The Art of War - Sun Zi VIII. 6.

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

Variation In Tactics

The heading means literally "The Nine Variations," but as Sun Tzu does not appear to enumerate these, and as, indeed, he has already told us (V SS. 6-11) that such deflections from the ordinary course are practically innumerable, we have little option but to follow Wang Hsi, who says that "Nine" stands for an indefinitely large number. "All it means is that in warfare we ought to very our tactics to the utmost degree... I do not know what Ts`ao Kung makes these Nine Variations out to be, but it has been suggested that they are connected with the Nine Situations" - of chapt. XI. This is the view adopted by Chang Yu. The only other alternative is to suppose that something has been lost–a supposition to which the unusual shortness of the chapter lends some weight.

Sunzi VIII. 6.

Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them;1 and make trouble for them,2 and keep them constantly engaged;3 hold out specious allurements, and make them rush to any given point.4

1. Chia Lin enumerates several ways of inflicting this injury, some of which would only occur to the Oriental mind:–"Entice away the enemy's best and wisest men, so that he may be left without counselors. Introduce traitors into his country, that the government policy may be rendered futile. Foment intrigue and deceit, and thus sow dissension between the ruler and his ministers. By means of every artful contrivance, cause deterioration amongst his men and waste of his treasure. Corrupt his morals by insidious gifts leading him into excess. Disturb and unsettle his mind by presenting him with lovely women." Chang Yu (after Wang Hsi) makes a different interpretation of Sun Tzu here: "Get the enemy into a position where he must suffer injury, and he will submit of his own accord."

2. Tu Mu, in this phrase, in his interpretation indicates that trouble should be make for the enemy affecting their "possessions," or, as we might say, "assets," which he considers to be "a large army, a rich exchequer, harmony amongst the soldiers, punctual fulfillment of commands." These give us a whip-hand over the enemy.

3. Literally, "make servants of them." Tu Yu says "prevent the from having any rest."

4. Meng Shih's note contains an excellent example of the idiomatic use of: "cause them to forget PIEN (the reasons for acting otherwise than on their first impulse), and hasten in our direction."

Giles VIII.10.

Travaillez sans cesse à susciter des peines à l'ennemi. Vous pourrez le faire de plus d'une façon, mais voici ce qu'il y a d'essentiel en ce genre. N'oubliez rien pour lui débaucher ce qu'il y aura de mieux dans son parti : offres, présents, caresses, que rien ne soit omis. Trompez même s'il le faut : engagez les gens d'honneur qui sont chez lui à des actions honteuses et indignes de leur réputation, à des actions dont ils aient lieu de rougir quand elles seront sues, et ne manquez pas de les faire divulguer. Entretenez des liaisons secrètes avec ce qu'il y a de plus vicieux chez les ennemis ; servez-vous-en pour aller à vos fins, en leur joignant d'autres vicieux. Traversez leur gouvernement, semez la dissension parmi leurs chefs, fournissez des sujets de colère aux uns contre les autres, faites-les murmurer contre leurs officiers, ameutez les officiers subalternes contre leurs supérieurs, faites en sorte qu'ils manquent de vivres et de munitions, répandez parmi eux quelques airs d'une musique voluptueuse qui leur amollisse le cœur, envoyez-leur des femmes pour achever de les corrompre, tâchez qu'ils sortent lorsqu'il faudra qu'ils soient dans leur camp, et qu'ils soient tranquilles dans leur camp lorsqu'il faudrait qu'ils tinssent la campagne. Faites leur donner sans cesse de fausses alarmes et de faux avis ; engagez dans vos intérêts les gouverneurs de leurs provinces. Voilà à peu près ce que vous devez faire, si vous voulez tromper par l'adresse et par la ruse.

Amiot