The Art of War | Page 8

meet the enemy. So much for river warfare.
7. In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over
them quickly, without any delay.
8. If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass
near you, and get your back to a clump of trees. So much for operations
in salt-marches.
9. In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible position with rising
ground to your right and on your rear, so that the danger may be in
front, and safety lie behind. So much for campaigning in flat country.

10. These are the four useful branches of military knowledge which
enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several sovereigns.
11. All armies prefer high ground to low and sunny places to dark.
12. If you are careful of your men, and camp on hard ground, the army
will be free from disease of every kind, and this will spell victory.
13. When you come to a hill or a bank, occupy the sunny side, with the
slope on your right rear. Thus you will at once act for the benefit of
your soldiers and utilize the natural advantages of the ground.
14. When, in consequence of heavy rains up-country, a river which you
wish to ford is swollen and flecked with foam, you must wait until it
subsides.
15. Country in which there are precipitous cliffs with torrents running
between, deep natural hollows, confined places, tangled thickets,
quagmires and crevasses, should be left with all possible speed and not
approached.
16. While we keep away from such places, we should get the enemy to
approach them; while we face them, we should let the enemy have
them on his rear.
17. If in the neighborhood of your camp there should be any hilly
country, ponds surrounded by aquatic grass, hollow basins filled with
reeds, or woods with thick undergrowth, they must be carefully routed
out and searched; for these are places where men in ambush or
insidious spies are likely to be lurking.
18. When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on
the natural strength of his position.
19. When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious for
the other side to advance.
20. If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a bait.

21. Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the enemy is
advancing. The appearance of a number of screens in the midst of thick
grass means that the enemy wants to make us suspicious.
22. The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade.
Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.
23. When there is dust rising in a high column, it is the sign of chariots
advancing; when the dust is low, but spread over a wide area, it
betokens the approach of infantry. When it branches out in different
directions, it shows that parties have been sent to collect firewood. A
few clouds of dust moving to and fro signify that the army is
encamping.
24. Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy
is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the
attack are signs that he will retreat.
25. When the light chariots come out first and take up a position on the
wings, it is a sign that the enemy is forming for battle.
26. Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a
plot.
27. When there is much running about and the soldiers fall into rank, it
means that the critical moment has come.
28. When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.
29. When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from
want of food.
30. If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves,
the army is suffering from thirst.
31. If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to
secure it, the soldiers are exhausted.
32. If birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. Clamor by night

betokens nervousness.
33. If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak.
If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the
officers are angry, it means that the men are weary.
34. When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for
food, and when the men do not hang their cooking-pots over the
camp-fires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you may
know that they are determined to fight to the death.
35. The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in
subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file.
36.