Forms of Treacherous Fight, as mentioned in chapter III of Book X in Arthashastra, include a number of methods which the invader can apply in case of deceiving the enemy which are not included in regular warfare; these have been enlisted as forms of treacherous fight. As such he who possesses a strong army, who has succeeded in his intrigues, and who has applied remedies against danger and gone through open fight, and has secured for himself a position which is favourable to himself, can settle for new form of treacherous warfare.
Forms of Treacherous Fight include some situations during which the invader should be able to assess the correct position of the enemy, his most difficult times, his weakness as well as his strength. He should strike the enemy when the enemy`s army is under troubles or is furiously attacked and when he has secured a favourable position for himself. The invader who has possesses the control over the elements of sovereignty, through the aid of the enemy`s traitors, enemies, and inimical wild tribes, can make a false impression of his own defeat over the mind of the enemy who is entrenched in a better position, thus dragging him in an unfavourable position, should strike him later. In case of the enemy`s army which is in a compact form, the invader should break it and fragment it with the help of elephants, and when the invader succeeds in persuading the enemy to believe the invader`s false defeat, and then the invader shall proceed to attack the enemy whether united or fragmented. Once struck on the front the invader can attack the enemy a second time and break it with the help of elephants; if the attack from the front is unfavourable then it can attack the enemy from the rear; when the attack from the rear is unfavourable then he can attack him from the front; when attack from one side is unfavourable then he can attack him from the other side.
Forms of Treacherous Fight further mentions that having mislead the enemy with the news of his false defeat, the invader can cause the enemy to fight with his own army of traitors, enemies, and wild tribes and get exhausted when it can make a fresh attack on the enemy with his actual army. When the enemy remains in the illusion of having defeated the invader, the invader can with full confidence can strike the over confident enemy. The invader, who is vigilant enough, may strike a careless enemy when the latter is deluded in the thought that the invader`s merchandise, merchants, camps as well as carriers are destroyed; or having made his strong army look like a weak army, he may strike the enemy`s brave men when they fall against him. The invader can also destroy the resources of the enemy by destroying the cattle, or enemy`s dogs, etc. Also the invader can tire out the enemy`s army by attacking them day and night; he can further attack his enemy`s army at the time when they are sleepy and tired like at the time of afternoon or night or when it is facing the sun directly.
Forms of Treacherous Fight further mentions some of the temptation alluring the enemy against the invader which include a desert, a dangerous spot, marshy places, mountains, valleys, uneven boats, cows, cart-like array of the army, mist, and the nights which are known as Sattras. As to an open or a fair fight, a virtuous king should call his army together and specify the place and the time of battle. Kautilya lays some instructions which shall encourage the army which has been mentioned in the Vedas.
Thus, the Forms of Treacherous fight enlists a number of methods which are relevant other than the open fight which the invader is free to use as legal and fair means of defeating his enemy.
