War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 10 - Terrain 地形篇

(Terrain) highlights not only six types of terrain that General must be aware of, but also six aspects of how a General’s mistake would spell defeat for one’s entire army. 〈故兵有走者、有馳者、有陷者、有崩者、有亂者、有北者。凡此六者，非天之災，將之過也。〉

〈夫勢均，以一擊十，曰走〉---- While at war with one’s enemy, and being on par against them in terms of capabilities but is unable to concentrate one’s military strength.

〈卒強吏弱，曰馳〉---- A strong army, but weak command and leadership from the commanders.

〈吏強卒弱，曰陷〉---- Strong command and leadership from the commanders, but a weak army.

〈大吏怒而不服，遇敵懟而自戰，將不知其能，曰崩〉---- Refers to hot-tempered commanders, who refused to adhere to the General’s command, and act without permission.

〈將弱不嚴，教道不明，吏卒無常，陳兵縱橫，曰亂〉---- Yielding General and commanders, and disorderly soldiers.

〈將不能料敵 ，以少合眾，以弱擊強，兵無選鋒，曰北〉---- General not knowing one’s enemy and acts rashly, resulting in casualties and damages on one’s part.

Where there is free entry and exit for one and one’s enemy, we call it “Open”.

Where there is free entry but hard exit, we call it ‘Harsh’.

Where one and one’s enemy attack is not advantageous, we call it “Deadlock”.

One should occupy and wait to ambush one’s enemy. If it is taken by one’s enemy, do not pursue. We call this “Narrow Passes”.

One should occupy and await the enemy’s attack. If one’s enemy occupies it first, lead one’s troops away. We call this “Highground”.

Due to lands that are too wide and far apart, both parties are unable to plan and carry out battle arrangements. We call this “Wide”.

War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 9 - Deploying the Army 行军篇

(Deploying the Army) discusses on the events one has to be aware of when camping at war. When travelling out to war, one must have complete understanding towards one’s surroundings so as to be able to make informed decisions, this is especially so in the four following conditions: Valleys, Rivers, Swamp and Flat Land. Sun Tzu spoke of studying movements of one’s enemy in order to predict their situation and possible actions when encountering them at camp, which is 〈兵非貴益多也，惟無武進，足以并力、料敵、取人而已〉。If one underestimates one’s enemy, and not understands them, defeat is certain 〈夫惟無慮而易敵者，必擒于人〉。

辭卑而備者，進也 ﹔辭強而進驅者，退也

In , Sun Tzu mentioned that if one’s enemy is fully prepared but in words, depicts his situation as relatively weak, then it would mean that he is about to strike. In contrast, when one’s enemy seems ready to attack and in speech ferocious, then it would mean that he is about to retreat.

War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 8 - Nine Transformation

(Nine Transformations) explains that not only must a General be observant towards one’s surroundings, but also inwards of one’s own psychology. For instance 〈杂于利而务可信也，杂于害而患可解也〉aptly advises a General on thinking positively as well on the building up of confidence so as to ensure that one is prepared even in the face of a difficult situation.

圮地无舍，衢地交和，绝地勿留，为地则谋，死地则战〉

Sun Tzu believes that a place untraveled must not be camped. At intersections between countries must one communicate with one’s neighbours. Where traffic is arduous must not one stop. In face of danger from all around, must one escape from using stratagem. In situations where there is only a dead end, must one fight unreservedly for one’s survival. Not only did Sun Tzu mention about the transformation changes of geography, but also on the transformation of strategies that one needs to change accordingly to different situations.

War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 7 - Contending Army 《军争篇》

(Contending Army) highlights the importance of being aware of the conditions happening around one’s environment, so as to use it to one’s advantage, even when the condition does not seem to be in favour of one.

Sun Tzu believes that one’s action must be as swift as the wind, as silent as the woods, and when attacking, must be as fury as fire. In contrast, one must be unshakeable in defending where one’s ambush is unpredictable and attack swift as lightning, so as to catch one’s enemy unprepared.

War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 6 -The Weak and the Strong 虚实篇

discusses mainly on the way in gaining victories, through the avoidance of one’s opponent strengths and taking the offensive against their weaknesses. Sun Tzu said 〈善战者，致人而不致于人〉meaning that for a General to be competent, one must grasp the war conditions and be able to control the situations. More of such play on weakness and strengths are discussed in this chapter.

Sun Tzu believes that no matter how well one’s enemy is prepared; one is still able to corner one’s enemy into one’s desired situation

War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 5 - Strategic Conditions 《兵势篇》

is a continuation of on the way of gaining victories. Sun Tzu believes that 〈奇、正〉are the best way of intensifying one’s strengths. ‘正‘(Straightforward) refers to unchanging principles governing war, while ‘奇‘(Surprise) is the stratagem discussed in . Under the changes arising from the coordination of ‘Straightforward’ and ‘Surprise’, one’s enemy will be unable to grasp the changing conditions which will thus, elevate one’s own chances of earning victories. It is this meaning that’s aptly brought up in the Chinese phrase “To strike one in surprise, secures a victory” (出奇制胜).

〈色不過五，五色之變，不可勝觀也〉

〈戰勢不過奇正，奇正之變，不可勝窮之也〉

Sun Tzu sees ‘Surprise’ and ‘Straightforward’ as liken to colours, where even under the most basic of coordination and changes, results in the most unexpected combinations of colours.

War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 4 - Strategic Dispositions 军形篇

Strategic Dispositions - highlights the way to gain victories. Sun Tzu believes that 〈昔之善戰者，先為不可勝，以侍敵之可勝。〉Which mean that for a capable General to gain victory, one must be prepared for all situations so as to be able to counter failure and to spring on one’s enemy when they are at their weakest.

〈兵法：一曰度，二曰量，三曰數，四曰稱，五曰勝。〉

Sun Tzu believes that the way to maintain one’s victories is through: Calculations, Quantities, Logistics, Balance of Power and Victories.

〈地生度，度生量，量生數，數生稱，稱生勝〉

Calculations: The scale of the war so as to aid one’s decision making process

Quantities: Estimates on required quantities in order to plan one’s actions

Logistics: Estimates on the required manpower and quantities, so as to aid one’s planning

Balance of Power: To weigh one and one’s enemy conditions, so as to better grasp the chances of victories

Victories: To be victorious