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extant at the time when Sun Tzu wrote。 The style of this
fragment is not noticeable different from that of Sun Tzu
himself； but no commentator raises a doubt as to its
genuineness。＇
23。 The Book of Army Management says：
＇It is perhaps significant that none of the earlier
commentators give us any information about this work。 Mei Yao…
Ch‘en calls it 〃an ancient military classic；〃 and Wang Hsi； 〃an
old book on war。〃 Considering the enormous amount of fighting
that had gone on for centuries before Sun Tzu's time between the
various kingdoms and principalities of China； it is not in itself
improbable that a collection of military maxims should have been
made and written down at some earlier period。＇
On the field of battle；
＇Implied； though not actually in the Chinese。＇
the spoken word does not carry far enough： hence the institution
of gongs and drums。 Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly
enough： hence the institution of banners and flags。
24。 Gongs and drums； banners and flags； are means whereby
the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular
point。
＇Chang Yu says： 〃If sight and hearing converge
simultaneously on the same object； the evolutions of as many as a
million soldiers will be like those of a single man。〃！＇
25。 The host thus forming a single united body； is it
impossible either for the brave to advance alone； or for the
cowardly to retreat alone。
＇Chuang Yu quotes a saying： 〃Equally guilty are those who
advance against orders and those who retreat against orders。〃 Tu
Mu tells a story in this connection of Wu Ch‘i； when he was
fighting against the Ch‘in State。 Before the battle had begun；
one of his soldiers； a man of matchless daring； sallied forth by
himself； captured two heads from the enemy； and returned to camp。
Wu Ch‘i had the man instantly executed； whereupon an officer
ventured to remonstrate； saying： 〃This man was a good soldier；
and ought not to have been beheaded。〃 Wu Ch‘i replied： 〃I fully
believe he was a good soldier； but I had him beheaded because he
acted without orders。〃＇
This is the art of handling large masses of men。
26。 In night…fighting； then； make much use of signal…fires
and drums； and in fighting by day； of flags and banners； as a
means of influencing the ears and eyes of your army。
＇Ch‘en Hao alludes to Li Kuang…pi's night ride to Ho…yang at
the head of 500 mounted men； they made such an imposing display
with torches； that though the rebel leader Shih Ssu…ming had a
large army； he did not dare to dispute their passage。＇
27。 A whole army may be robbed of its spirit；
＇〃In war；〃 says Chang Yu； 〃if a spirit of anger can be made
to pervade all ranks of an army at one and the same time； its
onset will be irresistible。 Now the spirit of the enemy's
soldiers will be keenest when they have newly arrived on the
scene； and it is therefore our cue not to fight at once； but to
wait until their ardor and enthusiasm have worn off； and then
strike。 It is in this way that they may be robbed of their keen
spirit。〃 Li Ch‘uan and others tell an anecdote （to be found in
the TSO CHUAN； year 10； ss。 1） of Ts‘ao Kuei； a protege of Duke
Chuang of Lu。 The latter State was attacked by Ch‘i； and the
duke was about to join battle at Ch‘ang…cho； after the first roll
of the enemy's drums； when Ts‘ao said： 〃Not just yet。〃 Only
after their drums had beaten for the third time； did he give the
word for attack。 Then they fought； and the men of Ch‘i were
utterly defeated。 Questioned afterwards by the Duke as to the
meaning of his delay； Ts‘ao Kuei replied： 〃In battle； a
courageous spirit is everything。 Now the first roll of the drum
tends to create this spirit； but with the second it is already on
the wane； and after the third it is gone altogether。 I attacked
when their spirit was gone and ours was at its height。 Hence our
victory。〃 Wu Tzu （chap。 4） puts 〃spirit〃 first among the 〃four
important influences〃 in war； and continues： 〃The value of a
whole armya mighty host of a million menis dependent on one
man alone： such is the influence of spirit！〃＇
a commander…in…chief may be robbed of his presence of mind。
＇Chang Yu says： 〃Presence of mind is the general's most
important asset。 It is the quality which enables him to
discipline disorder and to inspire courage into the panic…
stricken。〃 The great general Li Ching （A。D。 571…649） has a
saying： 〃Attacking does not merely consist in assaulting walled
cities or striking at an army in battle array； it must include
the art of assailing the enemy's mental equilibrium。〃＇
28。 Now a solider's spirit is keenest in the morning；
＇Always provided； I suppose； that he has had breakfast。 At
the battle of the Trebia； the Romans were foolishly allowed to
fight fasting； whereas Hannibal's men had breakfasted at
their leisure。 See Livy； XXI； liv。 8； lv。 1 and 8。＇
by noonday it has begun to flag； and in the evening； his mind is
bent only on returning to camp。
29。 A clever general； therefore； avoids an army when its
spirit is keen； but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined
to return。 This is the art of studying moods。
30。 Disciplined and calm； to await the appearance of
disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy：this is the art of
retaining self…possession。
31。 To be near the goal while the enemy is still far from
it； to wait at ease while the enemy is toiling and struggling； to
be well…fed while the enemy is famished：this is the art of
husbanding one's strength。
32。 To refrain from intercepting an enemy whose banners are
in perfect order； to refrain from attacking an army drawn up in
calm and confident array：this is the art of studying
circumstances。
33。 It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against
the enemy； nor to oppose him when he comes downhill。
34。 Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight； do not
attack soldiers whose temper is keen。
35。 Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy。
＇Li Ch‘uan and Tu Mu； with extraordinary inability to see a
metaphor； take these words quite literally of food and drink that
have been poisoned by the enemy。 Ch‘en Hao and Chang Yu
carefully point out that the saying has a wider application。＇
Do not interfere with an army that is returning home。
＇The commentators explain this rather singular piece of
advice by saying that a man whose heart is set on returning home
will fight to the death against any attempt to bar his way； and
is therefore too dangerous an opponent to be tackled。 Chang Yu
quotes the words of Han Hsin： 〃Invincible is the soldier who
hath his desire and returneth homewards。〃 A marvelous tale is
told of Ts‘ao T