18. In raiding and destroying be like fire, in immovability like a mountain.
19. Let your plans be dark and dense as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
20. When you rob a countryside, let the plunder be divided among your men; when you capture new territory, cut it up into parts for the benefit[14] of the soldiery.
21. Weigh and think before you make a move.
22. He will win who has learnt the art of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.
23. The Book of Army Management says: On the field of battle, the spoken word are too quiet: hence the need of gongs and drums. Nor are ordinary objects seen clearly enough: hence the need of banners and flags.
24. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point.
25. The host must form a single united body so it is impossible for the brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone. This is the art of handling large masses of men.
26. Use signal-fires and drums in night-fighting, and flags and banners in day-fighting. Thus you will influence the ears and eyes of your army.
27. A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind
Примечания
1
of vital importance имеет жизненно важное значение
2
hence таким образом
3
to lay siege to a town осадить город
4
bulwark оплот
5
imposes навязывает
6
of his own accord по своей воле
7
li ли, китайская единица измерения расстояния, равная пятистам метрам.
8
the moon has its periods of waning and waxing. луна может убывать и прибывать.
9
sovereign глава государства
10
multitude множество людей
11
to march в поход
12
flying column боевая колонна
13
to roll up their buff-coats закатать рукава
14
for the benefit в интересах