Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 2 · Waging War · 作戰

Passage 2-6

善用兵者, 役不再籍, 糧不三載, 取用於國, 因糧於敵, 故軍食可足也.

The skillful strategist does not draft twice or transport provisions three times. He draws equipment from home but provisions from the enemy—thus the army is well supplied.

What does this passage really mean for modern strategy?

Ask Sun →

Explore Further

These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 2-6:

Know the Local Terrain Passage 7-6 是故軍無輜重則亡, 無糧食則亡, 無委積則亡. Consolidate the Victory Passage 12-5 火發上風, 無攻下風. 晝風久, 夜風止. 凡軍必知有五火之... Preserving the Whole Passage 3-1 孫子曰, 凡用兵之法, 全國爲上, 破國次之; 全軍爲上, ... Invincibility First Passage 4-1 孫子曰: 昔之善戰者, 先爲不可勝, 以侍敵之可勝. 不可勝... Open: Stay Connected Passage 11-13 敢問:「敵衆整而將來, 待之若何?」曰:「先奪其所愛, 則聽... Swiftness of Decision Passage 11-35 是故政舉之日, 夷關折符, 無通其使, 厲於廊廟之上, 以誅...

More from Chapter 2: Waging War (作戰)

Passage 2-1: Sun Tzu said: The requirements for military operations include: a thousand swift... Passage 2-2: In conducting war, if victory is long delayed, weapons grow dull and morale decl... Passage 2-3: When weapons are dulled, spirits dampened, strength exhausted, and resources dep... Passage 2-4: I have heard of military operations that were clumsy but swift; I have never wit... Passage 2-5: One who does not fully comprehend the harm of warfare cannot fully appreciate it... Passage 2-7: The impoverishment of a state by military operations stems from long-distance tr... Passage 2-8: Proximity to the army causes prices to rise; rising prices exhaust the people’s ... Passage 2-9: The people’s resources are reduced by seventy percent. Public expenditures—for d... Passage 2-10: Therefore, the wise general ensures his army feeds on the enemy. One measure of ... Passage 2-11: Killing the enemy requires anger; seizing their resources requires reward. In ch... Passage 2-12: In war, victory is paramount—not prolongation. The general who understands war i...