“形”在此指军事实力。此篇主要论述军事实力与战争胜负的关系问题,主张战争中首先要具备使己方“立于不败之地”的军事实力,然后寻求“敌之可胜”的有利战机。与敌作战,要先具备取胜的把握,确立取胜的优势,“先胜而后求战”。提出战争指导者要能够充分评估双方的物质条件和军事实力,确立“胜兵若以镒称铢”的实力制胜思想。本篇思想精华体现在以下几个方面: “Form” here refers to the military strength. This article mainly discusses the relationship between the military strength and the outcome of the war and argues that the war must first of all possess the military strength of making one’s own country “invincible” and then seek favorable fighters capable of “winning the enemy’s victory.” To fight against the enemy, we must first have the chance to win and establish the advantage to win. “Winning first and then fighting for war.” It is suggested that the war leader should be able to fully assess the material and military capabilities of both sides and establish the ideology of “winning soldiers if they win the bid with baht.” The essence of this article is reflected in the following aspects: