XI. The Nine Situations
孙子曰：用兵之法，有散地，有轻地，有争地，有交地，有衢地，有重地，有泛地，有围地，有
死地。
Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6) serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9) desperate ground.
诸侯自战其地者，为散地；
When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive ground.
入人之地不深者，为轻地；
When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to no GREat distance, it is facile ground.
我得亦利，彼得亦利者，为争地；
Ground the possession of which imports great advantage to either side, is contentious ground.
我可以往，彼可以来者，为交地；
Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is open ground.
诸侯之地三属，先至而得天下众者，为衢地；
Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states, so that he who occupies it first has most of the Empire at his command, is a ground of intersecting highways.
入人之地深，背城邑多者，为重地；
When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country, leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it is serious ground.
山林、险阻、沮泽，凡难行之道者，为泛地；
Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens--all country that is hard to traverse: this is difficult ground.
所由入者隘，所从归者迂，彼寡可以击吾之众者，为围地；
Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from which we can only retire by tortuous paths, so that a small number of the enemy would suffice to crush a large body of our men: this is hemmed in ground.
疾战则存，不疾战则亡者，为死地。
Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.
是故散地则无战，轻地则无止，争地则无攻，
On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not.
交地则无绝，衢地则合交，
On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies.
重地则掠，泛地则行，
On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march.
围地则谋，死地则战。
On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, fight.
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，
Those who were called skillful leaders of old knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear; to prevent co-operation between his large and small divisions; to hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad, the officers from rallying their men.
卒离而不集，兵合而不齐。
When the enemy's men were united, they managed to keep them in disorder.
合于利而动，不合于利而止。
When it was to their advantage, they made a forward move; when otherwise, they stopped still.
敢问敌众而整将来，待之若何曰：先夺其所爱则听矣。
If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: "Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will."
兵之情主速，乘人之不及。由不虞之道，攻其所不戒也。
Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.
凡为客之道，深入则专。主人不克，
The following are the principles to be observed by an invading force: The further you penetrate into a country, the greater will be the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders will not prevail against you.
掠于饶野，三军足食。
Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your army with food.
谨养而勿劳，并气积力，运兵计谋，为不可测。
Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not overtax them. Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army continually on the move, and devise unfathomable plans.
投之无所往，死且不北。死焉不得，士人尽力。
Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forth their uttermost strength.
兵士甚陷则不惧，无所往则固，深入则拘，不得已则斗。
Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there is no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they are in hostile country, they will show a stubborn front. If there is no help for it, they will fight hard.
是故其兵不修而戒，不求而得，不约而亲，不令而信，
Thus, without waiting to be marshaled, the soldiers will be constantly on the qui vive; without waiting to be asked, they will do your will; without restrictions, they will be faithful; without giving orders, they can be trusted.
禁祥去疑，至死无所之。
Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.
吾士无余财，非恶货也；无余命，非恶寿也。
If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.
令发之日，士卒坐者涕沾襟，偃卧者涕交颐，投之无所往，诸、刿之勇也。
On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep, those sitting up bedewing their garments, and those lying down letting the tears run down their cheeks. But let them once be brought to bay, and they will display the courage of a Chu or a Kuei.
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。
The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the ChUng mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.
敢问兵可使如率然乎？曰可。夫吴人与越人相恶也，当其同舟而济而遇风，其相救也如左右手。
Asked if an army can be made to imitate the shuai-jan, I should answer, Yes. For the men of Wu and the men of Yueh are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come to each other's assistance just as the left hand helps the right.
是故方马埋轮，未足恃也；
Hence it is not enough to put one's trust in the tethering of horses, and the burying of chariot wheels in the ground
齐勇如一，政之道也；
The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.
刚柔皆得，地之理也。
How to make the best of both strong and weak--that is a question involving the proper use of ground.
故善用兵者，携手若使一人，不得已也。
Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.
将军之事，静以幽，正以治，
It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.
能愚士卒之耳目，使之无知；
He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.
易其事，革其谋，使人无识；易其居，迂其途，使民不得虑。
By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, he keeps the enemy without definite knowledge. By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.
帅与之期，如登高而去其梯；帅与之深入诸侯之地，而发其机。
At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his hand.
若驱群羊，驱而往，驱而来，莫知所之。
He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and nothing knows whither he is going.
聚三军之众，投之于险，此谓将军之事也。
To muster his host and bring it into danger:--this may be termed the business of the general.
九地之变，屈伸之力，人情之理，不可不察也。
The different measures suited to the nine varieties of ground; the expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics; and the fundamental laws of human nature: these are things that must most certa
