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recovery of some seventy cities which had belonged to the Ch‘i
State。〃＇
Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are
signs that he will retreat。
25。 When the light chariots come out first and take up a
position on the wings； it is a sign that the enemy is forming for
battle。
26。 Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant
indicate a plot。
＇The reading here is uncertain。 Li Ch‘uan indicates 〃a
treaty confirmed by oaths and hostages。〃 Wang Hsi and Chang Yu；
on the other hand； simply say 〃without reason；〃 〃on a frivolous
pretext。〃＇
27。 When there is much running about
＇Every man hastening to his proper place under his own
regimental banner。＇
and the soldiers fall into rank； it means that the critical
moment has come。
28。 When some are seen advancing and some retreating； it is
a lure。
29。 When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears； they
are faint from want of food。
30。 If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking
themselves； the army is suffering from thirst。
＇As Tu Mu remarks： 〃One may know the condition of a whole
army from the behavior of a single man。〃＇
31。 If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes
no effort to secure it； the soldiers are exhausted。
32。 If birds gather on any spot； it is unoccupied。
＇A useful fact to bear in mind when； for instance； as Ch‘en
Hao says； the enemy has secretly abandoned his camp。＇
Clamor by night betokens nervousness。
33。 If there is disturbance in the camp； the general's
authority is weak。 If the banners and flags are shifted about；
sedition is afoot。 If the officers are angry； it means that the
men are weary。
＇Tu Mu understands the sentence differently： 〃If all the
officers of an army are angry with their general； it means that
they are broken with fatigue〃 owing to the exertions which he has
demanded from them。＇
34。 When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its
cattle for food；
＇In the ordinary course of things； the men would be fed on
grain and the horses chiefly on grass。＇
and when the men do not hang their cooking…pots over the camp…
fires； showing that they will not return to their tents； you may
know that they are determined to fight to the death。
＇I may quote here the illustrative passage from the HOU HAN
SHU； ch。 71； given in abbreviated form by the P‘EI WEN YUN FU：
〃The rebel Wang Kuo of Liang was besieging the town of Ch‘en…
ts‘ang； and Huang…fu Sung； who was in supreme command； and Tung
Cho were sent out against him。 The latter pressed for hasty
measures； but Sung turned a deaf ear to his counsel。 At last the
rebels were utterly worn out； and began to throw down their
weapons of their own accord。 Sung was not advancing to the
attack； but Cho said： 'It is a principle of war not to pursue
desperate men and not to press a retreating host。' Sung
answered： 'That does not apply here。 What I am about to attack
is a jaded army； not a retreating host； with disciplined troops I
am falling on a disorganized multitude； not a band of desperate
men。' Thereupon he advances to the attack unsupported by his
colleague； and routed the enemy； Wang Kuo being slain。〃＇
35。 The sight of men whispering together in small knots or
speaking in subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank
and file。
36。 Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the
end of his resources；
＇Because； when an army is hard pressed； as Tu Mu says； there
is always a fear of mutiny； and lavish rewards are given to keep
the men in good temper。＇
too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress。
＇Because in such case discipline becomes relaxed； and
unwonted severity is necessary to keep the men to their duty。＇
37。 To begin by bluster； but afterwards to take fright at
the enemy's numbers； shows a supreme lack of intelligence。
＇I follow the interpretation of Ts‘ao Kung； also adopted by
Li Ch‘uan； Tu Mu； and Chang Yu。 Another possible meaning set
forth by Tu Yu； Chia Lin； Mei Tao…ch‘en and Wang Hsi； is： 〃The
general who is first tyrannical towards his men； and then in
terror lest they should mutiny； etc。〃 This would connect the
sentence with what went before about rewards and punishments。＇
38。 When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths；
it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce。
＇Tu Mu says： 〃If the enemy open friendly relations be
sending hostages； it is a sign that they are anxious for an
armistice； either because their strength is exhausted or for some
other reason。〃 But it hardly needs a Sun Tzu to draw such an
obvious inference。＇
39。 If the enemy's troops march up angrily and remain
facing ours for a long time without either joining battle or
taking themselves off again； the situation is one that demands
great vigilance and circumspection。
＇Ts‘ao Kung says a maneuver of this sort may be only a ruse
to gain time for an unexpected flank attack or the laying of an
ambush。＇
40。 If our troops are no more in number than the enemy；
that is amply sufficient； it only means that no direct attack can
be made。
＇Literally； 〃no martial advance。〃 That is to say； CHENG
tactics and frontal attacks must be eschewed； and stratagem
resorted to instead。＇
What we can do is simply to concentrate all our available
strength； keep a close watch on the enemy； and obtain
reinforcements。
＇This is an obscure sentence； and none of the commentators
succeed in squeezing very good sense out of it。 I follow Li
Ch‘uan； who appears to offer the simplest explanation： 〃Only the
side that gets more men will win。〃 Fortunately we have Chang Yu
to expound its meaning to us in language which is lucidity
itself： 〃When the numbers are even； and no favorable opening
presents itself； although we may not be strong enough to deliver
a sustained attack； we can find additional recruits amongst our
sutlers and camp…followers； and then； concentrating our forces
and keeping a close watch on the enemy； contrive to snatch the
victory。 But we must avoid borrowing foreign soldiers to help
us。〃 He then quotes from Wei Liao Tzu； ch。 3： 〃The nominal
strength of mercenary troops may be 100；000； but their real value
will be not more than half that figure。〃＇
41。 He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his
opponents is sure to be captured by them。
＇Ch‘en Hao； quoting from the TSO CHUAN； says： 〃If bees and
scorpions carry poison； how much more will a hostile state！ Even
a puny opponent； then； should not be treated with contempt。〃＇
42。 If soldiers are punished before they have grown
attached t