Testing Enemy General-Wu Qi
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Testing Enemy General-Wu Qi
English
Lord Wu asked:"When two armies are confronting each other and I do not know their general. If I would like to know more about him, what methods can I employ?"
Wu Qi replied:"Gather some lower ranks men who are courageous and have them lead some light shock troops to test him. When the enemy responds to the attack, they, the shock troops, should pretend to run off. If the enemy move and stop in unison and their formation well preserved; when they pursue us, they feign being unable to catch up; when they perceived easy gain, they pretend not to realize it. A commander of such troops is termed as a 'wise general'.Do not engage him.
If their troops approach yelling and screaming, their flags and banner are not in formation, some of their units move in their own accord and no proper holding of weapons; and when they puruse, they pursue as if they are afraid they will not reach us, or seeing advantage are afraid of not gaining it, this marks a 'stupid general'. Even if his troops are numerous, he can still be taken."
Modern
武侯问道：“两国对崎，不知敌将的才能，我想调查清楚，用什么办法呢？”
吴起答道：“让地位低而勇敢的战士，率领轻装精锐的小部队去试探攻击敌人，务必要败退，不要求胜，然后观察敌人出战的行动。如果敌人的进退行止有条不紊，追击假装追不上，见到战利品假装没看见，这样的将领是有智谋的，，不要和他交战。如果敌人喧哗吵嚷，旌旗混乱，士卒行动不统一，兵器横七竖八，追我军唯恐不及，，见利唯恐不得，这样的将领是愚昧的，敌军众多，仍然可俘虏敌将。”
Original
武侯问曰：“两军相望，不知其将，我欲相之，其术如何？”
起对曰：“令贱而勇者，将轻锐以尝之，务于北，无务于得。观敌之来，一坐一起，其政以理，其追北佯为不及，其见利佯为不知，如此将者，名为智将，勿与战 矣。若其众[灌字“氵”旁换“讠”旁]哗，旌旗烦乱，其卒自行自止，其兵或纵或横，其追北恐不及，见利恐不得，此为愚将，虽众可获。”
Applications
From: Wu Qi Art of War Chapter 4