The Attack by Fire 691
Sun Tzǔ said: There are five ways of attacking with fire. The first is to burn soldiers in their camp; 692 the second is to burn stores; 693 the third is to burn baggage trains; 694 the fourth is to burn arsenals and magazines; 695 the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy. 696
In order to carry out an attack, we must have means available; 697 the material for raising fire should always be kept in readiness. 698
There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and special days for starting a conflagration. 699
The proper season is when the weather is very dry; the special days are those when the moon is in the constellations of the Sieve, the Wall, the Wing or the Crossbar; 700 for these four are all days of rising wind. 701
In attacking with fire, one should be prepared to meet five possible developments: 702
When fire breaks out inside the enemy’s camp, respond at once 703 with an attack from without.
If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy’s soldiers remain quiet, bide your time and do not attack. 704
When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it up with an attack, if that is practicable; if not, stay where you are. 705
If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait for it to break out within, but deliver your attack at a favourable moment. 706
When you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward. 707
A wind that rises in the daytime lasts long, but a night breeze soon falls. 708
In every army, the five developments connected with fire must be known, the movements of the stars calculated, and a watch kept for the proper days. 709
Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence; 710 those who use water as an aid to the attack gain an accession of strength. 711
By means of water, an enemy may be intercepted, but not robbed of all his belongings. 712
Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise; for the result is waste of time and general stagnation. 713
Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources. 714
Move not unless you see an advantage; 715 use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical. 716
No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique. 717
If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are. 718
Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. 719
But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; 720 nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.
Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. 721 This is the way to keep a country at peace and an army intact. 722