Page:The book of war, the military classic of the Far East (IA bookofwarmilitar00caltiala).pdf/85

Rh Again, the natures of war are five:

First, a righteous war; second, a war of might; third, a war of revenge; fourth, a war of tyranny; fifth, an unrighteous war.

The prevention of tyranny and the restoration of order is just; to strike in reliance on numbers is oppression; to raise the standard for reasons of anger is a war of revenge; to quit propriety, and seize advantage is tyranny; when the state is disordered and the people worn out, to harbour designs, and set a multitude in motion, is a war of unrighteousness.

There is a way of overcoming each of these five.

Righteousness is overcome by propriety; might by humanity; revenge by words; tyranny by deception; unrighteousness by strategy.

Lord Wen asked and said:

“I would know the way to control an army, to measure men, and make the country strong.”

Wu answered and said:

“The enlightened rulers of antiquity