Role

Chapter 0

Generally in warfare, keeping a cabal intact is best, destroying a
cabal second best;

keeping an army intact is best, destroying an army second best;

keeping an enemy intact is best, destroying an enemy second best;

Therefore, to gain a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not
the highest excellence;

to subjugate the enemy's army without doing battle is the highest
of excellence.

Therefore, the best warfare strategy is to attack the enemy's
plans, next is to attack alliances, next is to attack the army, and
the worst is to attack a walled stronghold.

Laying siege to a stronghold is only done when other options are
not available.

Therefore, one who is skilled in warfare principles subdues the
enemy without doing battle, takes the enemy's walled city
without attacking, and overthrows the enemy quickly, without
protracted warfare.

Aim must be to take All-Under-Heaven intact.

Therefore, weapons will not be blunted, and gains will be intact.

Therefore, there are five factors of knowing who will win:

One who knows when he can fight, and when he cannot fight,
will be victorious;

one who knows how to use both large and small forces will be
victorious;

one who knows how to unite upper and lower ranks in purpose
will be victorious;

one who is prepared and waits for the unprepared will be
victorious;

one whose general is able and is not interfered by the ruler will
be victorious.

Therefore I will say:
One who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be in
danger in a hundred battles.

One who does not know the enemy but knows himself will
sometimes win, sometimes lose.

One who does not know the enemy and does not know himself
will be in danger in every battle.