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VOLUME TWO
Potential
Top. Part 27. Part 28. Part 29. Part 30. Part 31. Part 32. Part 33
Part 27
Sun Tzu said: Managing a big army is in principle the
same as managing a small one: it is a matter of organization. Directing a large army is the same as directing a
small troop: it is a matter of strict and impartial command.
What makes the whole army under attack not suffer defeat is a matter of adopting normal and special tactics.
Troops thrown against the enemy like a grindstone against
eggs is a matter of staying clear of the enemy's main forces
and striking at his weak points.
Part 28
During a war, the general should adopt the normal
way of confronting the enemy, while using special tactics
to take the enemy by surprise. He who is adept in such
tactics can apply them in ways as infinite as heaven and
earth and as the never-ending flow of river. They terminate, but soon begin again, like the sun and moon in motion; they die away, but then they regenerate like the
seasons in sequence. There are only five musical notes,
but their varied combinations bring about melodies more
pleasing and wonderful than ever heard. There are only
five basic colours, but their variations and blending produce colours more beautiful and splendid than ever seen.
There are only five cardinal tastes, but their mixture yields flavours more delicious and savoury than ever tasted*.
Similarly military formations are not more than the
application of special and normal tactics, but their variations and combinations will give rise to an infinite series of manoeuvres. Both special and normal tactics are
interdependent and mutually reproductive like a cyclical
movement that has neither a beginning nor an end. Who
can know its infinitude?
* In ancient China, the people considered that there were five musical notes, namely: gong, shang, jue, zhi and yu; five basic colours, namely:
blue, yellow, red, white and black; and five cardinal tastes, namely: sour, salty, pungent, bitter and sweet.
Part 29
A torrent that flows swiftly can float heavy boulders.
It is because of the strong momentum of the water. A
hawk that flies as quickly as it strikes can destroy its prey. It is because of the timeliness and speediness of its strike.
Similarly, a general who is skilled in war can exploit
his own vantage position and launch a swift and sharp attack. His potential is like a crossbow that is fully drawn,
and his swiftness is like a shaft that is shot off.
Part 30
In the tumult of battle your army should stay calm. In
the chaos of war, where there is no sense of direction,
your men should appear to be milling about in circles but
remain invulnerable.
Part 31
Disorder comes from order, cowardice stems from
courage, and weakness is born of strength. Order or disorder depends on organization, courage or cowardice on
circumstances, strength or weakness on dispositions.
Part 32
Therefore, he who is adept at moving the enemy
about can put on a deceitful appearance, according to
which the enemy will act. He can lure the enemy with
something profitable, which the enemy is certain to take.
He can drive the enemy about with small advantages and
awaits the enemy in strength.
Part 33
The general who is skilled in war always capitalizes on
the situation of war and never makes excessive demand on
his subordinates. Therefore such a general can select the
right men and fully exploit the favourable situation. He
who skilled in exploiting the situation directs his men in
battles like rolling logs or rocks. The nature of logs or
rocks is that they will remain unmoved if the ground is
flat; they will roll forward if the ground is slanting, if they are square, they Will stop there; if they are round, they will roll forward.
Thus, the force of the skilful general is just like the
momentum of a round rock rolling down a mountain of
ten thousand feet high. This is the meaning of potential.
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