兵勢篇
孫子曰： 凡治眾如治寡，分數是也﹔鬥眾如鬥寡，形名是也﹔三軍之 眾，可使必受敵而無敗，奇正是也﹔兵之所加，如以碫投卵者，虛實是也。
凡戰者，以正合，以奇勝。故善出奇者，無窮如天地，不竭如江河。 終而復始，日月是也。死而復生，四時是也。聲不過五，五聲之變， 不可勝聽也。色不過五，五色之變，不可勝觀也。味不過五，五味之 變，不可勝嘗也。戰勢不過奇正，奇正之變，不可勝窮之也。奇正相生，如環之無端，孰能窮之？
激水之疾，至于漂石者，勢也﹔鷙鳥之疾，至于毀折者，節也。是故 善戰者，其勢險，其節短。勢如張弩，節如發機。
紛紛紜紜，鬥亂而不可亂也。渾渾沌沌，形圓而不可敗也。
亂生于治，怯生于勇，弱生于強。治亂，數也﹔勇怯，勢也﹔強弱，形也。
故善動敵者，形之，敵必從之﹔予之，敵必取之。以利動之，以卒動之。
故善戰者，求之于勢，不責于人，故能擇人而任勢。任勢者，其戰人也，如轉木石。木石之性，安則靜，危則動，方則止，圓則行。故善 戰人之勢，如轉圓石于千仞之山者，勢也。
Let's continue ...
激水之疾，至于漂石者，勢也﹔鷙鳥之疾，至于毀折者，節也。是故 善戰者，其勢險，其節短。勢如張弩，節如發機。
紛紛紜紜，鬥亂而不可亂也。渾渾沌沌，形圓而不可敗也。
亂生于治，怯生于勇，弱生于強。治亂，數也﹔勇怯，勢也﹔強弱， 形也。
Some translation suggested:
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. 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. 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. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength. 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.
Moran: When sufficiently agitated, water can carry away stones. This is an example of a power configuration (i.e., a configuration that channels power into a target in an effective way). The ferocity of raptors can rise to the point of destruction [of their prey]. This is on account of sections (i.e., inflections). 【PEM: Bamboo has sections. In what sense do raptors have "sections"? Their actions involve sudden changes in directions that are under their control. For instance, the fastest falcons glide in circular patterns until they spot something, dive at terrific speeds, seize their prey at speed, and yet manage not to crash into the ground. The sudden changes in direction are like the changes in density between the hollow part of a section of bamboo and the solid "caps" at each end of a section.】
【PEM: The g-force experienced by a falcon pulling out of a power dive at about 300 mph is about three times that experienced by a fighter pilot executing a similar powered maneuver.】
For this reason, those who are good at warfare keep their power configurations abrupt and cause the inflections of their movements to occur over short periods of time. 【PEM: In other words, changes at least metaphorically involve sharp turns at high speeds. Fighter pilot and (later) military strategist John Boyd (USAF) was the first to recognize that, assuming general speed equivalence, the plane that could turn more sharply and also both decelerate and accelerate more rapidly was superior in a dogfight.】
A power configuration is like a drawn crossbow. An inflection is like the firing of it. (彍 is a variant of 彉 which has the same meaning as 張 .) 【PEM: In drawing a crossbow, energy is added to a mechanical system by slowly pulling, or even cranking, the bowstring back until it engages with the trigger mechanism where it is held in readiness to be released over a very short period of time and in a particular direction. Note that in the beginning force is directed away from the arrow point, and at the inflect ion point force suddenly begins to be directed toward the arrow noch. The crossbow has parts that are arranged to direct power along a definite configuration or path, and a trigger that is a movable lever with no great mechanical advantage or strength of its own but is yet something that touches off a great change of state in a short time.】
In the fog of armed struggle and disorder, one cannot permit oneself to become mentally disordered. One must be indefinite in outline, chaotic in appearance, and yet inherently cohesive, so that one cannot be defeated. 【PEM: Metaphorically, one always wants to be like a crossbow bolt that quickly shoots into action. One does not want to be like a crossbow that shatters and releases its pent up energy futilely in all directions.】
Disorder is produced out of order. Cowardice is produced out of bravery. Weakness is produced out of strength. 【PEM: Is he talking about real or simulated disorder, etc.? Regardless, one cannot have disorder unless there is something that was originally well ordered, and entropy will eventually produce disorder unless repairs are made on a timely basis.】
Bringing order to disorder is a matter of imposing regularity through strength of mind. Producing bravery out of cowardice is a matter of [the proper use of] power configurations. Bringing strength out of weakness is a matter of structuring things. 【PEM: What he means about bravery is that people, even bold people, are not brave in the abstract. A brave act occurs when there is no choice about the danger faced, yet there is a decision as to whether to flee or to act. Troops, fortifications, etc., can be configured just as impounded water can be directed down a flume.】
Let's discuss:
激水之疾，至於漂石者，勢也﹔ Water when sped can carry away stones. This is influence.
鷙鳥之疾，至於毀折者，節也。: A bird of prey when sped can destroy a prey. This is chained action.
是故善戰者，其勢險，其節短； Therefore, good warrior employs dangerous influence and short chained action.
勢如彍弩，節如發機。: Influence is like a powerful drawn crossbow. Chained action is like its useful short trigger.
紛紛紜紜鬥亂，而不可亂也。渾渾沌沌形圓，而 不可敗也。: In the diverse and muddled armed struggle, disorder contends disorder, one cannot be confused. In chaos, formations are round-shaped without start or end, one cannot be overcome.
亂生於治，怯生於勇，弱生於強。: Disorder comes from order, cowardice comes from bravery, weakness comes from strength.
治亂，數也﹔ 勇怯，勢也﹔ 強弱，形也。 Bring order to disorder by imposing subdivision; bring bravery to cowardice by imposing strategic influence; bring strength to weakness by imposing military shape.
Again the translation was not well done. They thought they have gotten it right, but not the case at all.
Sun Tzu said even as formless as water when sped can carry stones, i.e., influence. Raptor when employing rapid successive actions can kill, i.e., connected action. A successful attack must therefore employs both heavy influence and short killing actions. Even an ordered army can be disordered, a brave soldier can be cowed and a strong army can be weakened. It is important to see these problems and solve them.
In business, both strengths and weaknesses are interchangeable. For example, size may be viewed as a strength, but, it causes clumsiness in decision-making which is a weakness. There is no such thing as a definite strength and a definite weakness. Every considered factor is both a strength and weakness.
The key lesson learned here is that a strength would not forever remain a strength nor a weakness, solving these weaknesses simply require the correct solution set.
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