Conceal the intended battleground to force enemy dispersion; any reinforcement in one sector weakens another, so making him prepare everywhere renders him weak everywhere.

By Sun Tzu, from L'Art de la guerre

Key Arguments

  • If the enemy does not know the intended battle site, he must prepare in multiple locations.
  • Reinforcing van, rear, left, or right inevitably weakens the others.
  • Attempting to reinforce everywhere produces overall weakness.

Source Quotes

16. The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points; and his forces being thus distributed in many directions, the numbers we shall have to face at any given point will be proportionately few. 17.
17. For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak. 18.
18. Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible attacks; numerical strength, from compelling our adversary to make these preparations against us. 19.

Key Concepts

  • The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points; and his forces being thus distributed in many directions, the numbers we shall have to face at any given point will be proportionately few.
  • For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.
  • Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible attacks; numerical strength, from compelling our adversary to make these preparations against us.

Context

vi. Weak Points and Strong (lines 323–404) — effects of uncertainty on enemy force allocation