退路を残す

English

Sun Tzu said:

There are five targets for fire attacks: first, to burn the enemy’s soldiers and horses; second, to destroy the enemy’s stockpiled provisions; third, to burn the enemy’s equipment and supplies; fourth, to destroy the enemy’s warehouses; and fifth, to damage the enemy’s transport facilities.

Carrying out a fire attack requires certain conditions and the constant readiness of necessary fire implements. The attack must be launched at a favorable time and on a suitable date. A favorable time refers to dry weather, while a suitable date is when the moon passes through the constellations of Ji, Bi, Yi, and Zhen, as these periods tend to bring wind, which helps the fire spread.

When using fire attacks, commanders must adapt their troop deployments according to the effects of the five targets. If the fire is started from within the enemy’s lines, troops should be sent from the outside to coordinate support. If the fire has begun but the enemy remains calm, it is necessary to observe and wait; one should not attack impulsively. Once the fire reaches its peak, an attack can be launched if conditions allow; otherwise, it should be halted.

Fires can also be set from outside the enemy lines, in which case internal coordination is not required, and the attack may proceed once conditions are favorable. The fire must always be started from the upwind side; attacking from downwind is ineffective. Winds that blow strongly during the day may die down at night, so timing is crucial.

Commanders must be familiar with the variations and applications of the five types of fire attacks, wait patiently until conditions are favorable, and then carry out the attack to ensure success.

Classical Chinese

孙子曰：凡火攻有五：一曰火人，二曰火积，三曰火辎，四曰火库，五曰火队。行火必有因，烟火必素具。发火有时，起火有日。时者，天之燥也；日者，月在箕、壁、翼、轸也。凡此四宿者，风起之日也。

凡火攻，必因五火之变而应之。火发于内，则早应之于外。火发兵静者，待而勿攻，极其火力，可从而从之，不可从而止。火可发于外，无待于内，以时发之。火发上风，无攻下风。昼风久，夜风止。凡军必知有五火之变，以数守之。

故以火佐攻者明，以水佐攻者强。水可以绝，不可以夺。夫战胜攻取，而不修其功者凶，命曰费留。故曰：明主虑之，良将修之。非利不动，非得不用，非危不战。主不可以怒而兴师，将不可以愠而致战；合于利而动，不合于利而止。怒可以复喜，愠可以复悦；亡国不可以复存，死者不可以复生。故明君慎之，良将警之，此安国全军之道也。

Vernacular Chinese

孙子说：

火攻有五种目标：一是焚烧敌军的将士和马匹，二是焚毁敌军的粮草储备，三是焚烧敌军的辎重，四是焚毁敌军的仓库，五是破坏敌军的运输设施。施行火攻必须具备一定条件，随时准备好必要的火攻器材。发动火攻时，要选择有利的时机和适宜的日期。有利的时机，是指天气干燥；适宜的日期，是指月亮运行到“箕、壁、翼、轸”四星所在之日，因为这时容易起风，有利于火势蔓延。

使用火攻时，必须根据五种火攻目标可能带来的变化灵活运用兵力。如果从敌人内部放火，应提前派兵从外部策应；火势已起，而敌军仍镇定，则需观察等待，不可贸然进攻。待火势达到最盛时，再视情况决定是否出击；若不适合进攻，则应停止。

火也可以从外部点燃，这时无需内部配合，只要时机成熟即可实施。放火时必须选择上风方向，不可从下风处进攻。白天风势强劲，夜间常会减弱，所以时机把握至关重要。

军队必须熟悉五种火攻方法的变化与运用，耐心等待条件成熟，再行实施火攻，方能确保战果。