Ignorant that the army in the field should not advance, to order it to go forward; or, ignorant that the army should not retreat, order it to retire.
This is to tie the army as with a string.
Ignorant of military affairs, to rule the armies in the same way as the state.
This is to perplex the soldiers.
Ignorant of the situation of the army, to settle its dispositions.
This is to fill the soldiers with distrust.
If the army be perplexed and distrustful, then dangers from neighbouring princes arise. The army is confounded, and offered up to the enemy.
There are five occasions when victory can be foretold:—
When the general knows the time to fight and when not to fight; or understands when to employ large or small numbers; when government and people are of one mind; when the state is prepared, and chooses the enemy’s unguarded moment for attack; when the general possesses ability, and is not interfered with by his prince.