Sun Tzu: The Art of War for Managers; 50 Strategic Rules by Sun-tzu & Gerald A. Michaelson

Author:Sun-tzu & Gerald A. Michaelson [Michaelson, Gerald A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: epub, ebook
Publisher: F+W Media, Inc.
Published: 2001-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Always Seek the High Ground — Translation

Sun Tzu continues:

Generally, in battle and maneuvering, all armies prefer high ground to low,* and sunny places to shady. If an army encamps close to water and grass with adequate supplies, it will be free from countless diseases and this will spell victory. When you come to hills, dikes, or embankments, occupy the sunny side, with your main flank at the back. All these methods are advantageous to the army and can exploit the possibilities the ground offers.

When heavy rain falls in the upper reaches of a river and foaming water descends, do not ford and wait until it subsides. When encountering “Precipitous Torrents,” “Heavenly Wells,” “Heavenly Prison,” “Heavenly Net,” “Heavenly Trap,” and “Heavenly Cracks,” you must march speedily away from them. Do not approach them. While we keep a distance from them we should draw the enemy toward them. We face them and cause the enemy to put his back to them.

If in the neighborhood of your camp there are dangerous defiles or ponds and low-lying ground overgrown with aquatic grass and reeds, or forested mountains with dense tangled undergrowth, they must be thoroughly searched, for these are possible places where ambushes are laid and spies are hidden.

*Ordinarily, the force prefers heights and hates the lowlands.

R.L. Wing

The High Ground

The most desirable position in war has always been the high ground controlling the surrounding terrain. Frederick the Great referred to selection of positions as the talent of great men — the ability immediately to conceive all the advantages of the terrain. He said, “The first rule that I give is always to occupy the heights.”

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