Long Tao: Jūn Shì (Military Configuration)

King Wu asked tai gong:
"What are the principles of offensive warfare?"

tai gong replied:

"The momentum of battle is shaped by the enemy’s actions; tactical shifts arise from confrontations on the field; the interplay of unorthodox and orthodox tactics flows from the commander’s boundless wisdom and deliberation. Thus, the most critical secrets must never be divulged, and strategies must never be spoken aloud. The heart guards what the tongue cannot utter; deployments remain veiled, never exposed. To vanish swiftly and reappear suddenly, to act decisively without constraint—these are the principles of warfare.

If the enemy learns of our mobilization, they will devise countermeasures; if they detect our movements, they will plot against us; if they grasp our intent, we fall into peril; if they discern our patterns, we face disaster. Therefore, the skilled commander triumphs before the army is deployed, averts crises before they arise, and secures victory without visible struggle. The highest art is to subdue the enemy without battle.

Those who win through bloody close combat are not true generals; those who fortify defenses after defeat are not wise advisors. Those whose wisdom mirrors the common man cannot be called a nation’s strategist; those whose skill matches the ordinary cannot be deemed a master craftsman. In war, nothing surpasses invincibility in attack, secrecy in planning, unpredictability in action, and inscrutability in stratagem. Victory before battle lies in feigning weakness to lure the foe, then striking decisively—halving effort while doubling gain.

The sage observes the transformations of heaven and earth, studies their cyclical laws, and deduces universal truths from the sun and moon’s paths, the seasons’ turns, and the rhythms of day and night. All life and death hinge on heaven and earth’s changes. Thus, to engage rashly without understanding the battlefield’s dynamics ensures defeat, however numerous the troops.

The adept commander halts forces undisturbed by illusions, advances when victory is certain, and stops when it is not. Fear not, hesitate not. In war, hesitation is the greatest danger; doubt, the gravest calamity. The skilled warrior seizes advantages without delay. To miss opportunities invites disaster.

The wise commander acts with lightning speed—unstoppable as thunder, blinding as lightning, charging like startled steeds, striking like a tempest. What can withstand such force?

A commander who plans soundlessly, with unshakable resolve, embodies divine insight; one who perceives patterns in chaos embodies clarity. Mastery of these principles leaves no equal on the battlefield, no rival under heaven."

King Wu said:
"Your words are profound!"