7. 火發而其兵靜者待而勿攻

(2) If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy’s soldiers remain

quiet, bide your time and do not attack.

The original text omits 而其. The prime object of attacking with

fire is to throw the enemy into confusion. If this effect is not

produced, it means that the enemy is ready to receive us. Hence

the necessity for caution.

Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War: The Oldest Military Treatise in the World · 第 397 / 458 题