If equally matched，we can offer battle；if slightly inferior in numbers，we can avoid the enemy；if quite unequal in every way，we can flee from him.
故小敌之坚，大敌之擒也。
Hence，though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force，in the end it must be captured by the larger force.
夫将者，国之辅也。辅周则国必强，辅隙则国必弱。
Now the general is the bulwark of the State；if the bulwark is complete at all points；the State will be strong；if the bulwark is defective，the State will be weak.
故君之所以患于军者三：There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his army：——
（1） 不知军之不可以进而谓之进，不知军之不可以退而谓之退，是谓縻军；（1） By commanding the army to advance or to retreat， being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army.
（2） 不知三军之事而同三军之政，则军士惑矣；（2） By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom， being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldier's minds.
（3）不知三军之权而同三军之任，则军士疑矣。
（3） By employing the officers of his army without discrimination，through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.
三军既惑且疑，则诸侯之难至矣。是谓乱军引胜。
But when the army is restless and distrustful，trouble is sure to come from the other feudal princes. This is simply bringing anarchy into the army，and flinging victory away.
故知胜有五：知可以战与不可以战者胜，识众寡之用者胜，上下同欲者胜，以虞待不虞者胜，将能而君不御者胜。此五者，知胜之道也。
Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory： （1） He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. （2） He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. （3） He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. （4） He will win who， prepared himself， waits to take the enemy unprepared. （5） He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
故曰：知己知彼，百战不贻；不知彼而知己，一胜一负；不知彼不知己，每战必败。
Hence the saying：If you know the enemy and know yourself，you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy，for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself， you will succumb in every battle.
【注：】①：[车贲].②：“温”字“氵”旁换“车”旁。
责任编辑：sealion1986
