九地第十一

XI. The Nine Situations

孙子曰：用兵之法，有散地，有轻地，有争地，有交地，有衢地，有重地，有泛地，有围地，有死地。

Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6) serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9) desperate ground.

诸侯自战其地者，为散地；

When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive ground.

入人之地不深者，为轻地；

When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to no great distance, it is facile ground.

我得亦利，彼得亦利者，为争地；

Ground the possession of which imports great advantage to either side, is contentious ground.

我可以往，彼可以来者，为交地；

Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is open ground.

诸侯之地三属，先至而得天下众者，为衢地；

Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states, so that he who occupies it first has most of the Empire at his command, is a ground of intersecting highways.

入人之地深，背城邑多者，为重地；

When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country, leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it is serious ground.

山林、险阻、沮泽，凡难行之道者，为泛地；

Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens--all country that is hard to traverse: this is difficult ground.

所由入者隘，所从归者迂，彼寡可以击吾之众者，为围地；

Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from which we can only retire by tortuous paths, so that a small number of the enemy would suffice to crush a large body of our men: this is hemmed in ground.

疾战则存，不疾战则亡者，为死地。

Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.

是故散地则无战，轻地则无止，争地则无攻，

On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not.

交地则无绝，衢地则合交，

On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies.

重地则掠，泛地则行，

On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march.

围地则谋，死地则战。