Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 7 · Armed Struggle · 軍爭

Passage 7-12

夫金鼓旌旗者, 所以一民之耳目也; 人旣專一, 則勇者不得獨進, 怯者不得獨退, 此用衆之法也.

Drums, gongs, flags, and banners unify the eyes and ears of the troops. Once unified, the brave cannot advance alone, the cowardly cannot retreat alone—this is the method of employing masses.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 7-12:

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... 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... Proportional Response Passage 3-8 必以全爭於天下, 故兵不頓而利可全, 此謀攻之法也. 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,... Know Heaven, Know Earth Passage 10-15 視卒如嬰兒, 故可與之赴深溪; 視卒如愛子, 故可與之俱死.... 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, ...

More from Chapter 7: Armed Struggle (軍爭)

Passage 7-1: Sun Tzu said: In military operations, after the general receives orders from the... Passage 7-2: The difficulty of armed contention is making the circuitous direct and turning a... Passage 7-3: Move the entire army to contend for advantage—you cannot arrive in time. Abandon... Passage 7-4: Therefore, if you roll up armor and race day and night without rest, covering do... Passage 7-5: Racing fifty li for advantage, the lead commander falls, and half arrive. Racing... Passage 7-6: An army without equipment perishes. Without provisions, it perishes. Without sto... Passage 7-7: Without knowing the designs of neighboring rulers, you cannot forge alliances. W... Passage 7-8: Warfare is founded on deception, driven by advantage, and transformed through di... Passage 7-9: Therefore: - Swift as the wind - Silent as the forest - Ravenous as fire - Immov... Passage 7-10: Plunder the countryside to divide spoils among troops. Expand territory to share... Passage 7-11: The Military Administration states: “When words cannot be heard, use drums and g... Passage 7-13: In night battles, use many torches and drums. In day battles, use many flags and... Passage 7-14: The army’s spirit (qì) can be seized; the general’s heart can be stolen. Morning... Passage 7-15: Principles of warfare: - Do not advance uphill against the enemy - Do not oppose...