Detecting Enemy Situation-Wu Qi
From World's Chinese Wiki
Detecting Enemy Situation-Wu Qi
Contents |
English
Lord Wu inquired:"From the external appearance, I would be able to know their internal situations. From their advance, I would know their objective. From these, I am able to predict victory or defeat. What is your opinion on this?"
Wu Qi replied:"If the enemy approaches in large numbers but in a disarray, their flags and formations are in a mess and the troops frequently look about. By using one tenth of their strength, we can invariably cause them to be helpless.
If reinforcement have not arrived, there is disunity within the troops, preparations for defense has not been completed, orders and rules have not been announced, the morale of the army is shaken, they cannot advance or retreat. You can defeat the enemy with half of its strength and never lose at all."
Modern
魏武侯向吴起问道：“藉着观察敌人的外在表面，就能知晓敌人的内在虚实；观察敌人的前进方式，就能知晓敌人的目的，并以此来判断最后胜利属谁，你对着有什么看法？”
吴起答道：“如果敌军来攻时，浩浩荡荡，漫无顾忌，且军旗杂乱，人马频频回顾。这种敌军，只要用十分之一的兵力，便能使其慌乱不知所措。若是敌方的援军尚未会合，君臣之间不团结，防御工事还没完成，法令规章并未发布，军心骚动，既不能前进，又不敢后退。这样的敌人，只要用一半的兵力，便能获胜。”
Original
武侯问曰：“吾欲观敌之外以知其内，察其进以知其止，以定胜负，可得闻乎？”
起对曰：“敌人之来，荡荡无虑，旌旗烦乱，人马数顾，一可击十，必使无措。诸侯未会，君臣未和，沟垒未成，禁令未施，三军匈匈，欲前不能，欲去不敢，以半击倍，百战不殆。”
Applications
From: Wu Qi Art of War Chapter 2