Art of War Collection

Chapter 18: Nine changes

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〔Cao Cao said: There are nine ways to use it to change its righteousness. 〕

Sun Tzu said: Every method of using soldiers: Jedi without staying,

〔Cao Cao said: There is no end for a long time. 〕

Qudi conjoined,

[Cao Cao said: It is also a knot of princes. Qudi, a land of four links. 〕

To leave the ground unsuccessfully,

[Cao Cao said: There is nothing to rely on. The water is ruined and said 圯. 〕

Encircle the land and plan,

[Cao Cao said: It is also a strange idea. 〕

Fight to the death.

〔Cao Cao said: Desperate battle. 〕

Can't help it,

[Cao Cao said: It is improper to follow a difficult place; it is necessary to follow it, so it is a change. ] The army does not attack, [Cao Cao said: Although the army can attack, it is difficult to stay long because of the danger of the ground. 〔Cao Cao said: The city is small and solid, and the food is plentiful and cannot be attacked. If you want to buy China fees and go deep into Xuzhou, you will have 14 counties. ] There is no fight for the land, [Cao Cao said: A land of small profit, if one fights for gains and loses, there is no fight for them. 〕The king's order does not work.

[Cao Cao said: Gou is convenient for things, not limited to the king's fate. 〕

Therefore, it will lead to the benefits of the nine changes, knowing how to use soldiers.

The benefits of the Nine Transformations will not work. Although you know the terrain, you can't get the benefits of the land. You don’t know the art of the nine changes in the military, although you know the five benefits, you can’t use it.

[Cao Cao said: The next five things are also. Nine changes, one cloud and five changes. 〕

Therefore, the wise man's worries must be mixed with interests.

〔Cao Cao said: It is difficult to exercise power when you think about harm when you are profitable, and when you think about profit. 〕Miscellaneous benefits, so work can be extended; 〔Cao Cao said: the enemy can’t do harm to us by the five places, and our work is credible. 〕Mixed with harm, so the trouble can be solved.

〔Cao Cao said: Participate in profit, but also calculate in harm, although there are problems that can be solved. ] For this reason, the princes were succumbed to harm, [Cao Cao said: It is also evil to harm it. 〕

Serving the princes to work,

〔Cao Cao said: Karma and work make it annoying. If he comes in and out, he goes in and out. 〕 Go to the princes to benefit.

[Cao Cao said: Ling Zilai also. 〕

Therefore, the method of using soldiers: if you don't rely on it, you can wait for it; if you don't rely on it, you can't attack.

〔Cao Cao said: Do not forget the dangers, and always use the equipment. 〕

So there will be five dangers:

Must die or kill,

〔Cao Cao said: Brave and careless, you must fight to death, not to bend, you can be in the midst of surprises. 〕 Must be born to be captive, 〔Cao Cao said: Seeing profit, fear and cowardice will not enter. 〕

Irritable but insulting,

[Cao Cao said: People who are in a hurry can be angry and insulted. 〕

Clean and shameful,

[Cao Cao said: A clean person can be humiliated. 〕

Loving the people is annoying.

〔Cao Cao said: Going beyond what is inevitable, those who love the people must do both ways to save them, and it is troublesome to save them. 〕All of these five will be passed, and the disaster will be the use of soldiers. If the army is overthrown and killed, there will be five dangers, and it must be observed.

[Translation]

Sun Tzu said: The usual rule of military use is that generals are ordered by the monarch, and the recruits are organized into an army to fight. They cannot be stationed in the "quaddi", and they should make friends with neighboring countries in the "qudi"; Don’t stay; if you encounter a strong enemy before and a place with traps, you must be ingenious; if you fall into a “dead place”, you must fight desperately; you must not march on a path that is unfavorable to our army; No attack; some cities cannot be captured; some monarchs' orders may not be executed. Therefore, if the generals can understand the benefits of the nine changes, even if they know how to use soldiers. If you don’t know the Nine Changes, even if you know the dangers of the terrain, you can’t actually benefit from it; if you don’t know the Nine Changes, even if you know the "five benefits", you can’t use them specifically, and you have a resourceful.

A wise general always considers two aspects of "pros and cons" when considering problems. In a favorable situation, taking into account the harmful aspects, things will definitely proceed smoothly; in a harmful situation, considering the favorable aspects, the disaster will be solved. Threats with tactics can make the princes surrender; the rich and strong foundation can serve the princes; the use of profit to lure can make the princes surrender. Therefore, the rule of using troops is not to expect that the enemy will not come, but to rely on strength to prepare for future troubles; do not expect that the enemy will not attack, but rely on strength to render the enemy unable to defend.

Generals have five fatal weaknesses: fighting hard, being courageous and insidious; fearful of battle, greedy for life and fear of death; impatient and irritable, thunderous; excessive self-esteem; unprincipled "kindness and love for the people". The above five points are the most common mistakes made by generals, and they are also the key to the use of soldiers. The destruction of the army and the killing of soldiers must be caused by these five deadly dangers. Generals must be cautious about this.