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

War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 3 - Strategizing the Attack 谋攻篇

'Strategizing the Attack' emphasize on the importance of strategizing one’s warfare before an attack. 〈是故百戰百勝，非善之善也﹔不戰而屈人之兵，善之善者也。〉To win every battle is not the highest excellence; the highest excellence is to subdue one’s enemy without fighting at all. This is in fact, what Sun Tzu believed was the best course of attack: To keep intact one’s own army. Not only will one minimizes all damages, but also the unnecessary recovery of the conquered land. Before strategizing every attack, one must know the enemy well. To not know the enemy and strike would only wreck one’s own army.

知己知彼，百戰不貽﹔不知彼而知己，一勝一負﹔不知彼不 知己，每戰必貽

Sun Tzu believes that by knowing oneself and one’s enemy, one will never be defeated. To know oneself and not know one’s enemy, one will only succeed halfway. To not know oneself and one’s enemy, in every battle looms defeat.