infinite number of variations is possible when they are combined. Also, colors and flavors can be combined to create an unlimited number of variations. Likewise, there are a countless number of possible combinations of ki (conventional) and sei (unconventional), both of which constitute military tactics. Since the possibilities are endless, no one can ever know all of them.
Momentum
Gain momentum rather than acquiring useless knowledge. When water is held back, it will eventually form a torrent and wash away boulders. There lies the momentum.
A raptor crushes its prey with one stroke. There lies the explosive force.
When a bow is drawn fully, an accumulated force will be released as momentum, instantly transforming itself into explosive force. Such an accumulated force is destructive.
Control
When there is confusion and chaos on the battlefield, order can quickly turn into disorder. Whether there will be order or disorder depends on control.
Bravery can change into cowardice. Whether there will be bravery or cowardice depends on momentum. Strength can easily be transformed into weakness. Whether there will be strength or weakness depends on circumstances.
Warriors skilled at strategizing pressure their opponents to make a move. Such warriors put out the bait to lure their opponents, who will be tempted by a chance to benefit themselves. Once they take the bait, such warriors waste no time in overwhelming them with powerful military strength.
When there is confusion on the battlefield, do not allow soldiers to fall into disarray. Even when there is chaos on the battlefield, never let your guard down.
Seek Momentum Instead of Assistance
Logs and stones are stationary when placed on a flat surface. When they are placed on a slope, they will start moving naturally. Angular objects remain still; round objects roll over. To fight with momentum is to let the round stones roll swiftly into the bottom of a canyon.
Masterful fighters stress the importance of gaining momentum. They do not expect much from each soldier; rather, they value the momentum of the armed forces as a whole. They focus on uniting the entire military and building up momentum.
Seek momentum instead of assistance. Rather than asking for help, swim with the current of the times.
Substance and Void
Like the flow of water, the war situation does not take on a particular shape. To gain advantage in battle, you need to take control and manipulate your adversary at will.
Be the first to arrive on the scene. Break up enemy forces. Avoid powerful enemies and attack weak points. To fight is to focus on substance and void.
Control
Good warriors strive to take control of the situation.
First, entice the enemy by making them believe that the situation is in their favor. To prevent the enemy from readying themselves for war, keep them from believing that the situation is against them.
When your opponent is at rest, do whatever is necessary to confuse and exhaust him. When your opponent is eating well, block the food supply to starve him. When your opponent is calm, initiate a scheme to distress him. When your opponent is on the offensive, outsmart him by launching an unexpected attack.
You will be able to fight with composure if you arrive first on the battlefield, waiting for the enemy’s arrival. Conversely, you will struggle if you arrive late on the scene to confront enemy forces awaiting you.
To fight is to turn the tables. To ensure victory, strike the enemy at places where defense is vulnerable. When on the defensive, defend spots that are difficult for the enemy to attack.
When on an expedition to the hostile territory, choose a route free of enemy forces. When confronted by good offense, it may be difficult to know where to defend. When confronted by good defense, it may be difficult to know where to attack. To take control is to be able to implement this strategy at will.
When you do not want to fight, make your opponent unable to fight. Use unconventional tactics to throw him into confusion. Conversely, when you want to fight, strike at places your opponent cannot ignore.
To gain control, your opponent’s power must be shifted toward you. Take control of the situation by using your opponent’s power, rather than resorting to force. War is a struggle for control. When troops lose control after being forced to act defensively, they will lose freedom of action and suffer defeat.
Convergence and Dispersion
The size of armed forces is not an absolute measurement of strength; what matters is the condition of your troops and enemy forces.
When the opposition’s next move is not known, your troops will have to be stretched thin to cover vast regions. Conversely, this means that when the size of your troops is large, you can disperse enemy troops by concealing your next move.
If enemy troops are forced to stay in one place with the possibility of being attacked from any direction, they have no choice but to split up.
If you can follow the opposition’s every step without allowing them to know your next move, this will force the other side to divert their resources. Once enemy troops are scattered, you will have fewer soldiers to confront.
When the front is reinforced, the rear becomes vulnerable. When the rear is reinforced, the front becomes vulnerable. When all sides are reinforced, all sides become vulnerable.
Victory is the result of human efforts; victory is not the result of a natural course of action. Even when you are outnumbered and eclipsed by enemy forces, you can disable them through the tactics of convergence and dispersion. You can turn the tables by having your troops converge while at the same time dispersing enemy forces.
Knowing where and when fighting will take place before the enemy does ensures victory, even after travelling for 1,000 ri (250 miles).
Lack of this knowledge makes it impossible for soldiers to cooperate. Such information is crucial especially when you are on a military expedition.
Being Able to Change Flexibly
There are four requirements for victory. That is to say, there are four ways to gather information about the enemy.
1. Examine the war situation to assess who is stronger.
2. Entice the enemy into making a move.
3. Provoke the enemy into action to identify the geographically vital spots that can decide their fate.
4. Cause a skirmish to determine the strong and weak points of the enemy.
In times of war, it is of utmost importance to never allow the opposition to know your war plans. With this policy in place, even if enemy spies infiltrated into your troops on the battlefield, they would not find anything valuable. Even if commanders of enemy forces were ingenuous, they would not be able to attack and prevail.
Ordinary people may have difficulty understanding the fact that adjusting war plans to the condition of the enemy will bring victory. Ordinary people may eventually find out that success is attributed to the military strategy adopted by troops. However, it
