| Sun Tzu said: |
Commentary |
|
21. The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted
with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they will become converted
spies and available for our service.
|
When finding an enemy
spy, it is tempting to interrogate and punish them harshly. Yet if
you can turn them to your will, they can be immensely useful. Seek
to understand the mentality of spies and how they are motivated. If
they can be persuaded, bribed or otherwise motivated, use whatever
will gain their greatest compliance. Do not spare expense in this,
as the value the spy will bring may be far greater than any cost. |
| 22. It is through the information brought by the converted spy that we are
able to acquire and employ local and inward spies. |
Spies from the other
side know the enemy territory and people. One of their greatest
contributions may be in finding and recruiting more spies in enemy
territory and organizations. |
| 23. It is owing to his information, again, that we can cause the doomed spy
to carry false tidings to the enemy. |
Where a spy's
usefulness is ending, then you can make one last ploy by planting
false information with them. It may be important that the spy does
not know they are doomed and does not know they have false
information. Hence when they are interrogated and give up their
knowledge slowly, they will be believed. |
| 24. Lastly, it is by his information that the surviving spy can be used on
appointed occasions. |
A spy who has gone
deep and come back alive may have much knowledge that cannot just be
written down. They hence may become advisors, commenting on critical
plans and suggesting possible actions. |
| 25. The end and aim of spying in all its five varieties is knowledge of the
enemy; and this knowledge can only be derived, in the first instance, from the
converted spy. Hence it is essential that the converted spy be treated with the
utmost liberality. |
Knowledge of the
enemy, such as their plans, numbers, morale and so on may be guessed
from distant observation. The certainty that a converted spy brings
allows far more direct action and can end the war more quickly. To
give up such information, it is far better to motivate the spy with
reward than punishment. Interrogation leads to people telling you
what they think you want to know. Proper motivation leads them to
really want to help you. |
