Chapter 5 — Strategic Power

Sunzi said: In general, commanding many is like commanding few; it is a matter of divisions and numbers. Fighting with many is like fighting with few; it is a matter of formations and signals. That the multitude of the three armies can be made to withstand the enemy without defeat is a matter of extraordinary and regular forces. That the army’s blow may be like a whetstone hurled against an egg is a matter of emptiness and substance.

In every battle, engage with the regular and gain victory with the extraordinary. Therefore, one skilled in bringing forth the extraordinary is inexhaustible as Heaven and earth, unending as rivers and seas. Ending and beginning again—such are the sun and moon. Dying and being born again—such are the four seasons. There are no more than five notes, yet the transformations of the five notes can never all be heard. There are no more than five colors, yet the transformations of the five colors can never all be seen. There are no more than five flavors, yet the transformations of the five flavors can never all be tasted. In battle, strategic configurations do not exceed the extraordinary and the regular, yet the transformations of the extraordinary and the regular can never be exhausted. The extraordinary and the regular give rise to each other like a ring without beginning or end. Who can exhaust them?

The rush of pent-up water that carries stones along is strategic power; the swift strike of a bird of prey that shatters its victim is timing. Therefore, one skilled in battle makes his strategic power steep and his timing brief. His strategic power is like a drawn crossbow; his timing is like releasing the trigger.

Amid tumult and uproar, the battle seems chaotic, yet cannot be thrown into disorder. Amid confusion and obscurity, the formation seems circular, yet cannot be defeated. Apparent disorder is born from order; apparent cowardice is born from courage; apparent weakness is born from strength. Order and disorder are a matter of organization; courage and cowardice, a matter of strategic power; strength and weakness, a matter of disposition.

Therefore, one skilled at moving the enemy presents a disposition the enemy must follow; he offers something the enemy must take. He moves the enemy with profit and awaits him with troops.

Therefore, one skilled in battle seeks victory from strategic power and does not demand it from individual men. Thus he can select men and entrust them to strategic power. One who relies on strategic power sends men into battle as though rolling logs and stones. The nature of logs and stones is to remain still on level ground and move on steep ground; if square, they stop; if round, they roll. Thus, the strategic power of one skilled at sending men into battle is like rolling round stones down a mountain a thousand fathoms high. This is strategic power.

Sunzi said: In general, managing many troops is like managing few; it is a matter of divisions and numbers. Fighting with many troops is like fighting with few; it is a matter of signals and commands. To ensure that the entire army can withstand the enemy’s attack without defeat is a matter of conventional and extraordinary forces. For the army’s blow to be like a whetstone hurled against an egg is a matter of emptiness and solidity.

In every battle, engage the enemy with conventional forces and win with extraordinary forces. Therefore, one skilled at producing extraordinary maneuvers is as inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth and as unending as rivers and seas. Ending and beginning again is like the sun and moon. Dying and being born again is like the four seasons. There are no more than five musical notes, yet the variations of the five notes can never all be heard. There are no more than five colors, yet the variations of the five colors can never all be seen. There are no more than five flavors, yet the variations of the five flavors can never all be tasted. In battle, there are no more than conventional and extraordinary forces, yet the variations of conventional and extraordinary forces can never be exhausted. Conventional and extraordinary forces produce each other like a circle with no beginning or end. Who can exhaust their possibilities?

The rush of torrential water that can carry stones along is strategic force. The swift strike of a bird of prey that can crush its victim is timing. Therefore, one skilled in warfare builds an overwhelming strategic force and releases it with compressed timing. Strategic force is like a drawn crossbow; timing is like releasing its trigger.

Amid turbulence and confusion, the battle seems chaotic, yet cannot be thrown into disorder. Amid indistinct and formless movement, the disposition is rounded and cannot be defeated. Apparent disorder arises from good order; apparent cowardice arises from courage; apparent weakness arises from strength. Order and disorder are matters of organization; courage and cowardice are matters of strategic force; strength and weakness are matters of disposition.

Therefore, one skilled at moving the enemy presents a disposition that the enemy is certain to follow; he offers something that the enemy is certain to take. He moves the enemy with profit and waits for him with troops.

Therefore, one skilled in warfare seeks victory from strategic force and does not demand it from individual men. He can therefore select men and let strategic force carry them. One who relies on strategic force uses his men in battle like rolling logs and stones. It is the nature of logs and stones to remain still on level ground and move on steep ground; if square, they stop, and if round, they roll. Therefore, the strategic force of one skilled at directing men in battle is like rolling round stones down a mountain a thousand fathoms high. This is strategic force.