客主人分

In warfare there is the role of the guest (attacker) and the role of the host (defender). The guest requires a larger share of troops; the host requires a smaller share. When the guest has double and the host has half, then they can match each other. [The host is] the one who is established first. The guest is the one who is established later. The host secures his ground and controls the situation while waiting. The guest must force through narrows and cross over dangerous terrain to arrive. Having forced through narrows [...] retreat means death, yet advancing they dare not confront the enemy. Why is this? Because the strategic situation is unfavorable and the terrain is disadvantageous. When the situation is favorable and the terrain advantageous, then the people will naturally [...] and naturally withdraw. What is called skillful warfare is making the situation favorable and the terrain advantageous.

With hundreds of thousands of armored troops, the people have surplus grain yet cannot eat; there are surpluses [...]. Garrisoned troops are many but deployed troops are few; those in garrison have excess while those in the field are insufficient. With hundreds of thousands of armored troops, they go out by thousands and [lacuna] by thousands [...] tens of thousands to bequeath to us. What is called a skilled fighter is one who is skilled at cutting and severing, like [lacuna] one who unties knots. If you can divide the enemy's forces and suppress the enemy's forces, then even a tiny amount will have a surplus. If you cannot divide the enemy's forces and cannot suppress the enemy's forces, then even several times their number will be insufficient.

Do the numerous always win? Then just count heads and fight. Do the wealthy always win? Then just measure grain and fight. Do those with sharp weapons and strong armor always win? Then victory would be easy to predict. Therefore wealth does not guarantee security, nor poverty danger. Numbers do not guarantee victory, nor scarcity defeat. What determines victory and defeat, security and danger, is the Way. If the enemy is numerous but you can cause them to be separated and unable to rescue each other, so the defenders cannot [...] make a stronghold, strong armor and sharp weapons cannot serve as strength, and soldiers with courage and power cannot protect their general — then there is a Way to victory. Therefore an enlightened ruler and a general who knows the Way must first [lacuna]; achievements can be had before battle is joined, so nothing is lost. Achievements can be had after battle is concluded, so the army goes out and succeeds, returns without harm — this is one who is enlightened in warfare.

[The following are scattered strips.] ...As the guest (attacker), one must act before the enemy [...]. The military text says: the host intercepts the guest at the border [...]. If the guest is fond of taking action, then [...] cause them to be exhausted. When the soldiers of the three armies can all be made to lose their resolve, then victory can be grasped and held. Thus press the left and strike the right — the right is defeated and the left cannot rescue it. Press the right and support the left — the left is defeated and the right cannot rescue it. Thus troops sit and do not rise, avoid and are not employed. Those nearby are few and insufficient; those far away are dispersed and cannot [respond].