Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 7 · Armed Struggle · 軍爭

Passage 7-5

五十里而爭利, 則蹶上將軍, 其法半至; 三十里而爭利, 則三分之二至.

Racing fifty li for advantage, the lead commander falls, and half arrive. Racing thirty li, two-thirds arrive.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 7-5:

Cascading Momentum Passage 11-34 夫衆陷於害, 然後能爲勝敗, 故爲兵之事, 在於順詳敵之意,... Baiting the Enemy Passage 5-8 故善動適者, 形之, 適必從之; 予之, 適必取之; 以利動... Subjugate Without Fighting Passage 8-7 是故屈諸侯者以害, 役諸侯者以業, 趨諸侯者以利. Attacking the Undefended Passage 6-3 出其所不趨, 趨其所不意; 行千里而不勞者, 行於無人之地也... First to the Battlefield Passage 6-1 孫子曰, 凡先處戰地而待敵者佚, 後處戰地而趨戰者勞. 故善... Making the Enemy Come Passage 6-2 能使敵人自至者, 利之也; 能使敵人不得至者, 害之也. 故...

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 7-6: 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... Passage 7-15: Principles of warfare: - Do not advance uphill against the enemy - Do not oppose...