Attacking with Fire

1. Sun Tzŭ said: There are five ways of attacking with fire. The first is to burn soldiers in their camp; the second is to burn stores; the third is to burn baggage-trains; the fourth is to burn arsenals and magazines; the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy.

1. Sun Tzu said: There are five ways to attack with fire. The first is to burn soldiers in their camp. The second is to burn supplies. The third is to burn baggage trains. The fourth is to burn weapons depots and ammunition stores. The fifth is to hurl burning material among the enemy.

2. In order to carry out an attack, we must have means available. The material for raising fire should always be kept in readiness.

2. To carry out an attack, we must have the necessary resources available. Materials for starting fires should always be kept ready.

3. There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and special days for starting a conflagration.

3. There is a right season for attacking with fire, and specific days for starting a large fire.

4. The proper season is when the weather is very dry; the special days are those when the moon is in the constellations of the Sieve, the Wall, the Wing or the Cross-bar; for these four are all days of rising wind.

4. The right season is when the weather is very dry. The best days are when the moon is in the Sieve, the Wall, the Wing or the Cross-bar constellations. This is because all four mark days when the wind rises.

5. In attacking with fire, one should be prepared to meet five possible developments:

5. When attacking with fire, you should be ready for five possible developments:

6. (1) When fire breaks out inside the enemy’s camp, respond at once with an attack from without.

6. (1) When fire breaks out inside the enemy’s camp, attack immediately from outside.

7. (2) If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy’s soldiers remain quiet, bide your time and do not attack.

7. (2) If a fire breaks out but the enemy’s soldiers stay quiet, wait and do not attack.

8. (3) When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it up with an attack, if that is practicable; if not, stay where you are.

8. (3) When the flames reach their peak, follow up with an attack if possible. If an attack is not possible, stay where you are.

9. (4) If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait for it to break out within, but deliver your attack at a favourable moment.

9. (4) If you can attack with fire from outside, do not wait for fire to break out inside. Instead, attack at the right moment.

10. (5) When you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward.

10. (5) When you start a fire, stay upwind of the fire. Do not attack from downwind.

11. A wind that rises in the daytime lasts long, but a night breeze soon falls.

11. A wind that starts during the day lasts a long time, but a night breeze soon dies down.

12. In every army, the five developments connected with fire must be known, the movements of the stars calculated, and a watch kept for the proper days.

12. Every army must understand the five developments connected with fire. Each army must calculate the stars’ movements and watch for the right days.

13. Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence; those who use water as an aid to the attack gain an accession of strength.

13. So those who use fire to support an attack show intelligence. Those who use water to support an attack gain strength.

14. By means of water, an enemy may be intercepted, but not robbed of all his belongings.

14. Water may be used to cut off an enemy, but not to take away all his belongings.

15. Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise; for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.

15. Anyone who tries to win battles and succeed in attacks without developing initiative is doomed to an unhappy fate. Such an approach wastes time and brings progress to a halt.

16. Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.

16. Thus the saying: A wise ruler plans well ahead. A good general builds up his resources.

17. Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.

17. Do not move unless you see an advantage. Do not use your troops unless there is something to gain. Do not fight unless the situation is critical.

18. No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.

18. No ruler should send troops to war merely to vent his anger. No general should fight a battle simply because he feels offended.

19. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.

19. If moving forward gives you an advantage, advance. If not, stay where you are.

20. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content.

20. Anger may turn to happiness over time. Frustration may give way to contentment.

21. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

21. But once a kingdom has been destroyed, it can never be restored. Nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

22. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. This is the way to keep a country at peace and an army intact.

22. So a wise ruler pays close attention, and a good general acts with great caution. Such care keeps a country at peace and an army intact.