Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.

To persuade your enemy to (retreat) before the fight is to defeat them even before the battle begins. An enemy made ally is no longer an enemy.

Those who would wage war, should first eliminate all domestic enemies before proceeding to attack the external foe.

Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man.

Where the army is, prices are high; when prices rise the wealth of the people is exhausted.

The essential factor of military success is speed, that is taking advantage of others' unpreparedness or lack of foresight, their failure to catch up, going by routes they do not expect, attacking where they are not on guard. This you cannot accomplish with hesitation.

Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.