Chapter 11 · The Nine Situations

Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: dispersive, facile, contentious, open, intersecting highways, serious, difficult, hemmed-in, and desperate. On dispersive ground, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not. On open ground, do not block the enemy's way. On intersecting highways, join hands with allies. On serious ground, gather plunder. On difficult ground, keep steadily on the march. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, fight. Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots. The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan snake — strike its head and the tail attacks; strike its tail and the head attacks; strike its middle and both attack. Place the army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety.