These are six ways of courting defeat, which must be carefully noted by the general who has attained a responsible post.

If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.

Be where your enemy is not.

O divine art of subtlety and secrecy!

Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.

He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.

It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.