Generals-Sun Zi
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Characteristic of Generals
Original: 将者，智，信，仁，勇，严也。
Modern: ‘将’是指将军的智能谋略，信能赏罚，仁能附众，勇能果断，严能立威。
English: Generals should be assessed by his wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage and discipline.
From: Sun Zi Art of War Chapter 1
Using Generals
Original: 将听吾计，用之必胜，留之。将不听吾计，用之必败，去之。计利以听，乃为之势，以佐其外。势者，因利而制权也。
Modern: 如果将帅听从我计谋，运用他可得胜利，应该留用。如果将帅不听从我计谋，运用他必失败，应该弃之不用。将帅采取了计策，可也需要利用战争走势，以辅佐作战取胜。所谓“势”是根据有利条件而采取相应措施或行动。
English: Generals who adopt my strategies would be able to win the battle; he must be retained. Generals who do not adopt my strategies would not be able to win the battle, he must be removed. Besides adopting the proposed plans and strategies, the general must create or take advantage of situations to push for victories.
From: Sun Zi Art of War Chapter 1
Importance of a Good General (I)
Original: 故兵贵胜，不贵久。故知兵之将，生民之司命，国家安危之主也。
Modern: 所以用兵作战宜速胜，不宜持久作战。熟悉用兵之法的将军，是掌握人民生死命运的人，国家安危的主宰。
English: In war, it is better to go for swift victories rather than engaging in a prolong campaign. Thus a general who is adept in warfare is also the controller of people’s fate and nation’s survival.
From: Sun Zi Art of War Chapter 2
Good Generals (II)
Original: 修橹轒辒，具器械，三月而后成，距闉, 又三月而后已。将不胜其忿，而蚁附之，杀士三分之一，而城不拔之，此攻之灾也。
Modern: 若要攻城，需制造攻城的大盾和四轮车，准备攻城器械，须三个月才完成；构筑攻城的土山又另须三个月。将帅不胜忿怒， 而下令攻城，驱使士兵像蚂蚁一样爬梯攻城，那士兵会死了三分之一，可是城却未攻下。这是攻城之灾。
English: The preparation of shields, weapons and equipment would take at least three months to complete. The preparation of the observation ramps would take another three months at least. Such long preparation may cause the general in charge to lose his patience and rationality. Thus he may launch an assault on the walls like ants, resulting in one third of his troops killed and the attacked city is still not conquered. This is the disastrous consequence of such assault.
From: Sun Zi Art of War Chapter 3
What Good Generals Aim For
Original: 故善用兵者，屈人之兵而非战也，拔人之城而非攻也，毁人之国而非久也；必以全而争天下，故兵不顿，而利可全。此谋攻之法也。
Modern: 善于用兵与谋略的将帅，不战而使敌兵屈服，不攻而多城，不久战而毁灭敌国;他必会以全胜作为考量来争天下。这样一来军队不会疲惫，士气受挫，而能取得全胜。这就是谋攻之法则。
English: The general who is adept at warfare will be able to subdue his enemy’s troops without engaging into battles, to captu re enemy’s city without launching assaults or to conquer enemy’s city without prolonged campaign. He will always focus on, using the least amount of nation’s resources to conquer his objectives whole and intact while contesting for supremacy. Thus his troops are not worn out and his victories are complete. In essence, this is the art of strategic attacks.
From: Sun Zi Art of War Chapter 3
Importance of a Good General (II)
Original: 夫将者，国之辅也。辅周则国必强，辅隙则国必弱。
Modern: 将帅是国家重要的辅助者。如果相依无间，国家一定强盛；如果相依有隙，国家一定衰弱。
English: The general being an official, serve the nation. If he is thoughtful and detailed in his work, the nation would be strong and mighty. If he is full of flaws, the nation would be weak and vulnerable.
From: Sun Zi Art of War Chapter 3
True Military Strategist (I)
Original: 见胜不过众人之所知，非善之善者也；战胜而天下曰善，非善之善者也。故举秋毫不为多力，见日月不为明目，闻雷霆不为聪耳。古之所谓善战者，胜于易胜者也。故善战者之胜也，无智名，无勇功。
Modern: 预见胜利，不超过一般人的见识，不算高明中的高明，经过激烈战斗而后取胜，天下人都说好，也不算高明中的高明。这就像是举得起秋毫算不得力大，能看得见日月算不得眼明，听得见雷声算不得耳灵。古时候善于打仗之人，选择能容易获胜的敌人，所以所得的胜利，既没智慧的名声，也没勇武的战功。
English: To predict a victory that cannot surpass the common military knowledge, is not the hallmark of a great military strategist. To win a battle that is praised by the masses, is not the hallmark of great military strategist. Predicting and achieving such victories, is like lifting a hair which does not indicate that one has great strength.To be able to see the moon and the sun does not mean one has great eyesight. To be able to hear the roar of the thunder does not mean one has sharp hearing. Ancient sages’ definition of generals who is adept at war are those that excelled in securing victories by choosing enemies that are easiest to overcome. Thus one who is adept at war, wins without being known for his wisdom, reputation, courage and merit.
From: Sun Zi Art of War Chapter 4
True Military Strategist (II)
Original: 故其战胜不忒，不忒者，其所措必胜，胜已败者也。故善战者，立于不败之地，而不失敌之败也。是故胜兵先胜而后求战，败兵而先战而后求胜。善用兵者，修道而保法，故能为胜败之政。
Modern: 所以他们取得胜利不会有差错。之所以没有差错是因为他们的作战措施是建立在必胜的基础上，战胜已处于失败地位的敌人。善于打仗的人，先立于不败之地，而又不放过任何能胜敌人的机会。打胜仗的军队，先创造取胜的条件，而后同敌人作战。打败战的军队先同敌人交战，而后希望侥幸取胜。善于作战的人，修明政治，确保法制，所以能够掌握胜败的决定权。
English: He wins battle with confidence and without making mistakes. He does not make mistakes because he adopts measures that lead to victories. Victory is already secured because the enemy is already in a position of defeat. Therefore, the person adept at warfare, will put himself in a position where odds of defeat is the smallest and grabs every opportunity to defeat the enemy. As such a would-be victorious army ensures victory before engaging the enemy. A would-be defeated troops will engage his enemy first before looking for chances of victory. The person adept in warfare not only cultivates his moral code but maintains law and order. In this way, he is able to develop policies that determine victory and defeat in war.
From: Sun Zi Art of War Chapter 4