兵势第五

V. Energy

孙子曰：凡治众如治寡，分数是也；

Sun Tzu said: The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.

斗众如斗寡，形名是也；

Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.

三军之众，可使必受敌而无败者，奇正是也；

To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy's attack and remain unshaken-- this is effected by maneuvers direct and indirect.

兵之所加，如以□①投卵者，虚实是也。

That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg--this is effected by the science of weak points and strong.

凡战者，以正合，以奇胜。

【注：】①：“瑕”的“王”旁换“石”旁。

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

故善出奇者，无穷如天地，不竭如江海。终而复始，日月是也。死而更生，四时是也。

Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.

声不过五，五声之变，不可胜听也；

There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.

色不过五，五色之变，不可胜观也；

There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.

味不过五，五味之变，不可胜尝也；

There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.

战势不过奇正，奇正之变，不可胜穷也。

In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack--the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.

奇正相生，如循环之无端，孰能穷之哉！

The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle--you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?