5 Momentum 兵势
The Control and Use of Force
Main ideas:
- Control of forces through divisions and communications 分数, 形名
- Types of forces 奇正, 虚实 and principle of engagement 以正合，以奇胜
- Use of momentum and rhythm 势如彍弩，节如发机
Chapter one 始计 introduced the concept of 势, which refers to circumstances 形势, situation 局势, momentum 气势, influence 势力.
Chapter five elaborates and discusses the creative use of force and the employment of momentum 气势 as a multiplier to achieve advantage in combat. The use of such force and momentum requires an army to be disciplined and therefore wieldy in battle. The basics of command and control is achieved through the use of a clear and effective communication system 形名. Structuring 数 of large forces into smaller forces can similarly achieve good command and control by applying the same basics.
Force can be categorised as either 奇 or 正. 奇 translates as surprise, or novel 奇特. A force employed as such carries the element of surprise through speed and stealth. The opposite is 正, which translates as main, straight or direct.
虚, 实 form another related concept of force. 虚 translates as feigned 虚假, hollow or empty 空虚, and weak 虚弱. 实 translates as solid 坚实 and real 属实, 真实. 虚 carries the intention of deceiving an enemy, for it is weaker than it appears. On the other hand, 实 involves invested resources to strike the enemy with an intended impact.
The concepts of 奇, 正 and 虚, 实 are corollary of the principle of cunning and deception 诡 introduced in Chapter 1: Laying Plans. Two sides in combat will seek to maximise their own manoeuvrability while minimising that of their opponents in order to gain initiative. One attempts to size up the opponent while denying her at the time from accurately assessing her own forces by misleading, confusing, deceiving her enemy about her intent (奇, 正) and state of physical dispositions (虚, 实).
Therefore, in combat, the main force 正 is used to position and engage an enemy, and through that contact assess the strength of her forces and intent. An engaged force however constrains its manoeuvrability, so in order to penetrate the enemy’s forces one has to simultaneously exert a significant force on the enemy’s weakest point 虚 while avoiding his strongest 实. The exercise of such a significant force has to be concealed from the enemy and the attack effected with surprise, rendering it 奇 in nature. The permutations of a creative use 奇, 正 forces are countless.
Deadly attacks is categorised by the momentum of impact 势 and their timeliness 节. 势 is the potential of an arrow in a firmly drawn bow. 节 is the quick and rhythmic release of the arrows on the enemy. Powerful impacts, greater than the sum of its parts, are created by combining, overlapping separate forces, in quick succession.
In summary:
- The better controlled army, through structure and organisation 数 maintains its composure in combat. This is achieved through effective command and control, an alignment of goals 道, and enforcement of discipline 法 within the ranks (see Chapter 1: Laying Plans).
- The army that leverages momentum 势, exerting a superior force on the opponent’s weakness and carrying an element of surprise, will be more courageous. The combination of forces creates a multiplier effect, enabling soldiers to overrun their opponent, as if they were heavy logs rolling down a long, steep slope.
- The army that has higher potential, better poised 形 (see Chapter 3: Tactical Dispositions), and creatively directs her forces 奇, 正, 虚, 实, to outwit 诡 her opponent, will be stronger. The latter is achieved by misleading the enemy through her own feigned dispositions 示形, and baiting the enemy using a small sacrificial force 虚.
孙子曰：
凡治众如治寡，分数是也；
斗众如斗寡，形名是也；
Sun Tzu said:
The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.
Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.三军之众，可使必受敌而无败者，奇正是也；
兵之所加，如以碫投卵者，虚实是也。
To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy’s attack and remain unshaken — this is effected by maneuvers direct and indirect.
That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg — this is effected by the science of weak points and strong.凡战者，
以正合，以奇胜。
故善出奇者，无穷如天地，不竭如江海。
In all fighting,
the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.
Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams;
like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.终而复始，日月是也。死而更生，四时是也。
声不过五，五声之变，不可胜听也；
色不过五，五色之变，不可胜观也；
味不过五，五味之变，不可胜尝也；
There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.战势不过奇正，奇正之变，不可胜穷也。
奇正相生，如循环之无端，孰能穷之哉！
In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack — the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle — you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?激水之疾，至于漂石者，势也；
鸷鸟之疾，至于毁折者，节也。
The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.
The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.故善战者，其势险，其节短。
势如彍弩，节如发机。
Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.
Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger.纷纷纭纭，斗乱而不可乱；
浑浑沌沌，形圆而不可败。
Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all;
amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.乱生于治，怯生于勇，弱生于强。
Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.治乱，数也；
勇怯，势也；
强弱，形也。
Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision;
concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy;
masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.故善动敌者，
形之，敌必从之；
予之，敌必取之。
以利动之，以卒待之。
Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move
maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act.
He sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it.
By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body of picked men he lies in wait for him.故善战者，
求之于势，
不责于人，
故能择人而任势。
The clever combatant
looks to the effect of combined energy,
and does not require too much from individuals.
Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy.任势者，其战人也，如转木石。
木石之性，安则静，危则动，方则止，圆则行。
When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones.
For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped, to go rolling down.故善战人之势，如转圆石于千仞之山者，势也。
Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject of energy.Translation by Lionel Giles
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