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08 Variation In Tactics - The Art of War - Lao Tzu · The Philosophy Insights Collection

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  Chapter eight variation in Tactics, Sun Sou said, in war, the general
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  receives his commands from the sovereign, collects his army, and concentrates his forces.
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  When in difficult country, do not encamp in country where high roads intersect,
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  join hands with your allies. Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions in
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  himed. In situations you must resort to stratagem. In desperate position, you
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  must fight. There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must
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  be not attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not
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  be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed. The general
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  who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his
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  troops. The general who does not understand these may be well acquainted with the
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  configuration of the country, yet he will not be able to turn his knowledge
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  to practical account. So the student of war, who is unversed in the
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  art of war, of varying his plans, even though he be acquainted with
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  the five advantages, will fail to make the best use of his men.
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  Hence, the wise leader's plans considerations of advantage and of disadvantage will be blended
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  together. If our expectation of advantage be tempered in this way, we may
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  succeed in accomplishing the essential part of our schemes. If, on the other
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  hand, in the midst of difficulties, we are always ready to seize an
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  advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune, reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting
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  damage on them, and make trouble for them, and keep them constantly engaged,
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  hold out specious allurements, and make them rush to any given point.
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  The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemies
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  not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him. Not on the
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  chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made
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  our position unassailable. There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general One
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  recklessness, which leads to destruction. Two cowardice, which leads to capture.
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  Three a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults. Four a delicacy
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  of honor which is sensitive to shame. Five over solicitude for his men,
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  which exposes him to worry and trouble. These are the five besetting sins of
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  a general ruinous to the conduct of war. When an army is overthrown and
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  its leader slain, the cause will surely be found among these five dangerous faults.
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  Let them be the subject of meditation. End of Chapter eight