Definitions and functions of the five spy types: local (inhabitants), inward (enemy officials), converted (enemy spies turned), doomed (vehicles for planted deception), and surviving (returning reporters).

By Sun Tzu, from L'Art de la guerre

Key Arguments

  • Local spies provide ground truth through residents.
  • Inward spies exploit insider officials within the enemy.
  • Converted spies reverse enemy intelligence flows for our purposes.
  • Doomed spies seed false information via controlled leaks.
  • Surviving spies deliver reports from the enemy’s camp.

Source Quotes

9. Having LOCAL SPIES means employing the services of the inhabitants of a district. 10.
10. Having INWARD SPIES, making use of officials of the enemy. 11.
11. Having CONVERTED SPIES, getting hold of the enemy’s spies and using them for our own purposes. 12.
12. Having DOOMED SPIES, doing certain things openly for purposes of deception, and allowing our spies to know of them and report them to the enemy. 13.
13. SURVIVING SPIES, finally, are those who bring back news from the enemy’s camp. 14.

Key Concepts

  • Having LOCAL SPIES means employing the services of the inhabitants of a district.
  • Having INWARD SPIES, making use of officials of the enemy.
  • Having CONVERTED SPIES, getting hold of the enemy’s spies and using them for our own purposes.
  • Having DOOMED SPIES, doing certain things openly for purposes of deception, and allowing our spies to know of them and report them to the enemy.
  • SURVIVING SPIES, finally, are those who bring back news from the enemy’s camp.

Context

xiii. The Use of Spies — operational definitions for each category