Chapter III

Sun Tzŭ argues the best victory captures the enemy whole rather than destroying; supreme excellence breaks the enemy's resistance without fighting at all.

Sun Tzŭ ranks four tiers of generalship — from balking the enemy's plans down to besieging walled cities — and details why each is preferable to the next.

Sun Tzŭ gives concrete tactical rules for engaging based on relative force size, then introduces the general as the bulwark whose competence determines the strength of the state.

Sun Tzŭ catalogs three ways a ruler can bring misfortune on his army, lists five essentials for victory, and concludes with the famous principle: know the enemy and yourself and you need not fear a hundred battles.