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has begun。 Li Ch‘uan alludes to the story of Han Hsin who； when
about to attack the vastly superior army of Chao； which was
strongly entrenched in the city of Ch‘eng…an； said to his
officers： 〃Gentlemen； we are going to annihilate the enemy； and
shall meet again at dinner。〃 The officers hardly took his words
seriously； and gave a very dubious assent。 But Han Hsin had
already worked out in his mind the details of a clever stratagem；
whereby； as he foresaw； he was able to capture the city and
inflict a crushing defeat on his adversary。〃＇
9。 Neither is it the acme of excellence if you fight and
conquer and the whole Empire says； 〃Well done！〃
＇True excellence being； as Tu Mu says： 〃To plan secretly；
to move surreptitiously； to foil the enemy's intentions and balk
his schemes； so that at last the day may be won without shedding
a drop of blood。〃 Sun Tzu reserves his approbation for things
that
〃the world's coarse thumb
And finger fail to plumb。〃＇
10。 To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength；
＇〃Autumn〃 hair〃 is explained as the fur of a hare； which is
finest in autumn； when it begins to grow afresh。 The phrase is a
very common one in Chinese writers。＇
to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight； to hear the
noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear。
＇Ho Shih gives as real instances of strength； sharp sight
and quick hearing： Wu Huo； who could lift a tripod weighing 250
stone； Li Chu； who at a distance of a hundred paces could see
objects no bigger than a mustard seed； and Shih K‘uang； a blind
musician who could hear the footsteps of a mosquito。＇
11。 What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who
not only wins； but excels in winning with ease。
＇The last half is literally 〃one who； conquering； excels in
easy conquering。〃 Mei Yao…ch‘en says： 〃He who only sees the
obvious； wins his battles with difficulty； he who looks below the
surface of things； wins with ease。〃＇
12。 Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for
wisdom nor credit for courage。
＇Tu Mu explains this very well： 〃Inasmuch as his victories
are gained over circumstances that have not come to light； the
world as large knows nothing of them； and he wins no reputation
for wisdom； inasmuch as the hostile state submits before there
has been any bloodshed； he receives no credit for courage。〃＇
13。 He wins his battles by making no mistakes。
＇Ch‘en Hao says： 〃He plans no superfluous marches； he
devises no futile attacks。〃 The connection of ideas is thus
explained by Chang Yu： 〃One who seeks to conquer by sheer
strength； clever though he may be at winning pitched battles； is
also liable on occasion to be vanquished； whereas he who can look
into the future and discern conditions that are not yet manifest；
will never make a blunder and therefore invariably win。〃＇
Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory；
for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated。
14。 Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position
which makes defeat impossible； and does not miss the moment for
defeating the enemy。
＇A 〃counsel of perfection〃 as Tu Mu truly observes。
〃Position〃 need not be confined to the actual ground occupied by
the troops。 It includes all the arrangements and preparations
which a wise general will make to increase the safety of his
army。＇
15。 Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only
seeks battle after the victory has been won； whereas he who is
destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory。
＇Ho Shih thus expounds the paradox： 〃In warfare； first lay
plans which will ensure victory； and then lead your army to
battle； if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute
strength alone； victory will no longer be assured。〃＇
16。 The consummate leader cultivates the moral law； and
strictly adheres to method and discipline； thus it is in his
power to control success。
17。 In respect of military method； we have； firstly；
Measurement； secondly； Estimation of quantity； thirdly；
Calculation； fourthly； Balancing of chances； fifthly； Victory。
18。 Measurement owes its existence to Earth； Estimation of
quantity to Measurement； Calculation to Estimation of quantity；
Balancing of chances to Calculation； and Victory to Balancing of
chances。
＇It is not easy to distinguish the four terms very clearly
in the Chinese。 The first seems to be surveying and measurement
of the ground； which enable us to form an estimate of the enemy's
strength； and to make calculations based on the data thus
obtained； we are thus led to a general weighing…up； or comparison
of the enemy's chances with our own； if the latter turn the
scale； then victory ensues。 The chief difficulty lies in third
term； which in the Chinese some commentators take as a
calculation of NUMBERS； thereby making it nearly synonymous with
the second term。 Perhaps the second term should be thought of as
a consideration of the enemy's general position or condition；
while the third term is the estimate of his numerical strength。
On the other hand； Tu Mu says： 〃The question of relative
strength having been settled； we can bring the varied resources
of cunning into play。〃 Ho Shih seconds this interpretation； but
weakens it。 However； it points to the third term as being a
calculation of numbers。＇
19。 A victorious army opposed to a routed one； is as a
pound's weight placed in the scale against a single grain。
＇Literally； 〃a victorious army is like an I （20 oz。） weighed
against a SHU （1/24 oz。）； a routed army is a SHU weighed against
an I。〃 The point is simply the enormous advantage which a
disciplined force； flushed with victory； has over one demoralized
by defeat。〃 Legge； in his note on Mencius； I。 2。 ix。 2； makes
the I to be 24 Chinese ounces； and corrects Chu Hsi's statement
that it equaled 20 oz。 only。 But Li Ch‘uan of the T‘ang dynasty
here gives the same figure as Chu Hsi。＇
20。 The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting
of pent…up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep。
…
V。 ENERGY
1。 Sun Tzu said： The control of a large force is the same
principle as the control of a few men： it is merely a question
of dividing up their numbers。
＇That is； cutting up the army into regiments； companies；
etc。； with subordinate officers in command of each。 Tu Mu
reminds us of Han Hsin's famous reply to the first Han Emperor；
who once said to him： 〃How large an army do you think I could
lead？〃 〃Not more than 100；000 men； your Majesty。〃 〃And you？〃
asked the Emperor。 〃Oh！〃 he answered； 〃the more the