III.
THE ATTACK BY STRATEGEM.
Son the master said:—
Now by the laws of war, better than defeating a country by fire and the sword, is to take it without strife.
Better to capture the enemy’s army,[1] intact, than to overcome it after fierce resistance.
Better to capture the "Ryo," the "Sotsu," or the "Go," untouched, than to engage them first.
To fight and conquer one hundred times is excellent; but better still, and the supreme art, is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
Wherefore, the most skilful warrior outwits the enemy by superior strategem; the next in merit isolates the enemy from other states; next to him is he who engages the enemy’s forces; while to besiege the enemy’s citadel is the worst expedient.
A siege should not be undertaken if it can possibly be avoided. For, before a siege can be commenced, three months are required for the construction of stages, battering rams, and the preparation of siege
engines; then a further three months are required in
- ↑ The Chinese army (軍) consisted of 12,500, the "Ryo" (旅) of 500, "Sotsu" (卒) of 50, and the "Go" (伍) of 5 men.
