Chapter 10 · Terrain · 地形

Passage 10-12

將不能料敵, 以少合衆, 以弱擊强兵無選鋒, 曰北. 凡此六者, 敗之道也, 將之至任, 不可不察也.

A general who cannot assess the enemy, engages many with few, attacks the strong with the weak, and lacks elite vanguard—rout. These six are the paths to defeat—the commander’s supreme responsibility. They must not be neglected.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 10-12:

Five Dangerous Traits Passage 8-8 故用兵之法, 無恃其不來, 恃吾有以待也; 無恃其不攻, 恃... The Three Interferences Passage 3-10 夫將者, 國之輔也, 輔周則國必强, 輔隙則國必弱. Command Without Numbers Passage 9-19 兵非益多也, 惟無武進, 足以倂力料敵, 取人而已. 夫惟無... Not Every Path to Follow Passage 8-3 塗有所不由. 軍有所不擊. 城有所不攻. 地有所不爭. 君命... Do Not Press a Cornered Enemy Passage 7-15 故用兵之法, 高陵勿向, 背丘勿逆, 佯北勿從, 銳卒勿攻,... The Five Dangers Passage 8-9 故將有五危: 必死可殺也, 必生可虜也, 忿速可侮也, 廉潔...

More from Chapter 10: Terrain (地形)

Passage 10-1: Sun Tzu said: Terrain types include: accessible, entrapping, stalemating, narrow... Passage 10-2: Ground both sides can traverse freely is called accessible. On accessible terrai... Passage 10-3: Ground easy to enter but difficult to exit is called entrapping. On such terrain... Passage 10-4: Ground where neither side benefits from advancing is called stalemating. Here, e... Passage 10-5: On narrow terrain, occupy it first and fully man it to await the enemy. If the e... Passage 10-6: On precipitous terrain, occupy high, sunny ground first to await the enemy. If t... Passage 10-7: On distant terrain with balanced forces, initiating battle is difficult and disa... Passage 10-8: There are six types of army failure: flight, insubordination, deterioration, col... Passage 10-9: Equal forces sent one against ten—flight Strong troops with weak officers—insubo... Passage 10-10: Senior officers angry and insubordinate, engaging the enemy on impulse without t... Passage 10-11: A weak general lacking strictness, unclear instruction, no consistent standards ... Passage 10-13: Terrain assists military operations. Assessing the enemy to achieve victory, cal... Passage 10-14: If the Way of battle ensures victory, fight even if the ruler forbids it. If it ... Passage 10-15: Treat troops like infants—they will follow you into deep valleys. Treat them lik... Passage 10-16: Knowing your troops can strike but not that the enemy cannot be struck—half vict... Passage 10-17: Therefore, one who knows warfare moves without confusion, acts without exhaustio...