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Chapter 10

The document discusses terrain and the six kinds of terrain: communicative, entrapping, indifferent, constricted, key, and distant. It then discusses the six calamities an army can face: flight, insubordination, collapse, ruin, disorganization, and rout. It attributes these calamities to faults of the general.

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15 views

Chapter 10

The document discusses terrain and the six kinds of terrain: communicative, entrapping, indifferent, constricted, key, and distant. It then discusses the six calamities an army can face: flight, insubordination, collapse, ruin, disorganization, and rout. It attributes these calamities to faults of the general.

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CHAPTER 10

TERRAIN (地形 dì xíng)


• The six kinds of ground
• The six calamities of an army
Chapters
1. Detailed Assessment and Planning (始计)
2. Waging War (作战)
3. Strategic Attack (谋攻)
4. Disposition of the Army (军行)
5. Forces (兵势)
6. Weaknesses and Strengths (虚实)
7. Military Maneuvers (军争)
8. Variations and Adaptability (九变)
9. Movement and Development of Troops (行军)
10. Terrain (地形)
11. The Nine Battlegrounds (九地)
12. Attacking with Fire (火攻)
13. Intelligence and Espionage (用间)
The Six Kinds Of Ground
• 10.3 An area that is easily accessible to me
and to the other side (the enemy) is
considered as a communicative ground.
• 10.4 On a communicative ground, the priority
is to occupy a high and sunny position that is
convenient and beneficial for overseeing the
supply routes for food and rations.
• 10.5 In this way, advantages in battle are
gained.
The Six Kinds Of Ground
• 10.6 An arena that is easy to enter but difficult to
retreat from is called an entrapping ground.
• 10.7 On an entrapping ground, when the enemy
is ill-prepared in defence, one can launch attacks
to capture it successfully.
• 10.8 However, if the enemy proves to be well
prepared and the assault fails, one is hard put to
beat a retreat, and is thus placed in a very
disadvantageous position.
The Six Kinds Of Ground
• 10.9 An area that is not advantageous for
occupation by either side is called an indifferent
ground.
• 10.10 On an indifferent ground, should the
enemy throw out a bait, one must never take it,
nor launch an attack.
• 10.11 Instead, one should pretend to retreat and,
in turn, lure the enemy out.
• 10.12 When half of his troops have been drawn
out, it is then advantageous to launch an attack.
The Six Kinds Of Ground
• 10.13 On a constricted ground, one must be the
first to occupy it; one should then fortify the
strategic access points with one’s troops and
await the arrival of the enemy.
• 10.14 If the enemy occupies the constricted
ground first and has already fortified the strategic
access points, refrain from attacking him.
• 10.15 Only attack the strategic access points
when they are weak and not fortified.
The Six Kinds Of Ground
• 10.16 On key ground, first occupy it and then
camp on higher, sunny ground to await the
arrival of the enemy.
• 10.17 If the enemy occupies the key ground
first, he has to be lured away.
• 10.18 One must not follow (to attack) him.
The Six Kinds Of Ground
• 10.19 On distant ground, if both forces are
equally matched, it becomes difficult for one
to provoke the other into battle as there is no
advantage to be gained in a direct battle.
Business Application
4 types of Market Structure
1. Monopoly – Companies which are state owned and entry
for other players are not allowed.

10
4 types of Market Structure
2. Oligopoly – Here the buyers are many, sellers are few, and
competition is high.

11
4 types of Market Structure
3. Monopolistic Competition – Many buyers, many
sellers, almost same product but different
branding and fierce competition.

12
4 types of Market Structure
4. Perfect Competition – Though in concept perfect
competition exists, however in real life only near
perfect competition can exist.
– And the staple food and vegetables we buy from the
market is perfect competition.

13
The Six Calamities Of An Army
• 10.21 A general’s greatest responsibility is to
study and examine their characteristics
thoroughly.
• 10.22 An army may suffer from flight,
insubordination or collapse.
• 10.23 It may also suffer from ruin, disorganization
and rout.
• 10.24 The six calamities mentioned are not due
to natural causes.
• 10.25 They are the faults of the general.
The Six Calamities Of An Army
• 10.26 Even when all other conditions and
characteristics are comparable, if an army insists
on attacking an enemy force ten times its size,
the result will be flight.
• 10.27 When the soldiers are strong and
courageous while the officers are weak and
cowardly, the result will be insubordination.
• 10.28 When the officers are strong and brave but
the soldiers are weak and timid, the result will be
collapse.
The Six Calamities Of An Army
10.29 When the senior officers are angry and insubordinate
because of the general’s failure to recognise their capabilities,
and they engage the enemy in a spirit of resentment and act
out of their own will, the result will be ruin.
10.30 When the general is weak and lacks discipline, when his
orders and instructions are not enlightened, when his officers
and men do not have clear lines of responsibilities, and when
the command structure and formations are confusing, the
result is disorganisation.
10.31 When the general, unable to assess the enemy’s
character, allows a smaller force to strike a larger one, pitting
its weaknesses against the enemy’s strengths, and having no
elite troops at the front, the result will be rout.
Business Application
The Six Disasters
• Flight
– Violated Chapter 3: Rules of Engagement
– In Business: Fear of uncertainties and
unpredictable events
• Insubordination
– Violated Chapter 1: Generalship
– In Business: Poor High-Potentials Nomination and
Evaluation
The Six Disasters
• Collapse
– Violated Chapter 9: On Loyalty, Discipline And Trust
– In Business: Poor Training & Performance
Management
• Ruin
– Violated:
• Chapter 4: Invincibility In Defence
• Chapter 8: Proactiveness As Key To Dealing With The Enemy
• Chapter 9: On Loyalty, Discipline And Trust
– In Business: Poor Talent Management
The Six Disasters
• Disorganisation
– Violated:
• Chapter 9: On Loyalty, Discipline And Trust
• Chapter 5: Overcoming and Excelling Amidst Chaos (see
notes below)
• In Business: Poor Job Clarification and Discipline
The Six Disasters
• Rout
– Violated:
• Chapter 3: Importance of Leadership
• Chapter 5: Overcoming and Excelling Amidst Chaos
• Chapter 7: Illustrations On The Art Of Military
Manoeuvres
• Chapter 8: Five Strategic Considerations In Combat, The
Importance Of Careful Deliberations
• Chapter 10: The Moral Responsibilities of the General
(see notes below)
– In Business: Poor Leadership
10.56 Thus it is said: Know the other side (the enemy),
know youself, and your victory will not be endangered.
10.57 Know the weather, know the terrain, and your
victories will be limitless.

THANK
YOU

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