始計第 一 LAYING PLANS

孫子曰：兵者，國之大事，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。
Mingde said: Art of Courtship is of vital importance to the affair at heart. It’s a matter of life long happiness.

故經之以五事，校之以計，而索其情：一曰道，二曰天，三曰地，四曰將，五曰法。
Five factors to ensure victory, there are five factors. (1) The Cause; (2) Timing; (3) Ground; (4) The Commander; (5) Method

道者，令民於上同意，可與之死，可與之生，而不危也
The Cause must be there. As such, he will know what he is doing. E.g. Why he like her. etc

天者，陰陽、寒暑、時制也
Timing: He must know when to pull, when to push, whether it’s of his advantage to use certain times to do certain things

地者，遠近、險易、廣狹、死生也
Ground: He must know where are the shortcuts, danger points, the girl’s like and dislike. To know shortcuts, He can travel to the girl’s place at faster pace. He knows his weak points.

將者，智、信、仁、勇、嚴也
Commander: He must have wisdom, trustworthy, brave, faithful.

法者，曲制、官道、主用也
Method: Use the right method. Don’t try and be funny when its time to be serious. And don’t always Hua Yan Qiao Yu

凡此五者，將莫不聞，知之者勝，不知之者不勝
These five heads should be familiar to He. He who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.

故校之以計，而索其情
In the event there is a two or more angle triangle, determine the situation and compare

曰：主孰有道？將孰有能？天地孰得？法令孰行？兵眾孰強？士卒孰練？賞罰孰明？
Which of you is imbued with the Cause?
Which of you is more capable in terms of method, financial and other factors?
Who has the advantages derived from timing and ground?
Who keeps his promises better?
Any helps from her friends?
Any advantage from family?
Who the girl may prefer?

吾以此知勝負矣
By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.

將聽吾計，用之必勝，留之；將不聽吾計，用之必敗，去之。
He who listens to my advice and acts upon it, will win.
He who hearkens not to my advice nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat.

計利以聽，乃為之勢，以佐其外
Although He is profiting from my advice, He must also avail himself to any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules.

勢者，因利而制權也。
According as circumstances are favorable, He should modify his plans.

兵者，詭道也。
All heart-fare is based on deception.
In event there is a 3rd party.

故能而示之不能，用而示之不用，近而示之遠，遠而示之近。
Hence, when able to start chasing, we must seem unable;
When using His plan, He must seem inactive;
When He is near, we must make 3rd party believe we are far away; When far away, we must make him believe we are near. (He must not let 3rd party know where is He. So as He could appear before the girl anything)

利而誘之，亂而取之，實而備之，強而避之，怒而撓之，卑而驕之，佚而勞之，親而離之，攻其無備，出其不意。此兵家之勝，不可先傳也。
Hold out baits to entice 3rd party. Feign disorder and prepared to retreat then crush him.
If 3rd party secured at all strong points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him temporary.
If 3rd party has choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
If 3rd party is taking his ease (not alert or sign of tiredness) , give him no rest.
If 3rd party is alert, draw his attention to other things.

夫未戰而廟算勝者，得算多也；未戰而廟算不勝者，得算少也。
Attack 3rd party where he is unprepared. Appear before the girl where He is not expected. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.

多算勝少算，而況於無算乎！吾以此觀之，勝負見矣。
Now He who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. He who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat:
How much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.