1. Sun Tzu said: The control of a large

force is the same principle as the control

of a few men: it is merely a question of

dividing up their numbers.

2. Fighting with a large army under your

command is nowise different from fighting

with a small one: it is merely a question

of instituting signs and signals.

3. To ensure that your whole host may

withstand the brunt of the enemy's attack

and remain unshaken-- this is effected by

maneuvers direct and indirect.

4. That the impact of your army may be like

a grindstone dashed against an egg--this is

effected by the science of weak points and

strong.

5. In all fighting, the direct method may

be used for joining battle, but indirect

methods will be needed in order to secure

victory.

6. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied,

are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth,

unending as the flow of rivers and streams;

like the sun and moon, they end but to

begin anew; like the four seasons, they

pass away to return once more.

7. There are not more than five musical

notes, yet the combinations of these five

give rise to more melodies than can ever be

heard.

8. There are not more than five primary

colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and

black), yet in combination they produce

more hues than can ever been seen.

9. There are not more than five cardinal

tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter),

yet combinations of them yield more flavors

than can ever be tasted.

10. In battle, there are not more than two

methods of attack--the direct and the

indirect; yet these two in combination give

rise to an endless series of maneuvers.

11. The direct and the indirect lead on to

each other in turn.

It is like moving in a circle--you never

come to an end.

Who can exhaust the possibilities of their

combination?

12. The onset of troops is like the rush of

a torrent which will even roll stones along

in its course.

13. The quality of decision is like the

well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables

it to strike and destroy its victim.

14. Therefore the good fighter will be

terrible in his onset, and prompt in his

decision.

15. Energy may be likened to the bending of

a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a

trigger.

16. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle,

there may be seeming disorder and yet no

real disorder at all; amid confusion and

chaos, your array may be without head or

tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.

17. Simulated disorder postulates perfect

discipline, simulated fear postulates

courage; simulated weakness postulates

strength.

18. Hiding order beneath the cloak of

disorder is simply a question of

subdivision; concealing courage under a

show of timidity presupposes a fund of

latent energy; masking strength with

weakness is to be effected by tactical

dispositions.

19. Thus one who is skillful at keeping the

enemy on the move maintains deceitful

appearances, according to which the enemy

will act.

He sacrifices something, that the enemy may

snatch at it.

20. By holding out baits, he keeps him on

the march; then with a body of picked men

he lies in wait for him.

21. The clever combatant looks to the

effect of combined energy, and does not

require too much from individuals.

Hence his ability to pick out the right men

and utilize combined energy.

22. When he utilizes combined energy, his

fighting men become as it were like unto

rolling logs or stones.

For it is the nature of a log or stone to

remain motionless on level ground, and to

move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to

come to a standstill, but if round-shaped,

to go rolling down.

23. Thus the energy developed by good

fighting men is as the momentum of a round

stone rolled down a mountain thousands of

feet in height.

So much on the subject of energy.