Fighting in
your own territory is
home ground. Fighting a short
distance into the adversary’s territory
is easy ground. Fighting when conditions give
an advantage to neither side is contested ground.
Fighting when both sides can move freely is open ground.
Fighting when a crossroads is at stake is intersecting ground.
Fighting deep into the adversary’s territory and holding cities there
is serious ground. Fighting among steeps, forests, marshes, and
bogs is difficult ground. Fighting in gorges with narrow
entrances and difficult exits where a small number of
warriors can crush a large army is surrounded
ground. Fighting when you will die
if you hesitate is desperate
ground.
from The Art of War, Chapter XI,
The Nine Fighting Situations
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