| 1. |
Sun Tzu said: There are five ways of attacking with fire. The first is to burn soldiers in their camp;
the second is to burn stores; the third is to burn baggage trains; the fourth is to burn arsenals and
magazines; the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy.
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| 2. |
In order to carry out an attack, we must have means available. The material for raising fire should
always be kept in readiness.
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| 3. |
There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and special days for starting a conflagration.
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| 4. |
The proper season is when the weather is very dry; the special days are those when the moon is
in the constellations of the Sieve, the Wall, the Wing or the Cross-bar; for these four are all days of
rising wind.
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| 5. |
In attacking with fire, one should be prepared to meet five possible developments:
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| 6. |
(1) When fire breaks out inside to enemy's camp, respond at once with an attack from without.
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| 7. |
(2) If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy's soldiers remain quiet, bide your time and do not
attack.
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| 8. |
(3) When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it up with an attack, if that is
practicable; if not, stay where you are.
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| 9. |
(4) If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait for it to break out within, but
deliver your attack at a favorable moment.
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| 10. |
(5) When you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward.
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| 11. |
A wind that rises in the daytime lasts long, but a night breeze soon falls.
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| 12. |
In every army, the five developments connected with fire must be known, the movements of the
stars calculated, and a watch kept for the proper days.
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| 13. |
Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence; those who use water as an aid
to the attack gain an accession of strength.
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| 14. |
By means of water, an enemy may be intercepted, but not robbed of all his belongings.
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| 15. |
Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating
the spirit of enterprise; for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.
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| 16. |
Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates
his resources.
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| 17. |
Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be
gained; fight not unless the position is critical.
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| 18. |
No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight
a battle simply out of pique.
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| 19. |
If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.
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| 20. |
Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content.
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| 21. |
But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead
ever be brought back to life.
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| 22. |
Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. This is the way to
keep a country at peace and an army intact.
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