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

The Army On The March

The contents of this interesting chapter are better indicated in ss. 1 than by this heading.

Sunzi IX. 11.

If in the neighborhood of your camp there should be any hilly country, ponds surrounded by aquatic grass, hollow basins filled with reeds, or woods with thick undergrowth, they must be carefully routed out and searched; for these are places where men in ambush or insidious spies are likely to be lurking.1

When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on the natural strength of his position.2

When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious for the other side to advance.3

If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a bait.

1. Chang Yu has the note: "We must also be on our guard against traitors who may lie in close covert, secretly spying out our weaknesses and overhearing our instructions."

2. Here begin Sun Tzu's remarks on the reading of signs, much of which is so good that it could almost be included in a modern manual like Gen. Baden-Powell's "Aids to Scouting."

3. Probably because we are in a strong position from which he wishes to dislodge us. "If he came close up to us, says Tu Mu, "and tried to force a battle, he would seem to despise us, and there would be less probability of our responding to the challenge."

Giles IX.17-20.

Vous devez encore être extrêmement en garde contre une autre espèce de terrain. Il est des lieux couverts de broussailles ou de petits bois ; il en est qui sont pleins de hauts et de bas, où l'on est sans cesse ou sur des collines ou dans des vallons, défiez-vous-en ; soyez dans une attention continuelle. Ces sortes de lieux peuvent être pleins d'embuscades ; l'ennemi peut sortir à chaque instant vous surprendre, tomber sur vous et vous tailler en pièces. Si vous en êtes loin, n'en approchez pas ; si vous en êtes près, ne vous mettez pas en mouvement que vous n'ayez fait reconnaître tous les environs. Si l'ennemi vient vous y attaquer, faites en sorte qu'il ait tout le désavantage du terrain de son côté. Pour vous, ne l'attaquez que lorsque vous le verrez à découvert.

Amiot

Sun Zi IX. 11.