It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used.

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

Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuvering for advantageous positions.

To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful. Everyone calls victory in battle good, but it is not really good.

It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used.

Those who do not know the plans of competitors cannot prepare alliances. Those who do not know the lay of the land cannot maneuver their forces. Those who do not use local guides cannot take advantage of the ground.

In the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.