Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 11 · Nine Grounds · 九地

Passage 11-20

故善用兵者, 譬如率然; 率然者, 常山之蛇也, 擊其首, 則尾至, 其尾, 則首至, 擊其中, 則首尾俱至. 敢問: 「兵可使如率然乎?」 曰: 「可.」

The skilled commander is like the Shuairan—the snake of Mount Chang. Strike its head, the tail strikes. Strike its tail, the head strikes. Strike its middle, both head and tail strike. Asked: “Can an army be made like the Shuairan?” Answer: “Yes.”

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 11-20:

Managing the Many Passage 5-1 孫子曰: 凡治衆如治寡, 分數是也. 鬪衆如鬪寡, 形名是也... 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... Striking the Empty Passage 5-3 故善出奇者, 無窮如天地, 不竭如江河, 終而復始, 日月是... Attacking Spirit and Timing Passage 7-14 故三軍可奪氣, 將軍可奪心. 是故朝氣銳, 晝氣惰, 暮氣歸... 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. Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain Passage 7-9 故其疾如風, 其徐如林, 侵掠如火, 不動如山, 難知如陰,...

More from Chapter 11: Nine Grounds (九地)

Passage 11-1: Sun Tzu said: In the art of war, there are nine types of ground: dispersive, mar... Passage 11-2: When fighting in one’s own territory—dispersive ground.... Passage 11-3: When penetrating enemy territory but not deep—marginal ground.... Passage 11-4: Ground advantageous for either side—contentious ground.... Passage 11-5: Ground accessible to both—open ground.... Passage 11-6: Ground bordering three states, where first arrival gains support—intersecting gr... Passage 11-7: Deep in enemy territory with many fortifications behind—critical ground.... Passage 11-8: Mountains, forests, obstacles, wetlands—difficult to traverse—difficult ground.... Passage 11-9: Narrow entrance, circuitous exit, where few can strike many—surrounded ground.... Passage 11-10: Fight immediately and survive; hesitate and perish—deadly ground.... Passage 11-11: Therefore: - Dispersive ground: Do not fight - Marginal ground: Do not halt - Co... Passage 11-12: The ancient masters of war could make the enemy’s front and rear unable to suppo... Passage 11-13: Asked: “If a large, organized enemy approaches, how should we meet them?” Answer... Passage 11-14: In deep invasion, forces unite and the defender cannot overcome. Plunder rich fi... Passage 11-15: Deploy troops strategically, making plans impenetrable. Place them where there i... Passage 11-16: When deeply trapped, soldiers lose fear. When there is nowhere to go, they stand... Passage 11-17: Thus, troops are alert without instructions, obtain what is needed without deman... Passage 11-18: Our officers have no surplus wealth—not because they dislike riches. They expect... Passage 11-19: On the day orders are issued, seated soldiers weep till their collars are wet; l... Passage 11-21: The people of Wu and Yue despise each other. Yet when crossing a river in the sa... Passage 11-22: Therefore, tethering horses and burying wheels is not enough to rely on. Unifyin... Passage 11-23: The skilled commander leads troops as if guiding a single person—because they ha... Passage 11-24: The general’s affairs must be calm and inscrutable, fair and disciplined. He sho... Passage 11-25: Change tasks, alter plans—keep them unaware. Change encampments, take indirect r... Passage 11-26: When the commander commits troops to decisive action, it is like climbing high a... Passage 11-27: Assembling the army and throwing it into danger—this is the general’s task. The ... Passage 11-28: The way of invasion: deep penetration unifies; shallow penetration scatters. - C... Passage 11-29: Therefore: - Dispersive ground: Unify their will - Marginal ground: Keep them co... Passage 11-30: The nature of soldiers: when surrounded, they defend; when with no choice, they ... Passage 11-31: When the hegemon’s army attacks a great state, it prevents their forces from mas... Passage 11-32: Therefore, without contesting global alliances or cultivating global power, but ... Passage 11-33: Commit them to tasks—do not explain with words. Engage them with advantage—do no... Passage 11-34: Only when troops are plunged into danger can they turn defeat into victory. The ... Passage 11-35: When war is declared: close the borders, annul passports, block enemy messengers... Passage 11-36: First, seize what they treasure. Keep the timing of decisive engagement hidden. ...