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Introduction Although the basic principles cited below were writen centuries ago, they still have significance in the military tactics of today, and will no doubt help you while playing Age of Empires II. I. Laying Plans 1. The art of war is of vital importance 2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either 3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field. 4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline. 5,6. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger. 7. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons. 8. Earth comprises distances, great and small; 9. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness. 10. By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure. 11. These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail. 12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:-- 13. (1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued 14. By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat. 15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it,
will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon
it, 16. While heading the profit of my counsel, 17. According as circumstances are favorable, 18. All warfare is based on deception. 19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. 20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. 21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. 22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. 23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. 24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. 25. These military devices, leading to victory, 26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose. |
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Sections
Part I - Laying Plans Part II - Waging War Part III - Attack By Strategem Part IV - Tactical Dispositions Part VI - Weak Points and Strong Part VII - Maneuvering Part VIII - Variation in Tactics Part IX - The Army On the March Part X - Terrain Part XI - The Nine Situations Part XII - The Attack By Fire Part XIII - The Use of Spies
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