.In olden times, when breaking in at night, [the shinobi-no-mono] made a doll and inserted it to the room to see if there is any response. Although this is an interesting method it is not used these days. Even if [some] people do not not about this old method, it will [eventually] become know, therefore it is better not to use it.

* It is interesting that the author not only discusses methods of infiltration and breaking into a structure, he also warns about the possibility of the enemy sending warriors to do the same thing. He then offers methods for countering the enemy's shinobi-no-mono. Although his suggestion seems to be limited in scope, what is important is to be aware that what we could do to the enemy the enemy can employ against us. The essence of this is that offensive strategy is only fifty percent effective if you do not have a defensive strategy as well; and you should know how to employ both strategies and techniques equally. Sun Wu makes a valuable remark in his essay on warfare, pointing out that you should "know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal." (trans. by Samuel B. Griffith).

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