按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
an army〃to that of a State； understood。＇
15。 （3） By employing the officers of his army without
discrimination；
＇That is； he is not careful to use the right man in the
right place。＇
through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to
circumstances。 This shakes the confidence of the soldiers。
＇I follow Mei Yao…ch‘en here。 The other commentators refer
not to the ruler； as in SS。 13； 14； but to the officers he
employs。 Thus Tu Yu says： 〃If a general is ignorant of the
principle of adaptability； he must not be entrusted with a
position of authority。〃 Tu Mu quotes： 〃The skillful employer of
men will employ the wise man； the brave man； the covetous man；
and the stupid man。 For the wise man delights in establishing
his merit； the brave man likes to show his courage in action； the
covetous man is quick at seizing advantages； and the stupid man
has no fear of death。〃＇
16。 But when the army is restless and distrustful； trouble
is sure to come from the other feudal princes。 This is simply
bringing anarchy into the army； and flinging victory away。
17。 Thus we may know that there are five essentials for
victory： （1） He will win who knows when to fight and when not to
fight。
＇Chang Yu says： If he can fight； he advances and takes the
offensive； if he cannot fight； he retreats and remains on the
defensive。 He will invariably conquer who knows whether it is
right to take the offensive or the defensive。＇
（2） He will win who knows how to handle both superior and
inferior forces。
＇This is not merely the general's ability to estimate
numbers correctly； as Li Ch‘uan and others make out。 Chang Yu
expounds the saying more satisfactorily： 〃By applying the art of
war； it is possible with a lesser force to defeat a greater； and
vice versa。 The secret lies in an eye for locality； and in not
letting the right moment slip。 Thus Wu Tzu says： 'With a
superior force； make for easy ground； with an inferior one； make
for difficult ground。'〃＇
（3） He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit
throughout all its ranks。
（4） He will win who； prepared himself； waits to take the
enemy unprepared。
（5） He will win who has military capacity and is not
interfered with by the sovereign。
＇Tu Yu quotes Wang Tzu as saying： 〃It is the sovereign's
function to give broad instructions； but to decide on battle it
is the function of the general。〃 It is needless to dilate on the
military disasters which have been caused by undue interference
with operations in the field on the part of the home government。
Napoleon undoubtedly owed much of his extraordinary success to
the fact that he was not hampered by central authority。＇
18。 Hence the saying： If you know the enemy and know
yourself； you need not fear the result of a hundred battles。 If
you know yourself but not the enemy； for every victory gained you
will also suffer a defeat。
＇Li Ch‘uan cites the case of Fu Chien； prince of Ch‘in； who
in 383 A。D。 marched with a vast army against the Chin Emperor。
When warned not to despise an enemy who could command the
services of such men as Hsieh An and Huan Ch‘ung； he boastfully
replied： 〃I have the population of eight provinces at my back；
infantry and horsemen to the number of one million； why； they
could dam up the Yangtsze River itself by merely throwing their
whips into the stream。 What danger have I to fear？〃
Nevertheless； his forces were soon after disastrously routed at
the Fei River； and he was obliged to beat a hasty retreat。＇
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself； you will succumb in
every battle。
＇Chang Yu said： 〃Knowing the enemy enables you to take the
offensive； knowing yourself enables you to stand on the
defensive。〃 He adds： 〃Attack is the secret of defense； defense
is the planning of an attack。〃 It would be hard to find a better
epitome of the root…principle of war。＇
…
IV。 TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS
＇Ts‘ao Kung explains the Chinese meaning of the words for
the title of this chapter： 〃marching and countermarching on the
part of the two armies with a view to discovering each other's
condition。〃 Tu Mu says： 〃It is through the dispositions of an
army that its condition may be discovered。 Conceal your
dispositions； and your condition will remain secret； which leads
to victory；； show your dispositions； and your condition will
become patent； which leads to defeat。〃 Wang Hsi remarks that the
good general can 〃secure success by modifying his tactics to meet
those of the enemy。〃＇
1。 Sun Tzu said： The good fighters of old first put
themselves beyond the possibility of defeat； and then waited for
an opportunity of defeating the enemy。
2。 To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own
hands； but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by
the enemy himself。
＇That is； of course； by a mistake on the enemy's part。＇
3。 Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against
defeat；
＇Chang Yu says this is done； 〃By concealing the disposition
of his troops； covering up his tracks； and taking unremitting
precautions。〃＇
but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy。
4。 Hence the saying： One may KNOW how to conquer without
being able to DO it。
5。 Security against defeat implies defensive tactics；
ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive。
＇I retain the sense found in a similar passage in ss。 1…3；
in spite of the fact that the commentators are all against me。
The meaning they give； 〃He who cannot conquer takes the
defensive；〃 is plausible enough。＇
6。 Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient
strength； attacking； a superabundance of strength。
7。 The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most
secret recesses of the earth；
＇Literally； 〃hides under the ninth earth；〃 which is a
metaphor indicating the utmost secrecy and concealment； so that
the enemy may not know his whereabouts。〃＇
he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost
heights of heaven。
＇Another metaphor； implying that he falls on his adversary
like a thunderbolt； against which there is no time to prepare。
This is the opinion of most of the commentators。＇
Thus on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves； on the
other； a victory that is complete。
8。 To see victory only when it is within the ken of the
common herd is not the acme of excellence。
＇As Ts‘ao Kung remarks； 〃the thing is to see the plant
before it has germinated；〃 to foresee the event before the action
has begun。 Li Ch‘uan alludes to the story of Han Hsin who； when
about to attack the vastly supe