courage in a general is only one part out of several. The courageous man is sure to close lightly, and to close lightly without knowing where the gain lies will not do. Therefore there are five things a general must take care with. The first is reason (理), the second is readiness (備), the third is resolve (果), the fourth is caution (戒), and the fifth is restraint (約). Reason is to govern the many as one governs the few. Readiness is to go out the gate as though the enemy were in sight. Resolve is to face the enemy with no thought of living. Caution is to be, even after a victory, as at the first battle. Restraint is to keep the laws and orders few and not burdensome. To receive the command without excusing oneself, and to speak of returning only after the enemy is broken, is the courtesy of a general. Therefore on the day the army marches out there is the glory of death and no shame of living."

Master Wu said, "An army has four triggers. The first is the trigger of spirit (氣機), the second is the trigger of ground (地機), the third is the trigger of affairs (事機), and the fourth is the trigger of strength (力機). The host of the three armies, a force of a million, is set out and made light or heavy by one man, and this is called the trigger of spirit. When the road is narrow and the way is rough, and famous mountains and great passes are held by ten men so that a thousand cannot get by, this is called the trigger of ground. To use spies well, to send light troops back and forth, to scatter the enemy's host so that their ruler and his ministers resent each other and high and low blame each other, this is called the trigger of affairs. When the chariots are firm and their axles strong, when the boats are good and the oars serve well, when the soldiers are practiced in battle and formation and the horses are used to running and chasing, this is called the trigger of strength. Only one who knows these four can be a general. Yet his awe, his virtue, his kindness and his courage must be enough to lead those below him and set the host at ease, to frighten the enemy and cut through doubt, so that when he gives an order those below do not break it, and where he is no raider dares to face him. Gain such a man and the state is strong; lose him and the state falls. This is what is called a good general."

Master Wu said, "The drum and the gong are what put awe into the ear. The banners and flags are what put awe into the eye. Prohibitions and punishments are what put awe into the heart. The ear takes its awe from sound, so the sound cannot but be clear. The eye takes its awe from color, so the color cannot but be bright. The heart takes its awe from punishment, so the punishment cannot but be stern. If these three are not set up, then though a man has his state he is sure to be beaten by the enemy. Therefore it is said, wherever the general waves, none fail to move with him, and wherever the general points, none fail to go forward and die."

Master Wu said, "The heart of battle is always to read the enemy general first and to look into his talent, and then to use the shifting measure that suits the shape of things. Then the work is done without toil. If their general is foolish and trusts people easily, he can be deceived and lured. If he is greedy and careless of his name, he can be bought with goods. If he changes lightly and has no plan, he can be worn down and brought to distress. If those above are rich and proud while those below are poor and resentful, they can be split apart and set against each other. If he is full of doubt in advance and retreat so that his host has nothing to lean on, they can be shaken into flight. If the soldiers make light of their general and have their minds on going home, block the easy road and open the rough one, and they can be met and taken. If the road forward is easy and the road back is hard, they can be drawn out and brought on. If the road forward is rough and the road back is easy, they can be pressed and struck. If their army lies in low, damp ground where the water has no outlet and the long rains come often, they can be flooded and drowned. If their army lies in a wild marsh where the grass and brush grow thick and rank and the whirlwinds come often, they can be burned and wiped out. If they have stayed long without moving, and general and soldiers have grown slack and their army keeps no guard, they can be stolen upon and raided."

Marquis Wu asked, "Two armies look at each other and I do not know their general. I wish to take his measure. What is the art of it?" Wu Qi answered, "Have a man of low rank who is brave lead a light picked force to try them, and let him work at fleeing and not at gaining. Watch the enemy as they come. If in every sitting and rising their handling is orderly, if they chase the fleeing but feign that they cannot catch up, if they see a gain but feign that they do not know it, such a general is called a wise general (智將), and you must not fight him. But if their host is noisy and clamoring, if their banners are tangled and confused, if their soldiers go and halt as each pleases and their weapons point every way, if they chase the fleeing in fear of not catching up and see a gain in fear of not getting it, this is a foolish general (愚將), and however many they are, they can be taken."