兵征

King Wu asked Taigong: 'I wish to know the enemy's strength or weakness before battle and foresee the signs of victory or defeat. How should this be done?' Taigong said: 'The signs of victory or defeat manifest first in the spirit — the perceptive general observes them, and their proof lies in the people. Carefully observe the enemy's comings and goings, advances and retreats. Examine their movements and stillness, their speech and omens, and what the soldiers report. When the three armies are content and cheerful, when the soldiers respect the law and honor their general's commands, when they encourage each other about defeating the enemy, when they boast to one another of courage and ferocity, when they compete in displays of martial prowess — these are the signs of strength. When the three armies are frequently startled, when the soldiers are disorderly, when they frighten each other with talk of the enemy's strength, when they tell each other of unfavorable conditions, when they watch each other nervously, when ominous rumors will not cease, when the crowd is confused by conflicting talk, when they do not fear the laws and do not respect their general — these are the signs of weakness.'

When the three armies are well organized, the battle formations are solid, moats are deep and ramparts high, and you have the advantage of strong wind and heavy rain; when for no apparent reason the banners point forward, when the sound of the golden bells is bright and clear, when the sound of the war drums is resonant and full — these are signs of receiving the aid of divine spirits, omens of great victory. When the formations are not solid, when banners are tangled and wrapped around each other, when the wind and rain work against you, when the soldiers are frightened, when their spirit is broken and disconnected, when the war horses bolt in panic, when chariot axles break, when the sound of the golden bells is low and murky, when the sound of the war drums is dull and muffled — these are signs of great defeat.'

When besieging a city or surrounding a town: if the city's vapor appears like dead ash, the city can be slaughtered. If the city's vapor rises and drifts north, the city can be overcome. If the city's vapor rises and drifts west, the city will surely surrender. If the city's vapor rises and drifts south, the city cannot be taken. If the city's vapor rises and drifts east, the city cannot be attacked. If the city's vapor rises then flows back in, the city's lord will flee northward. If the city's vapor rises and settles over our army, the army will surely suffer illness. If the city's vapor rises high with no limit, the campaign will be protracted. Whenever besieging a city or surrounding a town, if more than ten days pass without thunder or rain, you must withdraw quickly — the city surely has a powerful protector. This is how to know when to attack and attack, and when not to attack and stop.' King Wu said: 'Excellent!'