The Art of War by active 6th century B.C. Sunzi

11. If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even

Chapter 167 90 words
though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve. [Tu Mu says: "If the enemy is the invading party, we can cut his line of communications and occupy the roads by which he will have to return; if we are the invaders, we may direct our attack against the sovereign himself." It is clear that Sun TzÅ­, unlike certain generals in the late Boer war, was no believer in frontal attacks.]