Verse 2-Wei Liao Zi Art of War Chapter 4

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Verse 2-Wei Liao Zi Art of War Chapter 4

English

Now the means by which the general fights is the people; the means by which the people fight is their fighting spirit. When their fighting spirit is substantial they will fight; when their fighting spirit has been snatched away, they will run off. Before formation has been formed, before the soldiers have clashed, the means by which one overpower the enemy are five.

Producing great strategy to pre-empt
Giving the mandate to the correct person
Being able to cross into enemy's border
Having great defense like deep moats and high walls
Proper mobilizing, deploying, and applying punitive measures to the enemy

In these five cases, first evaluate the enemy and afterward move. In this way, you can attack their weakness and seize them.

One who excels at employing the army is able to seize men and not be seized by others. This seizing requires wisdom. Orders unify the minds of the masses. When the masses are not understood by the general, the orders will have to be changed frequently. When orders are changed frequently, then even though orders are issued, the masses will not have faith in them. Thus the rule of thumb for giving commands is that small errors need not be rectified, minor doubts need not be cleared. Thus when those above do not issue doubtful orders, the masses will not listen to two different version. When actions do not have any questionable aspects, the multitude will not have divided intentions, There has never been an instance where the people did not believe in the capability of their leader and the general were still able to attain their strength. There has never been the case that the general did not make the masses voluntary offer their services and still gain their services.

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Modern

将军所赖以作战的是军队，军队所赖以作战的是士气。士气旺盛就勇于战斗，士气沮丧就会溃败。在军队还未行动，双方还未接触时就能够压倒敌人的条件有五个方面，一是朝廷的决策英明，二是将军选拔的人，三是进入敌境的迅速突然，四是本国防务的坚强充实，五是列阵决战的指挥正确。这五个方面都要先分析敌情，而后行动，用以实击虚的办法去压倒敌人。善于用兵的人，能压倒敌人。而不为敌人所压倒。压倒敌人，在于将帅的机智。号令是用来统一军队行动的，对军队情况不了解，号令就会经常变更，经常变更的号令，纵然下达了，大家也都不会相信。因此，下达号令的原则是，有小的缺点不必变更，有点不明确也不须重申。所以，上级没有可疑的命令，大众也就不会无所适从；行动没有犹豫不定的事情，大众就不会三心二意。从来就没有不取得大众衷心信任，而能得到他们自愿效力的，也没有不取得大众自愿效力，而能使他们拚命作战的。

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Original

夫将之所以战者，民也；民之所以战者，气也。气实则斗，气夺则走。刑未加，兵未接，而所以夺敌者五：一曰庙胜之论，二曰受命之论，三曰逾垠之论，四曰深沟高垒之论，五曰举陈加刑之论。此五者，先料敌而后动，是以击虚夺之也。善用兵者，能夺人而不夺于人。夺者，心之机也。令者，一众心也。众不审则数变，数变则令虽出，众不信矣。故令之法，小过无更，小疑无申。故上无疑令则众不二听；动无疑事则众不二志。未有不信其心而能得其力者，未有不得其力而能致其死战者也。

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