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The Methods of the Sima — Using the Many司馬法 用眾

Wujing Qishu (The Seven Military Classics) — the six besides the Sunzi 武經七書 · Ascribed to Jiang Taigong · ascribed to Huang Shigong · Wei Liao · Wu Qi · Sima Rangju · Li Jing · Warring States to Tang (4th century BC to 7th century AD) · 7 passages · 265 Chinese characters · reading time 1.1 min

Wujing Qishu (The Seven Military Classics) — the six besides the Sunzi Methods of the Sima The six that remain when the Art of War of Sunzi is taken out of the seven military books the Song set as the texts for examining military officers. The Six Secret Teachings is sixty chapters of questions and answers in which King Wen and King Wu ask Taigong Wang, running from the governing of a state to chariots, cavalry, battle in the open and the crossing of water; the Three Strategies is three short books said to have been given to Zhang Liang by Huang Shigong; the Wei Liaozi is twenty-four chapters setting down in detail the military orders and the squads of five and ten around the time of Qin; the Wuzi is six chapters of Wu Qi's answers to Marquis Wu of Wei; the Methods of the Sima is five chapters handing down the military rites of before the Spring and Autumn period; and Questions and Replies with Li Weigong is three books in which Taizong of Tang and Li Jing go back and forth over the unorthodox and the orthodox, the empty and the full, the frontier peoples and the Han, and attack and defense. "Arms are an instrument of ill omen," "bring the enemy to you and do not be brought to him," and "a thousand chapters and ten thousand phrases do not go beyond that one phrase" all come from here. The remaining six streams of the military school, read after the Art of War, are gathered in one place.

1The few by firmness, the many by good order

凡戰之道：用寡固，用眾治。寡利煩，眾利正。用眾進止，用寡進退。眾以合寡，則遠裹而闕之。若分而迭擊，寡以待眾。若眾疑之，則自用之。擅利，則釋旗，迎而反之。敵若眾則相聚而受裹。敵若寡，若畏，則避之開之。

This is the way of war. When you use few, make them firm. When you use many, keep them in order. For the few, being busy is the advantage. For the many, being regular is the advantage. When you use many, advance and halt. When you use few, advance and withdraw. When many meet few, surround them at a distance and leave one side open. If you divide and strike by turns, the few can hold off the many. If the host is in doubt, use it as it is. If the enemy has the advantage all to himself, lay down the flags, meet him, and turn him back. If the enemy is many, gather close together and let yourselves be surrounded. If the enemy is few, or if he is afraid, avoid him and open a way for him.

2Put the wind at your back and the height at your back

凡戰：背風；背高；右高；左險；歷沛；歷圯；兼舍環龜。

In war, put the wind at your back and the height at your back. Keep the high ground on the right and the broken ground on the left. Pass over the marshes and pass over the crumbled places. And when you make camp, ring it about like a tortoise shell.

3Set out your array and watch what he does

凡戰：設而觀其作；視敵而舉；待則循而勿鼓，待眾之作；攻則屯而伺之。

In war, set out your array and watch what he does, and act when you see the enemy. When you wait, follow him and do not beat the drum, and wait for the host to make its move. When you attack, camp close by and keep watch on him.

4By many and few, see how he changes

凡戰：眾寡以觀其變；進退以觀其固；危而觀其懼；靜而觀其怠；動而觀其疑；襲而觀其治。擊其疑；加其卒；致其屈；襲其規；因其不避；阻其圖；奪其慮；乘其懼。

In war, by many and few see how he changes. By advancing and withdrawing see how firm he is. Put him in peril and see his fear. Be still and see his sloth. Move and see his doubt. Raid him and see his order. Strike at his doubt, press upon him when he is caught short, bring him to bend, raid the plan he has made, take him where he does not avoid you, block what he intends, take away what he has reckoned on, and ride upon his fear.

5In pursuing a fleeing enemy do not rest

凡從奔，勿息。敵人或止不路，則慮之。

In pursuing a fleeing enemy do not rest. If the enemy halts somewhere off the road, think about it.

6Near the enemy's capital there must be a road forward

凡近敵都必有進路，退，必有返慮。

Whenever you come near the enemy's capital there must be a road by which to go forward, and when you withdraw there must be a plan for coming back.

7To be first is to wear out, to be last is to be afraid

凡戰：先則弊，後則懾，息則怠，不息亦弊，息久亦反其懾。書親絕，是謂絕顧之慮。選良次兵，是謂益人之強。棄任節食，是謂開人之意。自古之政也。

In war, to be first is to wear out and to be last is to be afraid. To rest is to grow slothful, and not to rest is also to wear out, and to rest too long turns back again into fear. Cutting off letters and cutting off those dear to them is called cutting off the thoughts that look back. Picking the good men and ranking the weapons is called adding to the strength of men. Casting off the baggage and cutting down the food is called opening up the will of men. This is the governing that comes down from of old.

‹ Questions and Replies with Li Weigong — The Upper BookContentsThe Methods of the Sima — Stern Positions ›Listen to this piece