Chapter 8 of Sunzi

孙Sūn子zǐ曰yuē：凡fán用yòng兵bīng之zhī法fǎ，将jiàng受shòu命mìng于yú君jūn，合hé军jūn聚jù众zhòng。泛fàn地dì无wú舍shè，衢qú地dì合hé交jiāo，绝jué地dì无wú留liú，围wéi地dì则zé谋móu，死sǐ地dì则zé战zhàn，途tú有yǒu所suǒ不bù由yóu，军jūn有yǒu所suǒ不bù击jī，城chéng有yǒu所suǒ不bù攻gōng，地dì有yǒu所suǒ不bù争zhēng，君jūn命mìng有yǒu所suǒ不bù受shòu。

Sun Tzu says: In the art of war, after the general has received orders from the sovereign and assembled his army, he must avoid camping on scattered ground, form alliances on communicating ground, not linger on desperate ground, employ stratagems on hemmed-in ground, and fight on deadly ground. There are roads that should not be taken, armies that should not be attacked, cities that should not be besieged, and grounds that should not be contested. There may even be orders from the sovereign that should not be carried out.

故gù将jiàng通tōng于yú九jiǔ变biàn之zhī利lì者zhě，知zhī用yòng兵bīng矣yǐ；将jiàng不bù通tōng九jiǔ变biàn之zhī利lì，虽suī知zhī地dì形xíng，不bù能néng得dé地dì之zhī利lì矣yǐ；治zhì兵bīng不bù知zhī九jiǔ变biàn之zhī术shù，虽suī知zhī五wǔ利lì，不bù能néng得dé人rén之zhī用yòng矣yǐ。

A general who is versed in the nine variations of terrain knows how to use his troops. A general who does not understand these nine variations will not be able to use his troops to advantage, even if he knows the configuration of the ground. A general who does not understand the nine variations will not be able to use his men effectively, even if he knows the five advantages.

是shì故gù智zhì者zhě之zhī虑lǜ，必bì杂zá于yú利lì害hài，杂zá于yú利lì而ér务wù可kě信xìn也yě，杂zá于yú害hài而ér患huàn可kě解jiě也yě。

Thus, the deliberations of a wise man must consider both advantages and disadvantages. By considering advantages, he can accomplish his mission with confidence; by considering disadvantages, he can avoid dangers.

是shì故gù屈qū诸zhū侯hóu者zhě以yǐ害hài，役yì诸zhū侯hóu者zhě以yǐ业yè，趋qū诸zhū侯hóu者zhě以yǐ利lì。

To subdue princes, one must threaten them with harm; to employ them, one must give them tasks; to attract them, one must offer them advantages.

故gù用yòng兵bīng之zhī法fǎ，无wú恃shì其qí不bù来lái，恃shì吾wú有yǒu以yǐ待dài之zhī；无wú恃shì其qí不bù攻gōng，恃shì吾wú有yǒu所suǒ不bù可kě攻gōng也yě。

Thus, in war, one should not rely on the enemy not attacking, but on being ready to receive him; one should not rely on the enemy not attacking, but on having positions that he cannot attack.

故gù将jiàng有yǒu五wǔ危wēi，必bì死sǐ可kě杀shā，必bì生shēng可kě虏lǔ，忿fèn速sù可kě侮wǔ，廉lián洁jié可kě辱rǔ，爱ài民mín可kě烦fán。凡fán此cǐ五wǔ者zhě，将jiàng之zhī过guò也yě，用yòng兵bīng之zhī灾zāi也yě。覆fù军jūn杀shā将jiàng，必bì以yǐ五wǔ危wēi，不bù可kě不bù察chá也yě。

A general may commit five fatal mistakes: if he is willing to die, he may be killed; if he clings too much to life, he may be captured; if he is quick-tempered and impulsive, he may be provoked; if he is overly concerned with reputation, he may be humiliated; if he is too fond of his men, he may be harassed. These five faults are mistakes for a general and disasters for an army. The defeat and death of a general always stem from these five faults; they must be carefully examined.