Chapter V: Energy

1Sun Tzŭ said: The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.

2Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.

3To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy’s attack and remain unshaken: this is effected by manœuvers direct and indirect.

4That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg: this is effected by the science of weak points and strong.

5In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

6Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away but to return once more.

7There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.

8There are not more than five primary colours (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever be seen.

9There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.

10In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack: the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of manœuvers.

11The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle: you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?

12The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.

13The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

14Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.

15Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger.

16Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.

17Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.

18Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.

19Thus one who is skilful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it.

20By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body of picked men he lies in wait for him.

21The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilise combined energy.

22When he utilises combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped, to go rolling down.

23Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject of energy.