寡者，备人者也；众者，使人备己者也。

Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible attacks; numerical strength, from compelling our adversary to make these preparations against us.

故知战之地，知战之日，则可千里而会战；

Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.

不知战之地，不知战日，则左不能救右，右不能救左，前不能救后，后不能救前，而况远者数十里，近者数里乎！

But if neither time nor place be known, then the left wing will be impotent to succor the right, the right equally impotent to succor the left, the van unable to relieve the rear, or the rear to support the van. How much more so if the furthest portions of the army are anything under a hundred LI apart, and even the nearest are separated by several LI!

以吾度之，越人之兵虽多，亦奚益于胜哉！故曰：胜可为也。

Though according to my estimate the soldiers of Yueh exceed our own in number, that shall advantage them nothing in the matter of victory. I say then that victory can be achieved.

敌虽众，可使无斗。故策之而知得失之计，

Though the enemy be stronger in numbers, we may prevent him from fighting. Scheme so as to discover his plans and the likelihood of their success.

候之而知动静之理，形之而知死生之地，

Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.

角之而知有余不足之处。

Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.

故形兵之极，至于无形。无形则深间不能窥，智者不能谋。

In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them; conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest brains.

因形而措胜于众，众不能知。

How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy's own tactics--that is what the multitude cannot comprehend.

人皆知我所以胜之形，而莫知吾所以制胜之形。

All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

故其战胜不复，而应形于无穷。

Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.

夫兵形象水，水之行避高而趋下，

Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards.

兵之形避实而击虚；

So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.

水因地而制流，兵因敌而制胜。

Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.

故兵无常势，水无常形。

Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.

能因敌变化而取胜者，谓之神。

He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.

故五行无常胜，四时无常位，日有短长，月有死生。

The five elements (water, fire, wood, metal, earth) are not always equally predominant; the four seasons make way for each other in turn. There are short days and long; the moon has its periods of waning and waxing.

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