Energy

1. Sun Tzŭ said: The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.

1. Sun Tzu said: Commanding a large force follows the same principle as commanding a few men. It is simply a matter of dividing the force into groups.

2. Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.

2. Fighting with a large army under your command is no different from fighting with a small one. You only need to establish signs and signals.

3. To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy’s attack and remain unshaken—this is effected by manœuvers direct and indirect.

3. To ensure your entire army can withstand the full force of the enemy’s attack and remain unshaken, use direct and indirect maneuvers.

4. That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg—this is effected by the science of weak points and strong.

4. To make your army strike like a grindstone smashing an egg, skillfully use weak and strong points.

5. In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

5. In all fighting, direct methods may be used to engage the enemy. But indirect methods are needed to secure victory.

6. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away but to return once more.

6. Indirect tactics, used efficiently, are as limitless as Heaven and Earth and as unending as rivers and streams. Like the sun and moon, these tactics end only to begin again. Like the four seasons, these tactics pass away only to return once more.

7. There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.

7. There are only five musical notes. Yet combinations of these five notes create more melodies than can ever be heard.

8. There are not more than five primary colours (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever be seen.

8. There are no more than five primary colours (blue, yellow, red, white, and black). Yet together, these colours produce more shades than can ever be seen.

9. There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.

9. There are no more than five basic tastes (sour, sharp, salty, sweet, bitter). Yet combinations of these tastes produce more flavours than anyone could ever taste.

10. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack—the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of manœuvers.

10. In battle, there are only two methods of attack: direct and indirect. Yet combining these two methods creates an endless series of maneuvers.

11. The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle—you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?

11. Direct and indirect methods lead to each other in turn. Like moving in a circle, the process never ends. Who can exhaust the possibilities of combining these methods?

12. The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.

12. Troops charge like a rushing torrent that can roll even stones along in its path.

13. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

13. A good decision is like a falcon’s perfectly timed dive, allowing the bird to strike and kill its prey.

14. Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.

14. Therefore, a skilled fighter will attack with terrifying force and make decisions quickly.

15. Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger.

15. Energy may be compared to drawing back a crossbow. Decisive action may be compared to pulling the trigger.

16. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.

16. Amid the turmoil and noise of battle, there may seem to be disorder, yet no real disorder exists. Amid confusion and chaos, your formation may have no clear front or rear, yet it will withstand defeat.

17. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.

17. Pretending to be disorganized requires perfect discipline. Pretending to be afraid requires courage. Pretending to be weak requires strength.

18. Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.

18. Hiding order behind apparent disorder is simply a matter of dividing troops into smaller units. Hiding courage behind a show of fear requires a reserve of energy. Hiding strength behind apparent weakness requires tactical positioning.

19. Thus one who is skilful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it.

19. So someone skilled at keeping the enemy moving creates false appearances that the enemy will act on. He gives something up so that the enemy may seize it.

20. By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body of picked men he lies in wait for him.

20. By offering bait, he keeps the enemy on the move. Then he waits in ambush with a group of handpicked men.

21. The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilise combined energy.

21. The skilled fighter relies on the power of combined effort and does not demand too much from individuals. This allows him to choose the right men and use their combined strength.

22. When he utilises combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped, to go rolling down.

22. When he uses combined energy, his soldiers become like rolling logs or stones. For logs and stones naturally stay still on level ground and move on a slope. If they have four corners, they come to a stop. But if they are round, they roll downhill.

23. Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject of energy.

23. So the energy generated by skilled fighters is like the momentum of a round stone rolling down a mountain thousands of feet high. That concludes the discussion of energy.