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3. One who acts thus is no leader of men, no present help to his

sovereign, no master of victory.

[This idea, that the true object of war is peace, has its root in

the national temperament of the Chinese. Even so far back as 597

B.C., these memorable words were uttered by Prince Chuang of the

Ch'u State: "The [Chinese] character for 'prowess' is made up of

[the characters for] 'to stay' and 'a spear' (cessation of

hostilities). Military prowess is seen in the repression of

cruelty, the calling in of weapons, the preservation of the

appointment of Heaven, the firm establishment of merit, the

bestowal of happiness on the people, putting harmony between the

princes, the diffusion of wealth."]

4. Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to

strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of

ordinary men, is foreknowledge.

[That is, knowledge of the enemy's dispositions, and what he

means to do.]