Enemy You Can Attack-Wu Qi

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Need for Strengthening Domestic and External Issues-Wu Qi

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English

Wu Qi said:"In general when evaluating the enemy, there are eight conditions under which one engages battle without doing assessment.

In violent winds and extreme cold, they arise early and on the march while barely awake and breaking ice to cross streams.
In the burning heat of the summer, they arise late and press forward with haste, through hunger and thirst, concentrating on reaching far off objectives.
The army has been out in the field for an extended period; their food supplies are exhausted; the people areresentful and angry; numerous baleful portents arisen with the officers unable to squash them.
The army's resources have already been exhausted; firewood and hay are scarce; weather frequently cloudy and rainy; and even if they wanted to plunder for supplies, there is nowhere to do it.
The troops that are mobilized is not large; the terrain and water not advantageous; the men and horses are sick and worn out and no assistance from their allies.
The road is far and the sun setting; the officers and men have labored long and are fearful. They are tired and have not eaten, having just cast aside their armour.
The generals are weak, the official irresponsible; the officers and troops are not solid, the whole army is frequently in fear and the troops lack assistance.
Their formations are not yet formed, their encampment not yet finished or they are passing through dangerous territory only half of their troops are out of it.

In these eight conditions, you can attack them without any doubts."

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Modern

吴起说：“不必占卜吉凶就能够与之交战的有八种情况：

第一是，在吹着烈风的寒冷冬天，一大早就开始行军，入夜还迁徒不定，并且不顾艰难，企图强行渡河。第二是，在炎炎夏日，部队出发迟缓，中途又不休息，且不顾士兵饥渴，往远处行军。第三是，军队长期出征在外，粮食匮乏，人民怨怒，凶吉祸福的谣言纷起，指挥官无力阻止。第四是，军队的物资、燃料、粮秣用尽，偏逢连日阴雨，无法就地掠夺，补充军需。第五是，士卒人数不多，水土不服，人马病倒，又孤立无援。第六是，长途行军，；离目的地还有一段距离，但天色已晚，士兵疲劳、恐慌又饥饿，正解除武装休息。第七是，指挥官没有权威，干部轻浮不实，而且军心涣散，精神不稳，一再虚惊骚动，全军彷徨无助。第八是，开始部署阵营或扎营，但尚未完整；部队正行经险峻地形，但还没有完全走完，只有一半通过。

以上八种情况，我军可放心攻击，不必游移。”

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Original

吴子曰：“凡料敌有不卜而与之战者八。一曰：”疾风大寒，早兴寐迁，刊木济水，不惮艰难。二曰：盛夏炎热，晏兴无间，行驱饥渴，务于取远。三曰：师既淹久，粮食无有，百姓怨怒，妖祥数起，上不能止。四曰：军资既竭，薪刍既寡，天多阴雨，欲掠无所。五曰：徒众不多，水地不利，人马疾疫，四邻不至。六曰：道远日暮，士众劳惧，倦而未食，解甲而息。七曰：将薄吏轻，士卒不固，三军数惊，师徒无助。八曰：陈而未定，舍而未毕，行坂涉险，半隐半出。诸如此者，击之无疑。”

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