Sonshi/The Order of Battle
IV.
THE ORDER OF BATTLE.
Son the master said:—
The ancient masters of war first made their position impregnable, then waited until the adversary’s condition gave promise of victory. That was a consummation whereby success was made certain, and likewise failure to the adversary.
Skilful soldiers can make their armies invincible, but they cannot always put the enemy in a conquerable position.
The conditions necessary for victory may be present, but it cannot always be obtained.
If the enemy be invincible, we stand on the defensive and await an opportunity; if he be vulnerable, we attack.
Conceal your strength in defence; shew your banners in attack.
The skilful in defence, crouch, hidden in the deepest shades; the skilful in attack, push to the topmost heaven.[1]
If these precepts be observed, victory is certain.
A victory, even if popularly proclaimed as such by the common folk, may not be a true . To win in fight, and for the kingdom to say, "Well done", is not the perfection of attainment. To lift an autumn fleece[2] is no mark of strength; the eyes that only see the sun and moon are not the eagles; to hear the thunder is no great thing.
As has been said aforetime, the able warrior gains the victory without desperate and bloody engagements, but wins thereby no reputation for wisdom or brave deeds, for it seems a thing that cannot be helped; his performance is such that the enemy seems preordained to defeat.
Moreover, the skilful soldier in a secure position, does not let pass the moment when the enemy should be attacked.
The army that conquers decides before fighting that victory can be gained.
The army destined to defeat, fights, trusting that chance may bring success to its arms.
The state whose general is careful in his treatment of the people, and upright in his dealing, cannot be shaken.
Touching the laws of war, it is said:—first, the rule; second, the measure; third, the tables; fourth, the scales; fifth, the foretelling of victory.
For the rule is the survey of land; the measure tells the amount of that land’s produce; the tables its population; from the scales their weight or quality is made known; and then can we calculate victory or defeat.
The army fit to conquer as against the army destined to defeat, is as the feather against the beam in the scales. Conquering forces are as the rush of long pent up waters into sunken valleys. Such is the shock of war.