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

Attack By Stratagem

Sunzi III. 3.

Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans;1 the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces;2 the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field;3 and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.

1. Perhaps the word "balk" falls short of expressing the full force of the Chinese word, which implies not an attitude of defense, whereby one might be content to foil the enemy's stratagems one after another, but an active policy of counter- attack. Ho Shih puts this very clearly in his note: "When the enemy has made a plan of attack against us, we must anticipate him by delivering our own attack first."

2. Isolating him from his allies. We must not forget that Sun Tzu, in speaking of hostilities, always has in mind the numerous states or principalities into which the China of his day was split up.

3. When he is already at full strength.

Giles III.3.

Sun Tzu dit : Il est d'une importance suprême dans la guerre d'attaquer la stratégie de l'ennemi. Celui qui excelle à résoudre les difficultés le fait avant qu'elles ne surviennent. Celui qui arrache le trophée avant que les craintes de son ennemi ne prennent forme excelle dans la conquête. Attaquez le plan de l'adversaire au moment où il naît. Puis rompez ses alliances. Puis attaquez son armée. La pire des politiques consiste à attaquer les cités.

Amiot

Sun Zi III. 3.