Chapter 1
Detail Assessment and Planning
Warfare is a great matter to a nation.
It is the ground of death and of life.
It is the way of survival and of destruction, and must be examined.
Therefore, go through it by means of five factors – compare them by means of calculation, and determine their statuses:
- The Way is what causes the people to have the same thinking as their superiors;Â they may be given death, or they may be given life, but there is no fear of danger and betrayal.
- Heaven is dark and light, cold and hot, and the seasonal constraints.
- Ground is high and low, far and near, obstructed and easy, wide and narrow, and dangerous and safe.
- General is wisdom, credibility, benevolence, courage, and discipline.
- Law is organization, the chain of command, logistics, and the control of expenses.