Chapter 10 · Terrain · 地形

Passage 10-14

故戰道必勝, 主曰無戰; 必戰可也. 戰道不勝, 主曰必戰, 無戰可也. 故進不求名退不避罪, 惟人是保, 而利合於主, 國之寶也.

If the Way of battle ensures victory, fight even if the ruler forbids it. If it does not ensure victory, do not fight even if the ruler commands it. Advance without seeking fame; withdraw without avoiding blame. Protect the people; serve the ruler’s interests. Such a general is the nation’s treasure.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 10-14:

Assessing Advantage Passage 1-9 故校之以七計, 而塞其情. 曰: 主孰有道, 將孰有能, 天... The Five Fundamental Factors Passage 1-2 故經之以五事, 校之以計, 而索其情. 一曰道, 二曰天, ... The Five Elements of War Passage 4-10 善用兵者, 修道而保法, 故能爲勝敗之政. Five Conditions of Victory Passage 3-12 故知勝有五: 知可以戰與不可以戰者勝. 識衆寡之用者勝. 上... The General Receives His Mandate Passage 8-1 孫子曰: 凡用兵之法, 將受命於君, 合軍聚衆. Reward and Punishment Passage 9-20 卒未親附而罰之, 則不服, 不服則難用也. 卒已親附而罰不行...

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 10-12: A general who cannot assess the enemy, engages many with few, attacks the strong... Passage 10-13: Terrain assists military operations. Assessing the enemy to achieve victory, cal... 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...