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31. Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself,

your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know

Earth, you may make your victory complete.

[Li Ch'uan sums up as follows: "Given a knowledge of three

things-the affairs of men, the seasons of heaven and the natural

advantages of earth-, victory will invariably crown your

battles."]

[1] See "Pensees de Napoleon 1er," no. 47.

[2] "The Science of War," chap. 2.

[3] "Aids to Scouting," p. xii.

Chapter XI. THE NINE SITUATIONS

1. Sun Tzŭ said: The art of war recognises nine varieties of

ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious

ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6)

serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9)

desperate ground.

2. When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is

dispersive ground.