Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them; 418 and make trouble for them, 419 and keep them constantly engaged; 420 hold out specious allurements, and make them rush to any given point. 421

The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; 422 not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable. 423

There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: