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XII. THE ATTACK BY FIRE
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Sun Tzu said: There are five ways of attacking
with fire. The first is to burn soldiers in their camp;
the second is to burn stores; the third is to burn
baggage trains; the fourth is to burn arsenals and magazines;
the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy.
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In order to carry out an attack, we must have
means available. The material for raising fire should
always be kept in readiness.
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There is a proper season for making attacks with fire,
and special days for starting a conflagration.
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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 Cross-bar; for these four are all days of rising wind.
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In attacking with fire, one should be prepared
to meet five possible developments:
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(1) When fire breaks out inside to enemy's camp,
respond at once with an attack from without.
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(2) If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy's
soldiers remain quiet, bide your time and do not attack.
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(3) 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.
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(4) 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 favorable moment.
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(5) When you start a fire, be to windward of it.
Do not attack from the leeward.
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A wind that rises in the daytime lasts long,
but a night breeze soon falls.
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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.
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Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence;
those who use water as an aid to the attack gain an accession of strength.
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By means of water, an enemy may be intercepted,
but not robbed of all his belongings.
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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.
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Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his
plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.
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Move not unless you see an advantage; use not
your troops unless there is something to be gained;
fight not unless the position is critical.
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No ruler should put troops into the field merely
to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight
a battle simply out of pique.
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If it is to your advantage, make a forward move;
if not, stay where you are.
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Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may
be succeeded by content.
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But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can
never come again into being; nor can the dead ever
be brought back to life.
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Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful,
and the good general full of caution. This is the way
to keep a country at peace and an army intact.
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