Wuzi — Responding to Change吳子 應變

Marquis Wu asked, "The chariots are firm and the horses are good, the general is brave and the soldiers are strong, and then they meet the enemy suddenly, fall into confusion and lose their ranks. What is to be done?" Wu Qi answered, "The law of battle is to take the measure by banners and flags in the daytime, and by gong and drum and pipe and flute at night. Wave to the left and they go left; wave to the right and they go right. Beat the drum and they advance; strike the gong and they halt. One blast and they march, a second blast and they gather, and whoever does not follow the order is put to death. When the three armies bow to this awe and the soldiers obey the command, then in battle there is no strong enemy and in attack there is no firm formation."

Marquis Wu asked, "If the enemy are many and we are few, what is to be done?" Wu Qi answered, "Avoid them on easy ground and meet them in a narrow place. Therefore it is said, for striking ten with one there is nothing better than a narrow place; for striking a hundred with ten there is nothing better than rough ground; for striking ten thousand with a thousand there is nothing better than a blocked place. Now if a small band of soldiers rises up suddenly and strikes the gong and sounds the drum on a narrow road, then however great the host, none will fail to be startled and stirred. Therefore it is said, he who uses many works for easy ground, and he who uses few works for narrow ground."

Marquis Wu asked, "Suppose an army very great in number, skilled in arms and brave, with a great stronghold at its back, mountains on the right and water on the left, deep ditches and high ramparts, held with strong crossbows, falling back like a mountain moving and coming on like wind and rain, with grain in plenty besides, so that it is hard to hold out against them long. What is to be done?" Wu Qi answered, "A great question indeed. This is not the strength of chariots and horsemen but the plan of a sage. Make ready a thousand chariots and ten thousand horsemen, with foot soldiers besides, and divide them into five armies, each army taking one road. When five armies go by five roads, the enemy is sure to be at a loss and will not know where to put his weight. If the enemy holds fast and makes his troops firm, send spies in haste to look into his thinking. If the other side listens to what we say, break off and withdraw. If he does not listen to what we say, he will behead the envoy and burn the letter; then divide into five battles. If you win a battle, do not pursue; if you do not win, return quickly. In this way feign defeat, march at ease and fight swiftly. Let one army bind their front and one cut off their rear, while two armies with bits in their mouths raid their position from the left or from the right. When the five armies come on in turn, there is sure to be a gain in it. This is the way to strike a strong enemy."

Marquis Wu asked, "The enemy is near and presses us, we wish to leave and there is no road, and our host is greatly afraid. What is to be done?" Wu Qi answered, "The art of this is as follows. If we are many and they are few, divide and fall upon them. If they are many and we are few, form a square and keep after them, and if we keep after them without rest, then however many they are they can be brought to submit."

Marquis Wu asked, "If we meet the enemy between the valleys, with much rough ground at the side, and they are many and we are few, what is to be done?" Wu Qi answered, "If you meet them among hills, woods and valleys, deep mountains or great marshes, march fast and get away quickly, and do not take your ease. If in a high mountain or a deep valley you meet them all at once, be sure to beat the drum and raise a shout and fall upon them first, bring out bow and crossbow, and shoot while you take them. Look well into their handling of things, and if it is disordered, strike them without doubting."

Marquis Wu asked, "High mountains are on the left and right, the ground is very narrow and cramped, and we meet the enemy suddenly. We dare not strike them and we cannot get away. What is to be done?" Wu Qi answered, "This is called valley battle, and there numbers cannot be used. Call for our men of talent to stand against the enemy, and make those quick of foot with sharp weapons the front line. Divide the chariots and set out the horsemen, hidden on all four sides a few li apart, so that their forces are not seen. The enemy will surely make his formation firm and will dare neither to advance nor to fall back. Then bring out the banners and set them in line, and march out beyond the mountains to dazzle them, and the enemy will surely be afraid. Provoke them with chariots and horsemen, and give them no rest. This is the law of valley battle."

Marquis Wu asked, "We meet the enemy in a marsh of great waters, the wheels tilt and the shafts go under, the water beats against chariots and horsemen, there are no boats or oars, and we can neither advance nor fall back. What is to be done?" Wu Qi answered, "This is called water battle. Do not use chariots and horsemen, but leave them at the side. Climb high and look on all four sides, and you will surely learn how the water lies, know where it is broad and where narrow, and find out all its shallows and depths. Only then can you make an unorthodox move and win. If the enemy crosses the water, press them when they are half across."

Marquis Wu asked, "The sky has rained on and on, the horses are bogged and the chariots halted, the enemy comes at us on all four sides, and the three armies are in alarm. What is to be done?" Wu Qi answered, "In using chariots, halt when it is dark and damp and move when it is sunny and dry. Hold the high ground dear and the low ground cheap, and drive your strongest chariots. Whether you advance or halt, be sure to keep to the road. If the enemy moves, be sure to follow his tracks."

Marquis Wu asked, "Savage raiders come suddenly, plunder our fields, and take our oxen and sheep. What is to be done?" Wu Qi answered, "When savage raiders come, be sure to weigh their strength, hold your ground well and do not answer them. When they leave toward evening their loads will surely be heavy and their hearts will surely be afraid, and as they work at getting back quickly there will surely be some who fall out of touch. Pursue them and strike, and their force can be overturned."

Master Wu said, "In the way of striking an enemy and besieging a city, once the walled town is broken, each man enters its offices, takes charge of its stipends and gathers in its goods. Wherever the army comes, do not cut down the trees, do not pull down the houses, do not take the grain, do not kill the six kinds of livestock, do not burn the stores, so that the people are shown there is no cruelty in you. If any ask to surrender, allow it and set them at ease."