Sun Zi – The Art of War

Chinese strategy explained : know yourself and the ennemy, use deception, spies, and "win with ease". Tr. Giles (en, annotated) and Amiot (fr).

Introduction
I. Laying Plans
II. Waging War
III. Attack by Stratagem
IV. Tactical Dispositions

V. Energy
VI. Weak Points and Strong
VII. Maneuvering
VIII. Variation in Tactics
IX. The Army On The March

X. Terrain
XI. The Nine Situations
XII. The Attack By Fire
XIII. The Use of Spies

Weak Points And Strong

Chang Yu attempts to explain the sequence of chapters as follows: "Chapter IV, on Tactical Dispositions, treated of the offensive and the defensive; chapter V, on Energy, dealt with direct and indirect methods. The good general acquaints himself first with the theory of attack and defense, and then turns his attention to direct and indirect methods. He studies the art of varying and combining these two methods before proceeding to the subject of weak and strong points. For the use of direct or indirect methods arises out of attack and defense, and the perception of weak and strong points depends again on the above methods. Hence the present chapter comes immediately after the chapter on Energy."

Sunzi VI. 7.

We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up into fractions. Hence there will be a whole pitted against separate parts of a whole, which means that we shall be many to the enemy's few.

And if we are able thus to attack an inferior force with a superior one, our opponents will be in dire straits.

Giles VI.14,15.

Ayez constamment une extrême attention à ne jamais séparer les différents corps de vos armées. Faites qu'ils puissent toujours se soutenir aisément les uns les autres ; au contraire, faites faire à l'ennemi le plus de diversion qu'il se pourra. S'il se partage en dix corps, attaquez chacun d'eux séparément avec votre armée toute entière ; c'est le véritable moyen de combattre toujours avec avantage. De cette sorte, quelque petite que soit votre armée, le grand nombre sera toujours de votre côté.

Amiot

Sun Zi VI. 7.