An integrated system of five types of spies—local, inward, converted, doomed, and surviving—enables undetectable, ‘divine’ manipulation of the enemy and is a sovereign’s most precious faculty.
By Sun Tzu, from L'Art de la guerre
Key Arguments
- Classifies five complementary spy roles that together cover access, deception, validation, and reporting.
- When all five operate concurrently, the system remains concealed from discovery.
- This mastery of clandestine manipulation is a supreme capability for rulers.
Source Quotes
7. Hence the use of spies, of whom there are five classes: (1) Local spies; (2) inward spies; (3) converted spies; (4) doomed spies; (5) surviving spies. 8.
8. When these five kinds of spy are all at work, none can discover the secret system. This is called “divine manipulation of the threads.” It is the sovereign’s most precious faculty. 9.
Key Concepts
- Hence the use of spies, of whom there are five classes: (1) Local spies; (2) inward spies; (3) converted spies; (4) doomed spies; (5) surviving spies.
- When these five kinds of spy are all at work, none can discover the secret system. This is called “divine manipulation of the threads.” It is the sovereign’s most precious faculty.
Context
xiii. The Use of Spies — taxonomy and systemic effect of spy integration