Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 3 · Strategic Offense · 謀攻

Passage 3-9

故用兵之法, 十則圍之, 五則攻之, 倍則分之, 敵則能戰之, 少則能逃之, 不若則能避之. 故小敵之堅, 大敵之擒也.

The principles of deployment: - Ten to one: Encircle - Five to one: Attack - Two to one: Divide - Equal forces: Engage if capable - Fewer forces: Withdraw - Greatly outnumbered: Avoid A small force that stubbornly resists becomes the captive of a larger force.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 3-9:

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... Five Methods of Fire Attack Passage 12-1 孫子曰: 凡火攻有五: 一曰火人, 二曰火積, 三曰火輜, ... 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, ... 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... Terrain as Ally Passage 10-14 故戰道必勝, 主曰無戰; 必戰可也. 戰道不勝, 主曰必戰,... 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.

More from Chapter 3: Strategic Offense (謀攻)

Passage 3-1: Sun Tzu said: In the art of war, the supreme strategy is to preserve the enemy s... Passage 3-2: To subdue a battalion intact is best; to destroy it is inferior. To subdue a com... Passage 3-3: Therefore, winning a hundred battles out of a hundred is not the height of excel... Passage 3-4: The supreme art of war is: 1. To attack the enemy’s strategy 2. Next, to disrupt... Passage 3-5: Assaulting fortifications is a last resort. Preparing siege towers, battering ra... Passage 3-6: If a general, unable to contain his anger, sends his troops swarming up the wall... Passage 3-7: The master of war subdues the enemy’s forces without battle, takes their fortres... Passage 3-8: He strives to maintain everything intact when contending for dominance. Thus his... Passage 3-10: The general is the pillar of the state. If this support is complete, the state i... Passage 3-11: There are three ways a ruler brings misfortune upon his army: 1. Ordering advanc... Passage 3-12: Five factors determine victory: 1. Knowing when to fight and when not to fight 2... Passage 3-13: Therefore: - Know the enemy and know yourself—in a hundred battles, never be imp...