The Nine Battlegrounds,九地 - Sun Tzu Art of War Chapter 11
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The Nine Battlegrounds,九地 is Chapter 11 of Sun Zi Art of War.
What are the Nine Battlegrounds
Original: 孙子曰：用兵之法，有散地，有轻地，有争地，有交地，有衡地，有重地，有圮地，有围地，有死地。
English: Sun Zi said: In the deployment of troops, there is...
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Nine Battlegrounds (I)
Original: 诸侯自战其地者，为散地。入人之地而不深者，为轻地。我得亦利，彼得亦利者，为争地。
English: When various warlords fight over the occupation of...
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Nine Battlegrounds (II)
Original: 我可以往，彼可以来者，为交地。诸侯之地三属，先至而得天下之众者，为衢地。入人之地深，背城邑多者，为重地。
English: An area that is easily accessible to me and to the other side is ...
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Nine Battlegrounds (III)
Original: 行山林、险阻、沮泽，凡难行之道者，为圯地。所由入者隘，所从旧者迂，彼寡可以击吾之众者，为围地。疾战则存，不疾战则亡者，为死地。
English: When an army is moving along forested mountains, dangerous mountain passes,...
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What to Do at Battlegrounds
Original: 是故散地则无战，轻地则无止，争地则无攻， 交地则无绝，衢地则合交，重地则掠，圯地则行，围地则谋，死地则战。
English: Therefore, when on dispersive ground, do not...
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Adept at Warfare Does
Original: 古之善用兵者，能使敌人前后不相及，众寡不相恃，贵贱不相救，上下不相收，卒离而不集，兵合而不齐。合于利而动，不合于利而止。
English: It is said that the skilful military strategists of the past were...
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What to Do to An Army Superior in Numbers
Original: 敢问：“敌众整而将来，待之若何？” 曰： “先夺其所爱，则听矣。”
English: When I am asked: What can be done to an approaching enemy that is..
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Speed is the Essence
Original: 兵之情主速，乘人之不及，由不虞之道，攻其所不戒也。
English: Speed is the essence in the use and...
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Principles on Invading
Original: 凡为客之道：深入则专，主人不克；掠于饶野，三军足食；谨养而勿劳，并气积力；运兵计谋，为不可测。
English: The principles governing an invading force are as follows:...
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Placing Troops in the Foreign Territory
Original: 投之无所往，死且不北，死焉不得，士人尽力。兵士甚陷则不惧，无所往则固，入深则拘，不得已则斗。是故其兵不修而戒，不求而得，不约而亲，不令而信，禁祥去疑，至死无所之。
English: Place your troops in positions where they cannot ...
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When War is Declared
Original: 吾士无余财，非恶货也；无余命，非恶寿也。令发之日，士卒坐者涕霑襟，偃卧者涕交颐。投之无所往者，诸，刿之勇也。
English: My officers and men do not have excess wealth; but it is not...
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Be Like Snake
Original: 故善用兵者，譬如率然。率然者，常山之蛇也。击其首则尾至， 击其尾则首至，击其中则首尾俱至。
English: Thus the army adept in warfare may be likened to...
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How to Be Like Snake
Original: 敢问：“兵可使如率然乎?” 曰：“可。” 夫吴人与越人相恶也，当其同舟而济，遇风，其相救也，如左右手。是故方马埋轮，未足恃也。齐勇若一，政之道也；刚柔皆得，地之理也。故善用兵者，携手若使一人，不得已也。
English: When I am asked: Can the deployment of troops have...
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What the General Should Do
Original: 将军之事：静以幽、正以治。能愚士卒之耳目，使之无知。易其事、革其谋，使人无识； 易其居、遇其途，使人不得虑。帅与之期，如登高而去其梯。帅与之深入诸侯之地，而发其机，焚舟破釜；若驱群羊，驱而往，驱而来，莫知所之。聚三军之众，投之于险，此将军之事也。
English: The art of generalship is to be...
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Important Aspects General Need to Study
Original: 九地之变，屈伸之利，人情之双，不可不察也。
English: The variations and changes of the various types of ground, the advantages...
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Principles on Occupation
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。
English: The principle governing occupation of hostile territory is: When an army...
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When In Hostile Territory
Original: 是故散地，吾将一其志；轻地，吾将使之属；争地，吾将趋其后；交地，吾将谨其守；衢地，吾将固其结；重地，吾将继其食；圯地，否将进其途； 围地，吾将塞其阙；死地，否将示之以不活。
English: On dispersive ground, the general must...
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Intuitive Nature of Soldiers
Original: 故兵之情：围则御，不得已则斗，过则从。
English: It is intuitive nature of soldiers to...
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Principles of War
Original: 是故不知诸侯之谋者，不能预交；不知山林、险阻、沮泽之形者，不能行军；不用乡导者，不能得地利。
English: Thus, if the schemes and ploys of the neighbouring warlords are...
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How Hegemon Wins
Original: 四五者，一不知，非霸王之兵也。夫霸王之兵，伐大国，则其众不得聚；威加于敌，则其交不得合。是故不争天下之交，不养天下之权，信己之私，威加于敌，故其城可拔，其国可隳。
English: If one fails to understand and exploit even one of...
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In War Situation
Original: 施无法之赏，悬无政之令，犯三军之众，若使一人。犯之以事，勿告以言； 犯之以利，勿告以害。投之亡地然后存，陷之死地然后生。夫众陷于害，然后能为胜败。
English: In a war situation, bestows rewards that do not...
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Art of Warfare
Original: 故为兵之事，在于顺详敌之意，并敌一向，千里杀将，是谓巧能成事。
English: Thus the art of warfare is to pretend to...
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When Date of War is Decided
Original: 是故政举之日，夷关折符，无通其使；厉于廊庙之上，以诛其事。
English: Thus, when the date for war is decided upon, close...
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Be Coy then Swift
Original: 敌人开阖，必亟入之。先其所爱，微与之期。践墨随敌，以决战事。是故始知处女，敌人开户，后如脱免，敌不及拒。
English: When the enemy provides an opening, move in...
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