Chapter 12 — Attack by Fire

Sunzi said: In general, there are five kinds of fire attack. The first is burning men; the second, burning stores; the third, burning baggage trains; the fourth, burning arsenals; the fifth, burning lines of transport. To carry out a fire attack there must be a means, and incendiary materials must always be prepared. There are proper seasons for setting fires and proper days for raising them. The proper season is when the weather is dry. The proper days are when the moon is in the constellations Basket, Wall, Wings, or Crossbar. These four lunar lodges mark days when winds arise.

In every fire attack, one must respond according to the transformations of the five fires. When fire breaks out within the enemy’s camp, respond swiftly from without. If fire breaks out but his troops remain quiet, wait and do not attack. Let the fire reach the height of its power; if you can follow it with an attack, do so, and if you cannot, stop. If fire can be set from without, do not wait for it to be set within; ignite it at the proper time. When fire is set upwind, do not attack from downwind. A wind that blows long during the day will cease at night. Every army must understand the transformations of the five fires and guard for the proper calculations. Thus, one who assists an attack with fire is enlightened; one who assists an attack with water is powerful. Water can cut the enemy off, but cannot deprive him of everything.

To win battles and take objectives without cultivating the fruits of those achievements is disastrous; this is called “wasteful delay.” Therefore it is said: An enlightened ruler must consider it, and a good commander must cultivate it. If there is no advantage, do not move; if there is nothing to gain, do not employ troops; if there is no danger, do not fight. A ruler must not raise an army out of anger; a commander must not bring on battle out of resentment. Move when it accords with advantage; stop when it does not accord with advantage. Anger can return to joy, and resentment can return to pleasure, but a destroyed state cannot return to existence, nor can the dead return to life. Therefore, the enlightened ruler is cautious, and the good commander is vigilant. This is the Way to keep the state secure and the army whole.

Sunzi said: There are five kinds of attack by fire. The first is burning enemy soldiers; the second is burning accumulated supplies; the third is burning baggage trains; the fourth is burning arsenals and storehouses; and the fifth is burning transport routes. To carry out a fire attack, there must be a means of starting it, and incendiary materials must always be prepared. There are suitable times for setting fires and suitable days for raising them. The suitable time is when the weather is dry. The suitable days are when the moon is in the constellations of the Winnowing Basket, Wall, Wings, or Chariot Platform. Whenever the moon is in these four constellations, it is a day when winds arise.

In every fire attack, you must respond according to the changes produced by the five kinds of fire. When fire breaks out inside the enemy’s camp, respond early with an attack from outside. If fire breaks out but the enemy’s troops remain calm, wait and do not attack. When the fire reaches its greatest strength, follow up if you can; if you cannot, stop. If fire can be set from outside, do not wait for an agent within; set it when the time is right. When a fire is set upwind, do not attack from downwind. A wind that lasts through the day will cease at night. Every army must understand the changes produced by the five kinds of fire and guard for the proper conditions. Thus, using fire to support an attack produces brilliant results; using water to support an attack produces strength. Water can cut an enemy off, but it cannot seize his resources.

To win battles and take objectives but fail to consolidate the achievement is disastrous. This is called “wasteful delay.” Therefore it is said: An enlightened ruler considers the matter carefully, and an excellent commander carries it through. Do not move unless there is advantage; do not employ troops unless there is something to gain; do not fight unless there is danger. A ruler must not mobilize an army out of anger, and a commander must not bring on a battle out of resentment. Move when it accords with advantage; stop when it does not accord with advantage. Anger can turn back into pleasure, and resentment can turn back into delight, but a destroyed state cannot be restored to existence, and the dead cannot be restored to life. Therefore, an enlightened ruler is cautious, and an excellent commander is vigilant. This is the way to keep the state secure and the army intact.