# Sonshi/Battle Tactics

VII. BATTLE TACTICS.
Son the Master said:—
For the most part, military procedure is as follows.
The General receives orders from his Lord; assembles the forces, and settles the order of encampments.
There is nothing more difficult than Battle Tactics. Their difficulty lies in the calculation of time and distance, and the facing of sudden emergencies.
To take a circuitous route, and give the enemy an advantage, and then, whilst drawing him out and starting after him, to arrive before him, is to be a master of the art of marching.
So to do is well; but beware of arriving after the enemy, and finding him in position.
Employing our whole force at one time in order to gain advantage over the enemy, we may not have time enough to gain our object. If, with the same object, we push on with the main force only, we may lose the transport. Discarding helmet and armour; stopping neither day nor night; marching double distance; and finally contending with the enemy at a distance of a hundred leagues; leads to the capture of three generals. Since the strong men arrive first, and the tired drop in rear; only one tenth of the forces arrives.
A forced march of fifty miles to secure an advantage, may result in failure to the leader of the vanguard; for only half his men will arrive.
After a forced march of thirty leagues to secure an ​advantage, only two-thirds of the army will be available.
Further, a lack of ammunition, of supplies, or of base, may lead to disaster.
The ruler who is ignorant of the designs of neighbouring princes, cannot treat with them.
He who is ignorant of mountain and forest, defile and marsh, cannot conduct a march.
He who does not employ a guide, cannot gain advantage from the ground.
Disguise your movements; await a favourable opportunity; divide or unite according to circumstance.
Let your attack be swift as the wind ; your march ordered like the forest; your occupation devastating as fire. In defence, as a mountain rest firm; like darkness impenetrable to the enemy. Let your movements be swift as the lightning.
Let as many as possible take part in the plunder: distribute the profit from the produce of the country.
So he who understands the crooked and the straight way, conquers. That is the art of Battle Tactics.
According to the ancient books on war: the drum and bell are used, because the voice does not carry; the flag is used to assist the sight. The use of bell, drum, banner, and flag, is to attract the united attention of eye and ear.
When all are united, the strong are not left to go ​forward alone, the cowardly are not free to retreat unrestricted. In the simultaneous employment of large numbers lies strength.
Therefore in night fighting, beacons and drums are largely used; in day fighting, a great number of banners and flags to confound the enemy’s eyes and ears.
We thus awe his army, and defeat his general’s ambition.
In the morning the spirits are keen ; at midday there is a laziness; in the evening a desire to return. Wherefore, he who uses his soldiers well, avoids the time when the spirits are keen; but attacks the enemy when he is tired, or seeking his camp.
This is to have the spirit under control.
He who opposes confusion with order, clamour with quiet, can remain self-possessed.
Those who have long distances to march as opposed to those situated in a convenient neighbourhood are tired, while the latter are at ease. Satiety is opposed to hunger. In this case we have strength at our command.
Do not attack where serried rows of banners shew, nor a regular battle array; but patiently await your time.
Do not attack an enemy on high ground, nor one who has high ground at his back. Do not pursue an enemy who is imitating flight; do not attack a spirited enemy.
If the enemy offers an allurement, do not be caught by it. ​Do not interfere with an enemy who has struck camp; and is about to retire. When surrounding an enemy; allow him an outlet.
This is the method of employing troops.