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Sun Zi's Art of War was written by Sun Wu in the final year of the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC - 476BC).
It is not only the oldest Chinese military work in existence but also the oldest book of military theory in the world, well-known for a long time in the history of the military academy in China and abroad.
Sun Zi's Art of War has altogether 13 chapters. Both concise and comprehensive, this book sum up the experience of ancient wars, bring to light the many laws of war which are of universal significance.

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Sun Zi Bing Fa Sun Tzu on the Art of War - IX. The Army on the March - xing jun pian di jiu

原文：

xíng jūn piān dì jiŭ
行   军  篇   第 九

sūn zi yuē : fán chù jūn xiāng dí , jué shān yī gŭ , shì shēng chù
孙  子 曰  ： 凡  处  军  相    敌 ， 绝  山   依 谷 ， 视  生    处
gāo, zhàn lóng wú dēng , cĭ chù shān zhī jūn yĕ.jué shuĭ bì yuăn
高  ， 战   隆   无 登   ， 此 处  山   之  军  也 。 绝  水   必 远
shuĭ , kè jué shuĭ ér lái ,wù yíng zhī yú shuĭ nèi ,lìng bàn jì ér
水   ， 客 绝  水   而 来  ， 勿 迎   之  于 水   内  ， 令   半  济 而
jī zhī ,lì ; yù zhàn zhĕ ,wú fù yú shuĭ ér yíng kè ;shì shēng chù
击 之  ， 利 ； 欲 战   者  ， 无 附 于 水   而 迎   客 ； 视  生    处
gāo , wú yíng shuĭ liú , cĭ chù shuĭ shàng zhī jūn yĕ . jué chì zé ,
高  ， 无 迎   水   流  ， 此 处  水   上    之  军  也 。 绝  斥  泽 ，
wéi jí qù wú liú ; ruò jiāo jūn yú chì zé zhī zhōng , bì yī shuí
惟  亟 去 无 留  ； 若  交   军  于 斥  泽 之  中    ， 必 依 水  
căo, ér bèi zhòng shù , cĭ chù chì zé zhī jūn yĕ . píng lù chù yì ,
草  ， 而 背  众    树  ， 此 处  斥  泽 之  军  也 。 平   陆 处  易 ，
ér yòu bèi gāo ,qián sĭ hòu shēng ,cĭ chù píng lù zhī jūn yĕ . fán
而 右  背  高  ， 前   死 后  生    ， 此 处  平   陆 之  军  也 。 凡 
cĭ sì jūn zhī lì , huáng dì zhī suó yĭ shèng sì dì yĕ .
此 四 军  之  利 ， 黄    帝 之  所  以 胜    四 帝 也 。
　 　
fán jūn hào gāo ér è  xià , guì yáng ér jiàn yīn ,yăng shēng ér chù
凡  军  好  高  而 恶 下  ， 贵  阳   而 贱   阴  ， 养   生    而 处 
shí , jūn wú băi jí , shì wèi bì shèng .qiū líng dī fáng , bì chù
实  ， 军  无 百  疾 ， 是  谓  必 胜    。 丘  陵   堤 防   ， 必 处
qí yáng , ér yòu bèi zhī . cĭ bīng zhī lì , dì zhī zhù yĕ . shàng
其 阳   ， 而 右  背  之  。 此 兵   之  利 ， 地 之  助  也 。 上 
yŭ , shuĭ mò zhì , yù shè zhĕ , dài qí dìng yĕ . fán dì yŏu jué
雨 ， 水   沫 至  ， 欲 涉  者  ， 待  其 定   也 。 凡  地 有  绝
jiàn 、 tiān jĭng 、 tiān láo 、 tiān luó 、 xiàn tiān 、 tiān xì,
涧   、 天   井   、 天   牢  、 天   罗  、 陷   天   、 天   隙 ，
bì jí qù zhī , wù jìn yĕ . wú yuăn zhī , dí jìn zhī ; wú yíng zhī ,
必 亟 去 之  ， 勿 近  也 。 吾 远   之  ， 敌 近  之  ； 吾 迎   之  ，
dí bèi zhī . jūn xíng yŏu xián zŭ 、 huáng jĭng 、 jiā wĕi 、 shān
敌 背  之  。 军  行   有  险   阻 、 潢    井   、 葭  苇  、 山 
lín 、 yì huì zhĕ , bì jĭn fù suŏ zhī , cĭ fú jiān zhī suŏ chù yĕ .
林  、 蘙 荟  者  ， 必 谨  复 索  之  ， 此 伏 奸   之  所  处  也 。
　 　
dí jìn ér jìng zhĕ , shì qí xiăn yĕ ;yuăn ér tiăo zhàn zhĕ ,yù rén
敌 近  而 静   者  ， 恃  其 险   也 ； 远   而 挑   战   者  ， 欲 人
zhī jìn yĕ ; qí suŏ jū yì zhĕ , lì yĕ ； zhòng shù dòng zhĕ , lái
之  进  也 ； 其 所  居 易 者  ， 利 也 ； 众    树  动   者  ， 来
yĕ ;zhòng căo duō zhàng zhĕ ,yí yĕ ;niăo qĭ zhĕ ,fú yĕ ;shòu hài
也 ； 众    草  多  障    者  ， 疑 也 ； 鸟   起 者  ， 伏 也 ； 兽   骇
zhĕ , fù yĕ ; chén gāo ér ruì zhĕ , chē lái yĕ ; bēi ér guăng zhĕ ,
者  ， 覆 也 ； 尘   高  而 锐  者  ， 车  来  也 ； 卑  而 广    者  ，
tú lái yĕ ; sàn ér tiáo dá zhĕ , qiáo căi yĕ ; shăo ér wăng lái
徒 来  也 ； 散  而 条   达 者  ， 樵   采  也 ； 少   而 往   来 
zhĕ , yíng jūn yĕ ;cí bēi ér yì bèi zhĕ ,jìn yĕ ;cí qiáng ér jìn
者  ， 营   军  也 ； 辞 卑  而 益 备  者  ， 进  也 ； 辞 强    而 近 
qū zhĕ , tuì yĕ ; qīng chē xiān chū jū qí cè zhĕ , chén yĕ ; wú yu
趋 者  ， 退  也 ； 轻   车  先   出  居 其 侧 者  ， 陈   也 ； 无 约
ē ér qĭng hé zhĕ , móu yĕ ; bēn zŏu ér chén bīng chē zhĕ , qī yĕ ;
而 请   和 者  ， 谋  也 ； 奔  走  而 陈   兵   车  者  ， 期 也 ；
bàn jìn bàn tuì zhĕ , yòu yĕ ; zhàng ér lì zhĕ ,jī yĕ ;jí ér xiān
半  进  半  退  者  ， 诱  也 ； 杖    而 立 者  ， 饥 也 ； 汲 而 先  
yĭn zhĕ , kĕ yĕ ; jiàn lì ér bú jìn zhĕ , láo yĕ ； niăo jí zhĕ ,
饮  者  ， 渴 也 ； 见   利 而 不 进  者  ， 劳  也 ； 鸟   集 者  ，
xū yĕ ;yè hū zhĕ ,kŏng yĕ ;jūn răo zhĕ ,jiāng bú zhòng yĕ ; jīng
虚 也 ； 夜 呼 者  ， 恐   也 ； 军  扰  者  ， 将    不 重    也 ； 旌
qí dòng zhĕ , luàn yĕ ; lì nù zhĕ , juàn yĕ ; sù mă ròu shí ,
旗 动   者  ， 乱   也 ； 吏 怒 者  ， 倦   也 ； 粟 马 肉  食  ，
jūn wú xuán fŏu , bù făn qí shĕ zhĕ , qióng kòu yĕ ; zhūn zhūn xī
军  无 悬   缻  ， 不 返  其 舍  者  ， 穷    寇  也 ； 谆   谆   翕
xī , xú yŭ rén yán zhĕ , shī zhòng yĕ ; shù shăng zhĕ , jiŏng yĕ ;
 翕 ， 徐 与 人  言  者  ， 失  众    也 ； 数  赏    者  ， 窘    也 ；
shù fá zhĕ ,kùn yĕ ;xiān bào ér hòu wèi qí zhòng zhĕ , bù jīng zhī
数  罚 者  ， 困  也 ； 先   暴  而 后  畏  其 众    者  ， 不 精   之
zhì yĕ; lái wĕi xiè zhĕ , yù xiū xi yĕ . bīng nù ér xiāng yíng ,
至  也 ； 来  委  谢  者  ， 欲 休  息 也 。 兵   怒 而 相    迎   ，
jiŭ ér bù hé , yòu bù xiāng qù , bì jĭn chá zhī .
久  而 不 合 ， 又  不 相    去 ， 必 谨  察  之  。

bīng fēi yì duō yĕ , wéi wú wŭ jìn , zú yĭ bìng lì 、 liào dí 、 qŭ
兵   非  益 多  也 ， 惟  无 武 进  ， 足 以 并   力 、 料   敌 、 取
rén ér yĭ . fū wéi wú lǜ ér yì dí zhĕ , bì qín yú rén .
人  而 已 。 夫 惟  无 虑 而 易 敌 者  ， 必 擒  于 人  。
　 　

zú wèi qīn fù ér fá zhī , zé bù fú , bù fú zé nán yòng yĕ ; zú yĭ
卒 未  亲  附 而 罚 之  ， 则 不 服 ， 不 服 则 难  用   也 ； 卒 已
qīn fù ér fá bù xíng ,zé bù kĕ yòng yĕ .gù lìng zhī yĭ wén ,qí zhī
亲附 而 罚 不 行   , 则 不 可 用   也 . 故 令   之  以 文  , 齐 之
yĭ wŭ , shì wèi bì qŭ . lìng sù xíng , yĭ jiāo qí mín , zé mín fú ;
以 武 ， 是  谓  必 取 。 令   素 行   ， 以 教   其 民  ， 则 民  服 ；
lìng bú sù xíng , yĭ jiāo qí mín ,zé mín bù fú . lìng sù xíng zhĕ ,
令   不 素 行   ， 以 教   其 民  ， 则 民  不 服 。 令   素 行   者  ，
yŭ zhòng xiāng dé yĕ .
与 众    相    得 也 。

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Translation:(Translated from the Chinese version By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910))

IX. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH

1. Sun Tzu said: We come now to the question of encamping the army, and observing signs of the enemy. Pass quickly over mountains, and keep in the neighborhood of valleys.

2. Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order to fight. So much for mountain warfare.

3. After crossing a river, you should get far away from it.

4. When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream. It will be best to let half the army get across, and then deliver your attack.

5. If you are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invader near a river which he has to cross.

6. Moor your craft higher up than the enemy, and facing the sun. Do not move up-stream to meet the enemy. So much for river warfare.

7. In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over them quickly, without any delay.

8. If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass near you, and get your back to a clump of trees. So much for operations in salt-marches.

9. In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible position with rising ground to your right and on your rear, so that the danger may be in front, and safety lie behind. So much for campaigning in flat country.

10. These are the four useful branches of military knowledge which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several sovereigns.

11. All armies prefer high ground to low and sunny places to dark.

12. If you are careful of your men, and camp on hard ground, the army will be free from disease of every kind, and this will spell victory.

13. When you come to a hill or a bank, occupy the sunny side, with the slope on your right rear. Thus you will at once act for the benefit of your soldiers and utilize the natural advantages of the ground.

14. When, in consequence of heavy rains up-country, a river which you wish to ford is swollen and flecked with foam, you must wait until it subsides.

15. Country in which there are precipitous cliffs with torrents running between, deep natural hollows, confined places, tangled thickets, quagmires and crevasses, should be left with all possible speed and not approached.

16. While we keep away from such places, we should get the enemy to approach them; while we face them, we should let the enemy have them on his rear.

17. If in the neighborhood of your camp there should be any hilly country, ponds surrounded by aquatic grass, hollow basins filled with reeds, or woods with thick undergrowth, they must be carefully routed out and searched; for these are places where men in ambush or insidious spies are likely to be lurking.

18. When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on the natural strength of his position.

19. When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious for the other side to advance.

20. If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a bait.

21. Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the enemy is advancing. The appearance of a number of screens in the midst of thick grass means that the enemy wants to make us suspicious.

22. The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.

23. When there is dust rising in a high column, it is the sign of chariots advancing; when the dust is low, but spread over a wide area, it betokens the approach of infantry. When it branches out in different directions, it shows that parties have been sent to collect firewood. A few clouds of dust moving to and fro signify that the army is encamping.

24. Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat.

25. When the light chariots come out first and take up a position on the wings, it is a sign that the enemy is forming for battle.

26. Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.

27. When there is much running about and the soldiers fall into rank, it means that the critical moment has come.

28. When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.

29. When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.

30. If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst.

31. If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to secure it, the soldiers are exhausted.

32. If birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. Clamor by night betokens nervousness.

33. If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary.

34. When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for food, and when the men do not hang their cooking-pots over the camp-fires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you may know that they are determined to fight to the death.

35. The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file.

36. Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his resources; too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress.

37. To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.

38. When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

39. If the enemy's troops march up angrily and remain facing ours for a long time without either joining battle or taking themselves off again, the situation is one that demands great vigilance and circumspection.

40. If our troops are no more in number than the enemy, that is amply sufficient; it only means that no direct attack can be made. What we can do is simply to concentrate all our available strength, keep a close watch on the enemy, and obtain reinforcements.

41. He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.

42. If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless.

43. Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. This is a certain road to victory.

44. If in training soldiers commands are habitually enforced, the army will be well-disciplined; if not, its discipline will be bad.

45. If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.

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