Principles on Occupation-Sun Zi

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Principles on Occupation by Sun Zi

English: The principle governing occupation of hostile territory is: When an army penetrates deep into hostile territory, it will be more united and focused in battle; when it makes only a shallow penetration, its fighting spirit is likely to be threatened and diluted. When the army leaves its own country behind and crosses the border into another country for battle, it is on isolated ground. When an area is high accessible and communicative to various parties it is focal ground. When an army penetrates deep into hostile territory, it is on serious ground. When an army makes only a shallow penetration into hostile territory, it is on frontier ground. When the area to the rear of the army is highly dangerous and the area before it, is very narrow, it is on constricted ground. An area from which there is no escape route is called death ground.

Modern: 一般进攻敌国作战，进入敌国深则意志专一，进入敌国浅则意志溃散。离开本国进入敌境作战，称作绝地；四通八达的地区，称作衢地；进入敌国很深的地区，称作重地；进入敌国浅的地区，称作轻地；背有险固前为隘口，称作围地；无处可走的地区，称作死地。

Original: 凡为客之道：深则专，浅则散。去国越境而师者，绝地也；四通者，衢地也；入深者，重地也；入浅者，轻地也；背固前隘者，围地也；无所注者，死地也。

Business Application:

From: Sun Zi Art of War Chapter 11