By the rules of war, if ten times as strong as the enemy, surround him; with five times his strength, attack; with double his numbers, divide. If equal in strength, exert to the utmost, and fight; if inferior in numbers, manœuvre and await the opportunity; if altogether inferior, offer no chance of battle. A determined stand by inferior numbers does but lead to their capture.
The warrior is the country’s support. If his aid be entire, the country is of necessity strong; if it be at all deficient, then is the country weak.
Now a prince may embarrass his army in three ways, namely:—
Ignorant that the army in the field should not advance, to order it to go forward; or, ignorant that the army should not retreat, order it to retire.
This is to tie the army as with a string,
Ignorant of military affairs, to rule the armies in the same way as the state.
This is to perplex the soldiers.
Ignorant of the situation of the army, to settle its dispositions.
