The Art of War – Sun Tzu (5th Century BC) – Chapter 9 – Maneuvering the Army

• Encamping the army & observing the enemy’s sights:
  • Pass quickly over mountains & stay near valleys
  • Camp in high places facing the sun
  • Don’t climb mountains & hills to fight
  • Once over a river, get far away from it
    • If an enemy’s crossing a stream, wait until half the troops have crossed, then attack
  • Don’t meet an enemy near a river he has to cross
    • Dock upstream & face the sun. Never go upstream to fight an enemy
  • Cross marshes as quickly as possible
    • If forced to fight there, get your back to the trees
  • On plains, take an accessible position with rising ground to the right & the rear
    • Danger is in front & safety is behind
  • Armies prefer higher ground to lower ground, & sunny places to dark places
  • Camp on a hard ground to avoid disese
  • Occupy the sunny side of a hill to use natural advantages
  • If in a rainy place with flooding rivers, wait until still it subsides to cross
  • If in an area with cliffs with torrents in between, leave them as soon as you can
    • Keep away from them but try to get the enemy to go there with these to their rear
  • If you’re in hills, ponds with grass or reeds, or in woods with undergrowth, search for an ambush or spies
  • If the enemy is near & quiet, he has a natural position of strength
  • If he’s aloof & tries to provoke a battle, he’s anxious for you to move
  • If he’s in a place of easy access, he’s setting a trip
  • If he’s near trees & grass, it must be a screen
  • Flying birds might mean there’s an ambush
  • Rising columns of dust means chariots are coming
    • Lower dust moving means infantry are coming
    • Dust moving in many directions means the troops are collecting firewood
    • A few clouds moving to & fro mean an army’s encamping
  • Humble words & more preparations mean the enemy is about to advance
    • Violent words & moving as if to attack means he’s about to retreat
  • If chariots arrive first & establish wings, they are forming for battle
  • Peace proposals without any prior conditions are a plot
  • When troops run around & then fall into rank means the enemy is executing a pre-planned maneuver
  • When some advance & some retreat, it’s a lure
  • If soldiers who are sent for water for the army drink a lot for themselves first, means they & the rest of the army are very thirsty
  • If soldiers fail to try to take advantage of an obvious opportunity, they’re exhausted
  • If birds are hanging around a spot quietly, the space is empty
  • If the enemy cries out in the night, they’re afraid
  • If an army is turbulent, the general is weak & has no control
  • If flags & pennants move around a lot, there’s chaos
  • If officers are angry, it’s because they’re tired
  • If the army kills a load of horses for food, they are starving
  • If they don’t hang up cookware before attacking or going into tents, it means they’re going to fight to the death
  • If troops form small groups here & there, & speak in hushed tones, they’re against their leaders
  • A general who gives rewards often is distressed
    • A general who gives punishment too often is in difficulty
    • A general who is excessively brutal & fears his man is a moron
    • A general who sends emissaries back & forth is playing for time
  • If troops are aroused & approach only to maintain ranks without engaging in battle, something is fishy
  • If our troops aren’t greater than their, you can’t advance aggressively
    • Muster your strength, analyze the enemy & take them.
    • No plan = you will be captured
  • If you punish troops before they take to you, they will be useless
  • If you command them with humanity but keep them disciplined, you will win
  • If commands are habitually enforced, they’ll be well-disciplined
    • If not, they’ll be undisciplined
  • If you show confidence but require commands to be obeyed, you & your troops will be fine