He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; 635 like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and none knows whither he is going. 636

To muster his host and bring it into danger:⁠—this may be termed the business of the general. 637

The different measures suited to the nine varieties of ground; 638 the expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics; 639 and the fundamental laws of human nature: these are things that must most certainly be studied.

When invading hostile territory, the general principle is, that penetrating deeply brings cohesion; penetrating but a short way means dispersion. 640