And as water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions. And as water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of the enemy. Now an army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so any army avoids strength and strikes weakness. Therefore, when I have won a victory I do not repeat my tactics but respond to circumstances in an infinite variety of ways. Although everyone can see the outward aspects, none understands the way in which I have created victory. It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you. The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Probe him and learn where his strength is abundant and where deficient. Determine his dispositions and so ascertain the field of battle. Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement. Therefore, determine the enemy's plans and you will know which strategy will be successful and which will not. f he does not know my military situation, I can always make him urgently attend to his own preparations so that he has no leisure to plan to fight me. For even if the enemy is numerous, I can prevent him from engaging.
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