戰權

The Art of War says: 'A thousand men establish authority; ten thousand men establish martial power.' He who first imposes his authority upon the enemy denies the enemy the strength to engage. He who first imposes martial force upon the enemy denies the enemy the will to resist. Therefore in warfare, seizing the initiative is paramount: if you prevail here, you will prevail there; if you cannot prevail here, you will not prevail there.

When we advance, the enemy responds; when the enemy advances, we respond -- each side alternately gaining and losing advantage. This is the natural principle of battle. Utmost sincerity lies in clarity of perception; the balance of battle lies at the furthest reach of the Way. What appears present may be absent; what appears absent may be present -- where then shall you place your trust?

What the former kings transmitted was this: uphold the righteous and eliminate deceit; preserve benevolence and compliance; execute punishments without delay. Therefore one who understands the Way must first consider the defeat that comes from not knowing when to stop -- the danger lies precisely in pressing forward to seek merit.

If you advance rashly seeking battle while the enemy has planned a halt, then your advance hands the enemy victory. Therefore the Art of War says: 'Pursue what the enemy seeks and follow it; when the enemy shows himself, press the attack. But when the defender refuses to engage and you press forward recklessly, you will certainly lose your strategic advantage.'

Those who have been overwhelmed lose their fighting spirit. Those who are terrified cannot hold a defense. Those who have been routed have no men left. In all these cases, the army lacked the Way.

When your intent to advance is resolute and free of doubt, then advance. When you can seize what the enemy holds without risk of failure, then seize it. When you can observe clearly from a commanding position, then overawe the enemy from that position. This is the ultimate principle of military conduct.

When speech lacks discipline, the army grows lax. When aggression lacks measure, the army will be broken. When the army collapses like a flood-burst or scatters like a thunder-strike, all three divisions fall into chaos.

You must stabilize what is endangered, eliminate what is harmful, and resolve matters through intelligence. Elevate affairs to the level of court deliberation; weigh them with the gravity of a mandate received from the sovereign; sharpen them with the urgency of an argument for crossing borders. Then the enemy state can be subdued without battle.