On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. 586 On desperate ground, fight. 587

Those who were called skilful leaders of old 588 knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy’s front and rear; 589 to prevent cooperation between his large and small divisions; to hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad, 590 the officers from rallying their men. 591

When the enemy’s men were scattered, they prevented them from concentrating; 592 even when their forces were united, they managed to keep them in disorder. 593