Искусство войны. Уровень 2 / The Art of War

В Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

25.В Do not reveal these leading to victory military devices beforehand.

26.В The general who calculates beforehand, wins. The one who loses the battle makes but few calculations. By looking at these points, I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.

II.В Waging war

1.В Sun TzЕ­ said: The cost of raising an army of 100,000 men is very high. Two thousand chariots, hundred thousand soldiers and their equipment, food and many other expenses require at least a thousand ounces of silver per day.

2. If an actual fighting is long and victory is long in coming, the soldiers’ weapons will grow dull and their passion will grow weak. If you lay siege to a town[3 - to lay siege to a town – осадить город], you will exhaust your strength.

3.В Again, it the war is too long, the resources of the State will run out eventually.

4.В Now, when your weapons are dulled, your passion is weak, your strength exhausted and your money spent, other leaders will take advantage of your state.

5.В Thus, hastening in war is not smart, but so is long delaying.

6.В There is no example of a country having benefits from prolonged warfare.

7.В It is only one who thoroughly knows the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the best way of carrying it on.

8.В The skillful soldier does not require a second payment, neither are his supply-cars loaded more than twice.

9.В Bring war material with you from home, but also take it from your enemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs.

10.В Poverty of the State fund causes an army to be maintained by donations from a distance. Donations from a distance causes the people to become poor.

11. On the other hand, the nearness of an army causes prices to go up; and high prices cause the people’s resources to be drained away.

12.В When their resources is drained away, the peasants will suffer from heavy fees.

13, 14. With this loss of resources and exhaustion of strength, the homes of the people will looted. The Government expenses for broken chariots, worn-out horses, new equipment for soldiers and heavy carts, will amount to four-tenths of its total income.

15. A wise general makes a point of taking provisions from his enemy. One cart of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of one’s own.

16.