Five Things to Weigh
Before any fight, Sunzi says, count five things — the general who counts them wins before the battle begins.
孙子的第一章，讲的是打仗以前的事。Sunzi's first chapter is about what happens before the fighting starts.他说，战争是国家最大的事，不能随便开始。War, he says, is the gravest matter a state can face — never begin one lightly.开始以前，聪明的将军要先比较五件事。Before beginning, a wise general first compares five things.
第一是“道”：你的人民支持你吗？The first is the Way: do your people support you?大家愿意跟你站在一起，你才有真正的力量。Only when everyone is willing to stand with you do you have real strength.第二是“天”：时间和天气对你好不好？The second is Heaven: are the timing and the weather on your side?冬天太冷，夏天太热，士兵就没有力气。Too cold in winter or too hot in summer, and the soldiers have no strength.
第三是“地”：你了解那里的地形吗？The third is Earth: do you understand the terrain there?高山、大河、路的远近，都会改变结果。Mountains, rivers, and the length of the roads can all change the outcome.第四是“将”：将军聪明吗？士兵相信他吗？The fourth is the Leader: is the general wise, and do the soldiers trust him?第五是“法”：军队有没有清楚的规则？The fifth is Method: does the army have clear rules?孙子说，比较完这五件事，你就知道谁会赢。Compare these five things, says Sunzi, and you will know who is going to win.
有这样一个故事。Here is a story about that.两位将军就要打仗了。Two generals were about to go to war.第一位将军每天研究地形，看天气，问士兵的想法。The first general studied the terrain every day, watched the weather, and asked his soldiers what they thought.第二位将军说：“我的士兵比他多，我一定会赢。”The second general said, "I have more soldiers than he does — I am sure to win."打仗以前，他什么都没有准备。Before the battle, he prepared nothing at all.结果，第一位将军选了一个下雨的晚上，从小路进攻。In the end, the first general chose a rainy night and attacked along a small path.第二位将军的士兵又冷又累，很快就失败了。The second general's soldiers were cold and exhausted, and were quickly defeated.
孙子还讲了一个重要的道理：打仗的时候，可以骗敌人。Sunzi teaches one more important idea: in war, you may deceive the enemy.你很强的时候，要让敌人觉得你很弱。When you are strong, make the enemy think you are weak.你要进攻的时候，要让敌人觉得你在休息。When you are about to attack, make the enemy think you are resting.敌人越不了解你，你的机会就越多。The less the enemy understands you, the more chances you have.孙子说：“兵者，诡道也。”意思是：战争就是骗人的艺术。Sunzi said, "War is the way of deception." It means: war is the art of misleading your opponent.
这个道理今天也有用：下棋的时候，你不会告诉对手你的计划。The idea still works today: when you play chess, you don't tell your opponent your plan.做大事以前，先比较，再决定——这就是孙子的第一课。Before any great undertaking, first compare, then decide — that is Sunzi's first lesson.
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