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An army uses stillness to consolidate and concentration to win. When strength is divided, it weakens; when resolve is divided, men desert.

Weakened strength means advances and retreats lack force, and released enemies cannot be captured. Officers and soldiers must act as a single body in both movement and stillness.

When doubt takes root, decisions are made but not acted on, and actions are taken but not controlled. Orders contradict, talk is empty, the general lacks composure, the soldiers lack training -- any attack launched will fail. This is called a rash and reckless army, not worth fighting alongside.

The commander is the mind; the subordinates are the limbs. When the mind acts with conviction, the limbs necessarily exert their full strength. When the mind acts with doubt, the limbs necessarily fail.

If the general does not control through mental resolve and the soldiers do not move in disciplined coordination, then even a victory is merely a lucky win -- it is not the principle of attack.

People cannot fear two things at once. If they fear us, they will despise the enemy; if they fear the enemy, they will despise us. Whoever is despised loses; whoever establishes authority wins.

When a general masters this principle: the officers fear their general; because officers fear their general, the soldiers fear their officers; because soldiers fear their officers, the enemy fears our soldiers. Therefore, whoever understands the way of victory and defeat must first understand the balance of fear and contempt.

If you do not win hearts through benevolence, men will not serve you. If you do not instill awe through severity, men will not follow your lead. Benevolence flows downward and produces obedience; authority stands above and commands respect. Because of benevolence, loyalty is undivided; because of authority, rules are not violated. The art of the good general consists of nothing more than benevolence and authority.

Do not speak of battle unless victory is certain. Do not speak of attack unless the objective can be taken. Otherwise, even the system of rewards and punishments cannot be trusted. Credibility must be established before the deadline; action must be taken before signs appear.

Once troops are assembled, do not disband them for nothing. Once an army has marched out, do not bring it back empty-handed. Seek the enemy as if searching for a lost child. Strike the enemy as if rescuing a drowning man.

Those confined in dangerous positions have no will to fight. Those who provoke battle recklessly lack full morale. Those who fight on impulse have no victorious army.

When fighting for a righteous cause, it is best to take the initiative. When fighting over private disputes and grudges, it is best to treat it as a last resort. When a grudge is hard to resolve, it is best to wait.

Therefore in a contest, you must wait for the right moment; in a truce, you must prepare for the next conflict.

Wars can be won at court, on the open field, or in the marketplace. Winning through brute force while losing through surrender, surviving only by luck -- this is merely startling the enemy into a partial victory. A partial victory carries no lasting authority.

Therefore when an enlightened ruler goes to war, he sounds drums and horns in unison and controls with weapons and discipline. He does not seek victory, yet victory comes.

Some armies win even when they strip away fortifications and drop all display of force -- because they have a system. Their equipment is prepared in advance, their response to the enemy is thorough, their chain of command is perfected. Five men form a squad, ten a platoon, a hundred a company, a thousand a battalion, ten thousand an army -- complete and perfected. If men die in the morning, they are replaced by morning; if they die in the evening, they are replaced by evening. Assess the enemy and evaluate your general, and only then commit to war.

When concentrating forces from a thousand li away, allow ten days; from a hundred li, one day -- and always assemble at the enemy's border. Once troops gather and the general arrives, penetrate deep into enemy territory. Cut off their roads, press against their major cities and towns. Force their population onto the walls in layers of men and women, pressing them against the terrain, and attack the fortified points.

Seize one city while cutting off multiple roads, then assault from multiple directions. When the enemy's commanders cannot maintain trust, officers and soldiers cannot cooperate, and discipline breaks down, then we have defeated them. Before the enemy's relief force arrives, the city has already surrendered.

If fords and bridges have not been secured, strategic passes have not been fortified, city defenses have not been erected, and abatis have not been laid -- then even with a city, there is no defense. If outlying forts have not been occupied and garrison troops have not returned -- then even with people, there are no people. If livestock have not been gathered, grain has not been harvested, and supplies have not been collected -- then even with resources, there are no resources.

When a city is empty and its resources exhausted, exploit its emptiness and attack. The principle states: 'Strike and withdraw at will -- the enemy cannot even cross blades with you before being brought to submission.' This is what it means.