Chapter 11: The Nine Situations

Sun Tzu said:

Warfare involves nine types of ground: dispersive, frontier, contested, open, crossroads, serious, difficult, surrounded, and desperate.

Dispersive: Fighting on home territory.
Frontier: Shallow penetration into enemy land.
Contested: Ground advantageous to both sides.
Open: Both sides can move freely.
Crossroads: Connecting multiple states, where securing alliances is key.
Serious: Deep penetration with many enemy cities behind.
Difficult: Challenging terrain like mountains, forests, or marshes.
Surrounded: Narrow entry, circuitous retreat, where a small enemy force can strike your larger one.
Desperate: Swift battle ensures survival; delay brings death.

Thus: Avoid battle in dispersive ground, do not linger in frontier ground, do not attack in contested ground, maintain connections in open ground, secure alliances in crossroads ground, plunder in serious ground, advance in difficult ground, scheme in surrounded ground, and fight in desperate ground.

Skilled ancient commanders ensured the enemy’s forces were disconnected, their numbers unreliable, their ranks unable to rescue each other, and their troops scattered and disorganized.

Act when advantageous, halt when not.

If asked, “How to face a numerous, disciplined enemy?”

Answer: “Seize what they value, and they will comply.”

Warfare prioritizes speed, striking through unexpected routes at unprepared targets.

When campaigning: Deep penetration unites the army, preventing enemy dominance. Plunder fertile lands to feed the troops.

Care for the troops, conserve strength, and plan unpredictably.

Place troops in desperate situations where they fight fearlessly, stand firm, remain loyal, and battle without hesitation.

Thus, the army is vigilant without urging, achieves without demanding, unites without orders, and trusts without decrees. Banish superstitions and doubts, and they face death willingly.

Soldiers forgo wealth, not because they disdain riches, but from necessity; they risk life, not because they reject longevity, but from duty. On the day of battle, tears stain the faces of seated soldiers, and those lying down weep.
In desperate straits, they fight with the courage of heroes like Zhuan Zhu or Cao Gui.

Skilled commanders are like the “rate snake” of Mount Chang: strike its head, the tail responds; strike its tail, the head responds; strike its middle, both respond.

If asked, “Can troops be made like the rate snake?”

Answer: “Yes.” Even enemies like Wu and Yue, when in the same boat during a storm, aid each other like hands.

Tying horses or burying wheels is unreliable. Unifying courage through discipline and balancing strength and flexibility with terrain are the keys.

Skilled commanders lead as if guiding a single person, driven by necessity.

A general’s duty is calm precision and orderly governance. Blind the troops to plans, change strategies, and obscure movements to keep them unaware.

Shift camps, take circuitous routes, and make return impossible, like climbing a height and discarding the ladder.

Lead deep into enemy lands, trigger the critical moment, burn boats, and break cauldrons, driving troops like sheep, unaware of their destination.

Gather the army and place it in peril—this is the general’s task.

Understand the nine grounds’ variations, the advantages of flexibility, and human nature’s principles.

When campaigning: Deep penetration unifies, shallow penetration scatters. Leaving your state to fight abroad is isolated ground; open routes are crossroads; deep penetration is serious ground; shallow is frontier; narrow entries with strong defenses are surrounded; no escape is desperate.

Thus:

In dispersive ground, unify resolve.
In frontier ground, maintain cohesion.
In contested ground, hasten to secure it.
In open ground, strengthen defenses.
In crossroads ground, solidify alliances.
In serious ground, secure provisions.
In difficult ground, press forward.
In surrounded ground, block gaps.
In desperate ground, show no retreat.

Troops’ nature: When surrounded, they resist; when desperate, they fight; when pressed, they obey.

Those unaware of neighboring states’ plans cannot ally with them. Those ignorant of terrain cannot march. Those without guides cannot exploit terrain.

Without mastering these, an army cannot dominate.

A dominant army prevents enemy unity and alliances, not by competing for allies but by imposing its will, capturing cities, and toppling states.

Offer unconventional rewards and issue extraordinary orders, commanding the army as one.

Assign tasks without revealing plans, promise gains without warning of risks.

Place troops in mortal danger to survive; trap them in death to live. In peril, they achieve victory or defeat.

In warfare, feign compliance with the enemy’s intent, concentrate forces on a single goal, and strike generals over a thousand miles—this is achieving success through skill.

On the day of action, seal passes, destroy tallies, block envoys, and deliberate decisively in the temple.

When the enemy opens a gap, seize it swiftly, targeting what they value, without fixed plans.

Adapt to the enemy to decide the battle.

Begin like a maiden, luring the enemy to open their gates; then strike like a fleeing hare, too swift to resist.