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.