[The General's Losses]

This chapter defines to be an admixture of material from several sources rather than simply a series of observations from Sun Pin's own school. While many of them are found scattered about other writings, the most telling evidence is the use of three different terms for "army," including the original character shih. However, "The General's Losses" does preserve criteria for evaluating potential courses of action against an enemy, some attributable to command failures, others simply conditions of disorder or weakness. The chapter describes basic exploitable situations, many similar to the shortcomings loosely identified with the commanding general in Sun Pin's. "Military Vanguard" succinctly enumerates vulnerable moments. The chapter summarizes various principles of warfare and describes die campaign of the weak and chaotic. In general, when evaluating the enemy there are eight conditions under which one engages in battle without performing divination.