绝水必远水，客绝水而来，勿迎之于水内，令半济而击之，利；欲战者，无附于水而迎客；视生处高，无迎水流，此处水上之军也。
In doing so, it should pay attention to the following: When crossing the mountains, be sure to stay close to valleys; when encamping, select high ground facing the sunny side; when high ground is occupied by the enemy, do not ascend to attack.
So much for taking a position in mountains.
After crossing a river, you must move some distance away from it.
When an advancing enemy crosses water, do not meet him in midstream.
绝斥泽，惟亟去无留；若交军于斥泽之中，必依水草，而背众树，此处斥泽之军也。
It is advantageous to allow half his force to cross and then strike.
If you wish to give battle, do not confront your enemy near the water.
Take a position on high ground facing the sun.
Do not take a position at the lower reaches of the enemy.
平陆处易，而右背高，前死后生，此处平陆之军也。
This relates to positions near a river.
Cross salt marshes speedily.
Do not linger in them.
If you encounter the enemy in the middle of a salt marsh, you must take a position close to grass and water with trees to your rear.
凡此四军之利，黄帝之所以胜四帝也。
This has to do with taking up a position in salt marshes.
On level ground, occupy a position which facilitates your action.
With heights to your rear and right, the field of battle is to the front and the rear is safe.
凡军好高而恶下，贵阳而贱阴，养生而处实，军无百疾，是谓必胜。
This is how to take up a position on level ground.
Generally, these are advantageous principles for encamping in the four situations named.
By using them, the Yellow Emperor conquered his four neighbouring sovereigns. [Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor was the most ancient emperor in China; he reigned about five thousand years ago.] In battle, all armies prefer high ground to low, and sunny places to shady.
丘陵堤防，必处其阳，而右背之。
If an army occupies high ground, which is convenient for living, it will not suffer from countless diseases, and this will spell victory.
此兵之利，地之助也。
When you come to hills, dikes, or embankments, you must take a position on the sunny side.
These are all advantageous methods, gained from the help the ground affords.
When rain falls in the upper reaches of a river and foaming water descends, those who wish to ford must wait until the waters subside.
上雨，水沫至，欲涉者，待其定也。
When you come to hills, dikes, or embankments, you must take a position on the sunny side.
These are all advantageous methods, gained from the help the ground affords.
When rain falls in the upper reaches of a river and foaming water descends, those who wish to ford must wait until the waters subside.
凡地有绝涧、天井、天牢、天罗、天陷、天隙，必亟去之，勿近也。
Where there are precipitous torrents such as 'heavenly wells', 'heavenly prisons', 'heavenly nets', 'heavenly traps' and 'heavenly cracks' – you must march speedily away from them.
Do not approach them.
Keep a distance from them and draw the enemy towards them.
Face them and cause the enemy to put his back to them.
吾远之，敌近之；吾迎之，敌背之。
When, on the flanks of the army, there are dangerous defiles or ponds covered with aquatic grasses where reeds and rushes grow, or forested mountains with dense tangled undergrowth, you must carefully search them out, for these are places where ambushes are laid and spies are hidden.
When the enemy is nearby but remains calm, he is depending on a favourable position.
When he challenges battle from afar, he wishes to lure you to advance; when he is on easy ground, he must be in an advantageous position.
军行有险阻、潢井、葭苇、山林、翳荟者，必谨复索之，此伏奸之所处也。
When, on the flanks of the army, there are dangerous defiles or ponds covered with aquatic grasses where reeds and rushes grow, or forested mountains with dense tangled undergrowth, you must carefully search them out, for these are places where ambushes are laid and spies are hidden.
When the enemy is nearby but remains calm, he is depending on a favourable position.
When he challenges battle from afar, he wishes to lure you to advance; when he is on easy ground, he must be in an advantageous position.
敌近而静者，恃其险也；远而挑战者，欲人之进也；其所居易者，利也。
When the trees are seen to move, it means the enemy is advancing.
When many screens have been placed in the undergrowth, it is for the purpose of deception.
Birds rising in flight are a sign that the enemy is lying in ambush; when the wild animals are startled and flee, the enemy is trying to take you unawares.
众树动者，来也；众草多障者，疑也；鸟起者，伏也；兽骇者，覆也。
Dust spurting upwards in high straight columns indicates the approach of chariots.
When it hangs low and is widespread, it betokens that infantry is approaching.
When dust rises in scattered areas, the enemy is collecting and bringing in firewood; when there are numerous small patches which seem to come and go, he is encamping the army.
尘高而锐者，车来也；卑而广者，徒来也；散而条达者，樵采也；少而往来者，营军也。
When the enemy's envoys speak in humble terms, but the army continues preparations, that means it will advance.
When their language is strong and the enemy pretentiously advances, these may be signs that the enemy will retreat.
When light chariots first go out and take position on the flanks, the enemy is forming.
When without a previous understanding the enemy asks for a truce, he must be plotting.
故卑而益备者，进也；辞强而进驱者，退也；轻车先出居其侧者，陈也；无约而请和者，谋也；奔走而陈兵车者，期也；半进半退者，诱也。
When his troops march speedily and he parades his battle chariots, he is expecting to rendezvous with reinforcements.
When half his force advances and half withdraws, he is attempting to decoy you.
When his troops lean on their weapons, they are famished.
When drawers of water drink before carrying it to camp, his troops are suffering from thirst.
杖而立者，饥也；汲而先饮者，渴也；见利而不进者，劳也；鸟集者，虚也；夜呼者，恐也。
When the enemy sees an advantage but does not advance to seize it, he is fatigued.
When birds gather above the enemies camp sites, they are unoccupied.
When at night the enemy's camp is clamorous, it betokens nervousness.
When his troops are disorderly, the general has no prestige.
军扰者，将不重也；旌旗动者，乱也；吏怒者，倦也；粟马肉食，军无悬，不返其舍者，穷寇也；淳淳翁翁，徐与人言者，失众也；数赏者，窘也；数罚者，困也；先暴而后畏其众者，不精之至也，来委谢者，欲休息也。
When his flags and banners are shifted about constantly, he is in disarray.
If the officers are short-tempered, they are exhausted.
When the enemy feeds grain to the horses and kills its cattle for food, and when his troops neither hang up their cooking pots nor return to their shelters, the enemy is desperate.
When the troops continually gather in small groups and whisper together, the general has lost the confidence of the army.
兵怒而相迎，久而不合，又不相去，必谨察之。
Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute distress.
If the officers at first treat the men violently and later are fearful of them, it shows supreme lack of intelligence.
When the enemy's troops march up angrily and, although facing you, neither join battle for a long time nor leave, the situation requires great vigilance and thorough investigation.
兵非益多也，惟无武进，足以并力、料敌、取人而已。
Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute distress.
If the officers at first treat the men violently and later are fearful of them, it shows supreme lack of intelligence.
When the enemy's troops march up angrily and, although facing you, neither join battle for a long time nor leave, the situation requires great vigilance and thorough investigation.
夫惟无虑而易敌者，必擒于人。
In war, numbers alone confer no advantage.
It is sufficient if you do not advance relying on sheer military power.
卒未亲附而罚之，则不服，不服则难用也。
If you estimate the enemy situation correctly and then concentrate your strength to overcome the enemy, there is no more to it than this.
He who lacks foresight and underestimates his enemy will surely be captured by him.
If troops are punished before their loyalty is secured, they will be disobedient.
卒已亲附而罚不行，则不可用也。
If you estimate the enemy situation correctly and then concentrate your strength to overcome the enemy, there is no more to it than this.
He who lacks foresight and underestimates his enemy will surely be captured by him.
If troops are punished before their loyalty is secured, they will be disobedient.
故令之以文，齐之以武，是谓必取。
If not obedient, it is difficult to employ them.
If troops have become attached to you, but discipline cannot be enforced, you cannot employ them.
令素行以教其民，则民服；令不素行以教其民，则民不服。
Thus, command them with civility but keep them under control by iron discipline, and it may be said that victory is certain.
If orders are consistently carried out to instruct the troops, they will be obedient.
If orders are not consistently carried out to instruct them, they will be disobedient.