# The Book of War, the Military Classic of the Far East/The Articles of Suntzu/Emptiness and Strength

VI
EMPTINESS AND STRENGTH
Sun the Master said:—
To be the first in the field, and there to await the enemy, is to husband strength.
To be late, and hurrying to advance to meet the foe, is exhausting. ​The good fighter contrives to make the enemy approach; he does not allow himself to be beguiled by the enemy.
By offering an apparent advantage, he induces the enemy to take up a position that will cause his defeat; he plants obstructions to dissuade him from acting in such a way as to threaten his own dispositions.
If the enemy be at rest in comfortable quarters, harass him; if he be living in plenty, cut off his supplies; if sitting composedly awaiting attack, cause him to move.
This may be done by appearing where the enemy is not, and assaulting unexpected points.
If we go where the enemy is not, we may go a thousand leagues without exhaustion.
If we attack those positions which the enemy has not defended, we invariably take them: but on the defence we must be strong, even where we are not likely to be attacked.
Against those skilful in attack, the enemy ​does not know where to defend: against those skilful in defence, the enemy does not know where to attack.
Now the secrets of the art of offence are not to be easily apprehended, as a certain shape or noise can be understood, of the senses; but when these secrets are once learnt, the enemy is mastered.
We attack, and the enemy cannot resist, because we attack his insufficiency; we retire, and the enemy cannot pursue, because we retire too quickly.
Again, when we are anxious to fight, but the enemy is serenely secure behind high walls and deep moats; we attack some such other place that he must certainly come out to relieve.
When we do not want to fight, we occupy an unfortified line; and prevent the enemy from attacking by keeping him in suspense.
By making feints, and causing the enemy to be uncertain as to our movements, we unite, whilst he must divide.
We become one body; the enemy being ​separated into ten parts. We attack the divided ten with the united one. We are many, the enemy is few, and in superiority of numbers there is economy of strength.
The place selected for attack must be kept secret. If the enemy know not where he will be attacked, he must prepare in every quarter, and so be everywhere weak.
If the enemy strengthen his front, he must weaken his rear; if he strengthen his right, his left is weakened; and if he strengthen his left, his right is weakened.
Everywhere to make preparations, is to be everywhere weak. The enemy is weakened by his extended preparations, and we gain in strength.
Having decided on the place and day of attack, though the enemy be a hundred leagues away, we can defeat him.
If the ground and occasion be not known, the front cannot help the rear; the left cannot support the right, nor the right the left, nor the rear the front. For on occasion, the parts of the army are two score ​leagues apart, while a distance of four or five leagues is comparatively close.
The soldiers of Wuare less than the soldiers of Yueh; but as superiority in numbers does not of necessity bring victory, I say, then, that we may obtain the victory,
If the enemy be many in number, prevent him from taking advantage of his superiority, and ascertain his plan of operations. Provoke the enemy and discover the state of his troops; feint and discover the strength of his position. Flap wings, and unmask his sufficiency or insufficiency. By constant feints and excursions, we may produce on the enemy an impression of intangibility, which neither spies nor art can dispel.
The general makes his plans in accordance with the dispositions of the enemy, and puts his hosts in motion; but the multitude cannot appreciate the general’s intention; they see the signs of victory, but they cannot discover the means. ​If a victory be gained by a certain stratagem, do not repeat it. Vary the stratagem according to circumstances.
An army may be likened to water.
Water leaves dry the high places, and seeks the hollows. An army turns from strength and attacks emptiness.
The flow of water is regulated by the shape of the ground; victory is gained by acting in accordance with the state of the enemy.
The shape of water is indeterminate; likewise the spirit of war is not fixed.
The leader who changes his tactics in accordance with his adversary, and thereby controls the issue, may be called the God of war.
Among the five elements there is no settled precedence; the four seasons come and go; the days are long and short; and the moon waxes and wanes. So in war there is no fixity.
* ↑ Sun, as has been said, was a man of Wu, Wu and Yueh were continually at war.
* ↑ Wood, fire, earth, metal and water.