Chapter 11 — Nine Grounds

Sunzi said: In general, the method of employing troops recognizes dispersive ground, light ground, contested ground, intersecting ground, focal ground, heavy ground, broken ground, encircled ground, and death ground. When feudal lords fight within their own territory, it is dispersive ground. When one enters another’s territory but not deeply, it is light ground. Ground whose possession benefits us and also benefits the enemy is contested ground. Ground across which we can go and the enemy can come is intersecting ground. Territory bordered by three feudal domains, where he who arrives first can gain the support of the multitude under Heaven, is focal ground. When one penetrates deeply into another’s territory and leaves many fortified cities and towns behind, it is heavy ground. Mountain forests, dangerous defiles and obstacles, marshes and swamps, and all roads difficult to traverse constitute broken ground. Ground whose entrance is constricted, whose route of return is circuitous, and where a small enemy force can strike our multitude is encircled ground. Ground on which swift battle means survival and failure to fight swiftly means destruction is death ground. Therefore, do not fight on dispersive ground; do not halt on light ground; do not attack on contested ground; do not let your formations be cut off on intersecting ground; join alliances on focal ground; plunder on heavy ground; keep moving on broken ground; make plans on encircled ground; fight on death ground.

Those of old who were said to be skilled in employing troops could prevent the enemy’s front and rear from reaching each other, his many and few from relying on each other, his noble and lowly from rescuing each other, and his superiors and inferiors from supporting each other. They could make his soldiers separate and unable to gather, and make his troops assemble without being in order. They moved when it accorded with advantage and stopped when it did not. Someone dares ask: “If the enemy is numerous, orderly, and about to advance, how should we meet him?” I reply: “Seize first what he loves, and he will heed you.” Thus, the essential nature of war is speed: take advantage of the enemy’s failure to reach a point in time, proceed by routes he has not considered, and attack where he is not on guard.

In general, the Way of an invading army is this: when it penetrates deeply, its men become united, and the defender cannot overcome them. Plunder fertile country so that the three armies have food enough. Carefully nourish the men and do not weary them; unite their spirit and accumulate their strength. Maneuver the army and devise plans so that you are unfathomable. Cast the troops where they have nowhere to go, and they will die rather than flee. If they are ready to die, how can officers and men fail to exert their utmost strength? When soldiers are deeply trapped, they feel no fear; when they have nowhere to go, they stand firm; when they penetrate deeply, they cling together; when there is no alternative, they fight. Therefore, such troops remain vigilant without being drilled, do what is required without being asked, are close-knit without sworn covenants, and can be trusted without commands. Prohibit omens and banish doubts, and they will go nowhere else until death. If our officers possess no surplus wealth, it is not because they despise material goods; if they possess no surplus life, it is not because they despise longevity. On the day the order to advance is issued, seated officers and soldiers wet their lapels with tears, while those lying down let tears run across their cheeks. Cast them where they have nowhere to go, and they will show the courage of Zhuan Zhu and Cao Gui.

Thus, one skilled in employing troops may be compared to the Swift Snake. The Swift Snake is the serpent of Mount Chang. Strike its head, and its tail arrives; strike its tail, and its head arrives; strike its middle, and both head and tail arrive. Someone dares ask: “Can an army be made like the Swift Snake?” I reply: “It can. The men of Wu and the men of Yue hate one another, yet when they cross a river in the same boat and encounter a storm, they rescue one another like the left hand and the right.” Therefore, hobbling horses and burying chariot wheels are not enough to rely upon. Making courage uniform throughout the army is the Way of government; making both strong and weak serve their purpose is the principle of ground. Thus, one skilled in employing troops leads them by the hand as though directing a single man, because they have no alternative.

The business of a general is to be tranquil and inscrutable, upright and orderly. He must be able to make his officers and soldiers ignorant in ear and eye, keeping them from knowledge. He changes his affairs and alters his plans, keeping others from recognizing them; he shifts his encampments and takes circuitous routes, keeping others from anticipating him. When the commander appoints a task for his men, it is as though he leads them up a height and removes the ladder. When the commander leads them deep into the territory of the feudal lords and releases the trigger, he burns the boats and smashes the cooking pots, driving them like a flock of sheep. They are driven this way and that, and none knows where they are going. To gather the multitude of the three armies and cast them into danger—this is the business of a general. The transformations of the nine kinds of ground, the advantages of contraction and extension, and the principles of human nature must be examined.

In general, the Way of an invading army is this: deep penetration brings unity; shallow penetration brings dispersion. When one leaves one’s own state, crosses the border, and leads an army abroad, that is isolated ground. Ground open in four directions is focal ground. Deep penetration is heavy ground. Shallow penetration is light ground. Ground with strongholds behind and constrictions ahead is encircled ground. Ground with nowhere to go is death ground. Therefore, on dispersive ground I would unify the men’s wills; on light ground I would keep them connected; on contested ground I would hasten up the rear; on intersecting ground I would carefully guard the defenses; on focal ground I would strengthen alliances; on heavy ground I would maintain a continuous flow of provisions; on broken ground I would press forward along the roads; on encircled ground I would block the openings; on death ground I would show them that there is no chance of survival. Thus, the nature of soldiers is to resist when surrounded, to fight when there is no alternative, and to obey when deeply imperiled.

Therefore, one who does not know the plans of the feudal lords cannot enter alliances beforehand. One who does not know the configuration of mountains and forests, dangerous defiles and obstacles, marshes and swamps, cannot move an army. One who does not employ local guides cannot gain the advantages of the ground. He who is ignorant of even one among these several matters does not command the army of a hegemon or true king. When the army of a hegemon or true king attacks a great state, that state’s multitudes cannot assemble; when his might bears down upon the enemy, the enemy’s allies cannot unite. Therefore, he does not contend for alliances under Heaven, nor does he foster the authority of others under Heaven. He trusts his own private designs and brings his might to bear upon the enemy; thus he can take the enemy’s cities and overthrow the enemy’s state. Bestow rewards that transcend established law and issue commands beyond ordinary government. Direct the multitude of the three armies as though employing a single man. Set them tasks, but do not explain them in words; show them the advantage, but do not tell them the harm. Cast them upon ground of destruction, and only then will they survive; sink them into death ground, and only then will they live. Only after the multitude has been plunged into danger can it determine victory or defeat. Thus, the business of warfare lies in feigning compliance with the enemy’s intentions, concentrating against him in a single direction, and marching a thousand miles to kill his commander. This is called accomplishing affairs through skill and ability.

Therefore, on the day the government resolves to mobilize, close the passes and break the tallies, permitting no enemy envoy to pass. Deliberate sternly in the ancestral temple in order to execute the plans. When the enemy opens a door, you must rush through it. Seize first what he loves, and subtly adjust your timing to his. Follow the marked line in accordance with the enemy in order to decide the business of battle. Thus, at first be like a maiden, and the enemy will open his door; afterward be like a hare loosed from the snare, and the enemy will be unable to resist.

Sunzi said: As a general rule for employing an army, there is dispersive ground, light ground, contested ground, intersecting ground, crossroads ground, heavy ground, difficult ground, encircled ground, and death ground. When the other lords fight within their own territory, it is dispersive ground. When one enters another’s territory but not deeply, it is light ground. Ground advantageous to us if we gain it and advantageous to the enemy if he gains it is contested ground. Ground over which we can go and the enemy can come is intersecting ground. Territory adjoining three other states, where the first to arrive can gain the support of the multitudes under Heaven, is crossroads ground. When one has penetrated deeply into another’s territory and has passed many walled cities and towns, it is heavy ground. Mountains, forests, dangerous defiles, obstacles, marshes, and every route that is difficult to travel are difficult ground. Ground whose entrance is narrow, whose route of return is circuitous, and where a small enemy force can strike our large force is encircled ground. Ground where fighting quickly brings survival and failure to fight quickly brings destruction is death ground. Therefore, do not fight on dispersive ground; do not stop on light ground; do not attack on contested ground; do not let your forces become cut off on intersecting ground; join alliances on crossroads ground; plunder supplies on heavy ground; keep moving on difficult ground; make plans on encircled ground; and fight on death ground.

Those who in ancient times were said to be skilled in employing an army could keep the enemy’s front and rear from reaching each other, his large and small forces from relying on each other, his high-ranking and low-ranking men from rescuing each other, and his superiors and subordinates from supporting each other. They could keep separated soldiers from assembling and assembled troops from becoming orderly. They moved when it accorded with advantage and stopped when it did not accord with advantage. Someone may dare to ask: “If the enemy is numerous, orderly, and about to advance, how should we meet him?” I reply: “First seize something he cherishes, and he will obey you.” The essential nature of warfare is speed: exploit the enemy’s failure to reach a position, travel by routes he does not anticipate, and attack where he is not on guard.

In general, the way of an invading army is that when it penetrates deeply, its troops become united and the defenders cannot overcome it. Plunder fertile country so that the entire army has sufficient food. Carefully nurture the troops and do not weary them. Unite their spirit and accumulate their strength. Maneuver the army and devise plans so that your intentions cannot be fathomed. Throw the troops into a place from which there is nowhere to go, and they will die rather than flee. If they are ready to die, how can officers and soldiers fail to exert their full strength? When soldiers are in extreme danger, they do not fear. When there is nowhere to go, they stand firm. When they penetrate deeply, they hold together. When they have no alternative, they fight. Therefore, such troops stay alert without being drilled, do what is wanted without being asked, are close-knit without agreements, and can be trusted without commands. Prohibit omens and eliminate doubts, and they will go nowhere else even until death. If my officers have no surplus wealth, it is not because they despise material goods. If they have no expectation of surviving, it is not because they dislike long life. On the day the order to advance is issued, seated officers and soldiers wet their lapels with tears, while those lying down let tears run across their cheeks. But throw them into a place from which there is nowhere to go, and they will show the courage of Zhuan Zhu and Cao Gui.

Therefore, one skilled in employing an army is like the Swiftly Striking snake. The Swiftly Striking snake lives on Mount Chang. Strike its head, and its tail arrives; strike its tail, and its head arrives; strike its middle, and both head and tail arrive. Someone may dare to ask: “Can an army be made to act like the Swiftly Striking snake?” I reply: “It can. The people of Wu and the people of Yue hate each other, but if they are crossing a river in the same boat and encounter a storm, they rescue each other like the left and right hands.” Therefore, tethering horses and burying chariot wheels are not enough to rely on. Making everyone equally courageous is the way of government. Making full use of both the strong and the weak is the principle of terrain. Therefore, one skilled in employing an army leads his troops hand in hand as if they were one person, because they have no alternative.

The business of a commander is to remain calm and inscrutable, upright and disciplined. He must be able to keep the eyes and ears of his officers and soldiers ignorant, so that they know nothing. He changes his undertakings and alters his plans, so that others cannot recognize them. He changes his encampments and takes circuitous routes, so that others cannot anticipate him. When a commander gives his troops their appointed task, it is like climbing to a height and then removing the ladder. When a commander leads them deeply into the territory of another lord and releases the trigger, he burns the boats and smashes the cooking pots. He drives them like a flock of sheep, driving them there and driving them back, with none knowing where they are going. Gathering the army’s multitudes and throwing them into danger is called the business of a commander. The variations of the nine kinds of ground, the advantages of contraction and extension, and the principles of human nature must be carefully examined.

In general, the way of an invading army is that deep penetration brings unity, while shallow penetration brings dispersion. When an army has left its own state and crossed the border, it is on isolated ground. Ground open in all four directions is crossroads ground. Deep penetration is heavy ground. Shallow penetration is light ground. Ground with strong positions behind and narrow passages ahead is encircled ground. Ground from which there is nowhere to go is death ground. Therefore, on dispersive ground, I will unify the troops’ purpose. On light ground, I will keep the units connected. On contested ground, I will hurry up the rear. On intersecting ground, I will carefully guard the defenses. On crossroads ground, I will strengthen alliances. On heavy ground, I will maintain a continuous supply of food. On difficult ground, I will press forward along the route. On encircled ground, I will block the openings. On death ground, I will show the troops that they cannot survive. The nature of soldiers is to resist when surrounded, fight when they have no alternative, and obey when in extreme danger.

Therefore, one who does not know the plans of the other lords cannot form alliances in advance. One who does not know the terrain of mountains, forests, dangerous defiles, obstacles, and marshes cannot march an army. One who does not employ local guides cannot obtain the advantages of the ground. One who does not know even one of these four or five matters does not command the army of a hegemonic king. When the army of a hegemonic king attacks a great state, that state’s masses cannot assemble. When his power bears down on the enemy, the enemy’s allies cannot unite. Therefore, he does not contend for alliances with all under Heaven and does not foster the power of all under Heaven. He trusts his own private designs and brings his power to bear upon the enemy. Thus, the enemy’s cities can be taken and his state can be brought down. Bestow rewards that go beyond established rules and issue commands that go beyond ordinary government. Direct the army’s multitudes as though employing one person. Set them to tasks, but do not explain your words; lead them toward advantage, but do not tell them of the harm. Throw them onto ground of destruction, and only then will they survive; sink them into death ground, and only then will they live. Only after the troops have fallen into danger can they determine victory or defeat. Therefore, the business of warfare lies in pretending to comply with the enemy’s intentions, concentrating against him in a single direction, and killing his commander a thousand miles away. This is called accomplishing a task through skill and ability.

Therefore, on the day the government mobilizes the army, close the border passes and break the tallies, allowing none of the enemy’s envoys to pass. Debate the undertaking rigorously in the ancestral temple to decide its course. When the enemy opens and closes an opportunity, you must rush in. Seize first what he cherishes, while concealing the time appointed for battle. Follow established measures while adapting to the enemy, and thereby decide the battle. Thus, at first be like a secluded maiden, and the enemy will open his door. Afterward be like an escaping hare, and the enemy will be unable to resist in time.