Fire & restraint

Sun Tzu said: There are five ways of attacking with fire.

The first is to burn personnel and horses,

the second is to burn accumulations of fodder,

the third is to burn baggage trains,

the fourth is to burn arsenals and magazines,

the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy.

In order to carry out an attack with fire, one must have the necessary conditions, and the fire-fighting equipment must be prepared in advance.

The timing of a fire attack must be chosen carefully, selecting an advantageous day.

The advantageous time refers to dry weather;

the advantageous date refers to the positions of the moon in the constellations of Ji, Bi, Yi, and Zhen.

Typically, when the moon is in these four constellations, it is a day prone to wind.

Generally, when employing fire attacks, it is essential to adapt the deployment of forces and responses based on the changes in the enemy situation caused by the five types of fire attacks mentioned above.

If the fire is set from within the enemy's camp, it is necessary to dispatch troops early to respond from the outside.

If the fire within the enemy's camp has already started but the enemy remains calm, it is advisable to observe and wait without immediate attack; only when the fire reaches its peak should decisions be made based on the specific circumstances—either launch an attack if feasible, or refrain from attacking if not.

Fire can also be set from outside the enemy's camp, in which case there is no need to wait for internal assistance; a fire can be set as long as the timing is right.

When setting fire in the direction from which the wind blows, one should not attack from the direction towards which the wind is blowing.

During the day, if the wind blows for a long time, it is likely to cease at night.

Generally, it is crucial for the entire army to understand the variations of the five forms of fire attack and to implement them according to celestial and climatic conditions.

Therefore, the use of fire to assist an attack yields significant results, while the use of water enhances the force of the assault.

Water can isolate and divide the enemy, but it cannot, like fire, destroy their material and equipment.

It is perilous to achieve victory and capture territories or cities without consolidating the gains, a situation referred to as "feeble remnants" (resources that require substantial effort to maintain).

Therefore, wise rulers must carefully consider this matter, and virtuous commanders must earnestly address it.

If it is detrimental to the state, do not initiate military action.

If there is no certainty of victory, do not deploy troops lightly.

Do not engage in battle unless it is an emergency.

A ruler should not wage war out of momentary anger, nor should a commander rashly order an attack out of temporary resentment.

Act if it benefits the state; desist if it does not.

Anger can be transformed into joy, and resentment can be turned into gladness,

but a destroyed nation cannot be restored, and a deceased individual cannot be revived.

Hence, enlightened rulers must treat war with caution, and virtuous commanders should be vigilant against rash engagements. These are the fundamental principles for ensuring national stability and preserving military forces!