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feigning weakness and immobility； and then suddenly pouncing upon
him。＇
23。 If he is taking his ease； give him no rest。
＇This is probably the meaning though Mei Yao…ch‘en has the
note： 〃while we are taking our ease； wait for the enemy to tire
himself out。〃 The YU LAN has 〃Lure him on and tire him out。〃＇
If his forces are united； separate them。
＇Less plausible is the interpretation favored by most of the
commentators： 〃If sovereign and subject are in accord； put
division between them。〃＇
24。 Attack him where he is unprepared； appear where you are
not expected。
25。 These military devices； leading to victory； must not be
divulged beforehand。
26。 Now the general who wins a battle makes many
calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought。
＇Chang Yu tells us that in ancient times it was customary
for a temple to be set apart for the use of a general who was
about to take the field； in order that he might there elaborate
his plan of campaign。＇
The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations
beforehand。 Thus do many calculations lead to victory； and few
calculations to defeat： how much more no calculation at all！ It
is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to
win or lose。
＇1＇ 〃Words on Wellington；〃 by Sir。 W。 Fraser。
…
II。 WAGING WAR
＇Ts‘ao Kung has the note： 〃He who wishes to fight must
first count the cost；〃 which prepares us for the discovery that
the subject of the chapter is not what we might expect from the
title； but is primarily a consideration of ways and means。＇
1。 Sun Tzu said： In the operations of war； where there are
in the field a thousand swift chariots； as many heavy chariots；
and a hundred thousand mail…clad soldiers；
＇The 〃swift chariots〃 were lightly built and； according to
Chang Yu； used for the attack； the 〃heavy chariots〃 were heavier；
and designed for purposes of defense。 Li Ch‘uan； it is true；
says that the latter were light； but this seems hardly probable。
It is interesting to note the analogies between early Chinese
warfare and that of the Homeric Greeks。 In each case； the war…
chariot was the important factor； forming as it did the nucleus
round which was grouped a certain number of foot…soldiers。 With
regard to the numbers given here； we are informed that each swift
chariot was accompanied by 75 footmen； and each heavy chariot by
25 footmen； so that the whole army would be divided up into a
thousand battalions； each consisting of two chariots and a
hundred men。＇
with provisions enough to carry them a thousand LI；
＇2。78 modern LI go to a mile。 The length may have varied
slightly since Sun Tzu's time。＇
the expenditure at home and at the front； including entertainment
of guests； small items such as glue and paint； and sums spent on
chariots and armor； will reach the total of a thousand ounces of
silver per day。 Such is the cost of raising an army of 100；000
men。
2。 When you engage in actual fighting； if victory is long
in coming； then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will
be damped。 If you lay siege to a town； you will exhaust your
strength。
3。 Again； if the campaign is protracted； the resources of
the State will not be equal to the strain。
4。 Now； when your weapons are dulled； your ardor damped；
your strength exhausted and your treasure spent； other chieftains
will spring up to take advantage of your extremity。 Then no man；
however wise； will be able to avert the consequences that must
ensue。
5。 Thus； though we have heard of stupid haste in war；
cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays。
＇This concise and difficult sentence is not well explained
by any of the commentators。 Ts‘ao Kung； Li Ch‘uan； Meng Shih； Tu
Yu； Tu Mu and Mei Yao…ch‘en have notes to the effect that a
general； though naturally stupid； may nevertheless conquer
through sheer force of rapidity。 Ho Shih says： 〃Haste may be
stupid； but at any rate it saves expenditure of energy and
treasure； protracted operations may be very clever； but they
bring calamity in their train。〃 Wang Hsi evades the difficulty
by remarking： 〃Lengthy operations mean an army growing old；
wealth being expended； an empty exchequer and distress among the
people； true cleverness insures against the occurrence of such
calamities。〃 Chang Yu says： 〃So long as victory can be
attained； stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness。〃
Now Sun Tzu says nothing whatever； except possibly by
implication； about ill…considered haste being better than
ingenious but lengthy operations。 What he does say is something
much more guarded； namely that； while speed may sometimes be
injudicious； tardiness can never be anything but foolish if
only because it means impoverishment to the nation。 In
considering the point raised here by Sun Tzu； the classic example
of Fabius Cunctator will inevitably occur to the mind。 That
general deliberately measured the endurance of Rome against that
of Hannibals's isolated army； because it seemed to him that the
latter was more likely to suffer from a long campaign in a
strange country。 But it is quite a moot question whether his
tactics would have proved successful in the long run。 Their
reversal it is true； led to Cannae； but this only establishes a
negative presumption in their favor。＇
6。 There is no instance of a country having benefited from
prolonged warfare。
7。 It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the
evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of
carrying it on。
＇That is； with rapidity。 Only one who knows the disastrous
effects of a long war can realize the supreme importance of
rapidity in bringing it to a close。 Only two commentators seem
to favor this interpretation； but it fits well into the logic of
the context； whereas the rendering； 〃He who does not know the
evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits；〃 is distinctly
pointless。＇
8。 The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy；
neither are his supply…wagons loaded more than twice。
＇Once war is declared； he will not waste precious time in
waiting for reinforcements； nor will he return his army back for
fresh supplies； but crosses the enemy's frontier without delay。
This may seem an audacious policy to recommend； but with all
great strategists； from Julius Caesar to Napoleon Bonaparte； the
value of time that is； being a little ahead of your opponent
has counted for more than either numerical superiority or the
nicest calculations with regard to commissariat。＇
9。 Bring war material with you from home； but forage on the
enemy。 Thus the army will have food enough for its