Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 7 · Armed Struggle · 軍爭

Passage 7-15

故用兵之法, 高陵勿向, 背丘勿逆, 佯北勿從, 銳卒勿攻, 餌兵勿食, 歸師勿遏, 圍師必闕, 窮寇勿迫, 此用兵之法也.

Principles of warfare: - Do not advance uphill against the enemy - Do not oppose an enemy backed by hills - Do not pursue a feigned retreat - Do not attack elite troops - Do not take the enemy’s bait - Do not block an army returning home - When encircling, leave an outlet - Do not press a desperate enemy These are the principles of warfare.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 7-15:

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... Leading Without Destination Passage 11-26 帥與之期, 如登高而去其梯, 帥與之深, 入諸侯之地而發其機... Key: Do Not Attack (Strike Behind) Passage 11-12 古之所謂善用兵者, 能使敵人前後不相及, 衆寡不相恃, 貴賤... Flexible Response Passage 8-4 故將通於九變之利者, 知用兵矣. 將不通于九變之利, 雖知地... Adaptable Governance Passage 8-5 治兵不知九變之術, 雖知地利, 不能得人之用矣. Quiet, Inscrutable, Upright Passage 11-23 故善用兵者, 攜手若使一人, 不得已也.

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 7-12: Drums, gongs, flags, and banners unify the eyes and ears of the troops. Once uni... 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...