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taken not to alienate the people by unjust treatment。 Follow the
example of the Han Emperor Kao Tsu； whose march into Ch‘in
territory was marked by no violation of women or looting of
valuables。 ＇Nota bene： this was in 207 B。C。； and may well cause
us to blush for the Christian armies that entered Peking in 1900
A。D。＇ Thus he won the hearts of all。 In the present passage；
then； I think that the true reading must be； not 'plunder；' but
'do not plunder。'〃 Alas； I fear that in this instance the worthy
commentator's feelings outran his judgment。 Tu Mu； at least； has
no such illusions。 He says： 〃When encamped on 'serious ground；'
there being no inducement as yet to advance further； and no
possibility of retreat； one ought to take measures for a
protracted resistance by bringing in provisions from all sides；
and keep a close watch on the enemy。〃＇
In difficult ground； keep steadily on the march。
＇Or； in the words of VIII。 ss。 2； 〃do not encamp。＇
14。 On hemmed…in ground； resort to stratagem。
＇Ts‘au Kung says： 〃Try the effect of some unusual
artifice；〃 and Tu Yu amplifies this by saying： 〃In such a
position； some scheme must be devised which will suit the
circumstances； and if we can succeed in deluding the enemy； the
peril may be escaped。〃 This is exactly what happened on the
famous occasion when Hannibal was hemmed in among the mountains
on the road to Casilinum； and to all appearances entrapped by the
dictator Fabius。 The stratagem which Hannibal devised to baffle
his foes was remarkably like that which T‘ien Tan had also
employed with success exactly 62 years before。 ＇See IX。 ss。 24；
note。＇ When night came on； bundles of twigs were fastened to the
horns of some 2000 oxen and set on fire； the terrified animals
being then quickly driven along the mountain side towards the
passes which were beset by the enemy。 The strange spectacle of
these rapidly moving lights so alarmed and discomfited the Romans
that they withdrew from their position； and Hannibal's army
passed safely through the defile。 ＇See Polybius； III。 93； 94；
Livy； XXII。 16 17。＇
On desperate ground； fight。
＇For； as Chia Lin remarks： 〃if you fight with all your
might； there is a chance of life； where as death is certain if
you cling to your corner。〃＇
15。 Those who were called skillful leaders of old knew how
to drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear；
＇More literally； 〃cause the front and rear to lose touch
with each other。〃＇
to prevent co…operation between his large and small divisions； to
hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad； the officers from
rallying their men。
16。 When the enemy's men were united； they managed to keep
them in disorder。
17。 When it was to their advantage； they made a forward
move； when otherwise； they stopped still。
＇Mei Yao…ch‘en connects this with the foregoing： 〃Having
succeeded in thus dislocating the enemy； they would push forward
in order to secure any advantage to be gained； if there was no
advantage to be gained； they would remain where they were。〃＇
18。 If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in
orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack； I
should say： 〃Begin by seizing something which your opponent
holds dear； then he will be amenable to your will。〃
＇Opinions differ as to what Sun Tzu had in mind。 Ts‘ao Kung
thinks it is 〃some strategical advantage on which the enemy is
depending。〃 Tu Mu says： 〃The three things which an enemy is
anxious to do； and on the accomplishment of which his success
depends； are： （1） to capture our favorable positions； （2） to
ravage our cultivated land； （3） to guard his own communications。〃
Our object then must be to thwart his plans in these three
directions and thus render him helpless。 ＇Cf。 III。 ss。 3。＇ By
boldly seizing the initiative in this way； you at once throw the
other side on the defensive。＇
19。 Rapidity is the essence of war：
＇According to Tu Mu； 〃this is a summary of leading
principles in warfare；〃 and he adds： 〃These are the profoundest
truths of military science； and the chief business of the
general。〃 The following anecdotes； told by Ho Shih； shows the
importance attached to speed by two of China's greatest generals。
In 227 A。D。； Meng Ta； governor of Hsin…ch‘eng under the Wei
Emperor Wen Ti； was meditating defection to the House of Shu； and
had entered into correspondence with Chu…ko Liang； Prime Minister
of that State。 The Wei general Ssu…ma I was then military
governor of Wan； and getting wind of Meng Ta's treachery； he at
once set off with an army to anticipate his revolt； having
previously cajoled him by a specious message of friendly import。
Ssu…ma's officers came to him and said： 〃If Meng Ta has leagued
himself with Wu and Shu； the matter should be thoroughly
investigated before we make a move。〃 Ssu…ma I replied： 〃Meng Ta
is an unprincipled man； and we ought to go and punish him at
once； while he is still wavering and before he has thrown off the
mask。〃 Then； by a series of forced marches； be brought his army
under the walls of Hsin…ch‘eng with in a space of eight days。
Now Meng Ta had previously said in a letter to Chu…ko Liang：
〃Wan is 1200 LI from here。 When the news of my revolt reaches
Ssu…ma I； he will at once inform his imperial master； but it will
be a whole month before any steps can be taken； and by that time
my city will be well fortified。 Besides； Ssu…ma I is sure not to
come himself； and the generals that will be sent against us are
not worth troubling about。〃 The next letter； however； was filled
with consternation： 〃Though only eight days have passed since I
threw off my allegiance； an army is already at the city…gates。
What miraculous rapidity is this！〃 A fortnight later； Hsin…
ch‘eng had fallen and Meng Ta had lost his head。 ＇See
CHIN SHU； ch。 1； f。 3。＇ In 621 A。D。； Li Ching was sent from
K‘uei…chou in Ssu…ch‘uan to reduce the successful rebel Hsiao
Hsien； who had set up as Emperor at the modern Ching…chou Fu in
Hupeh。 It was autumn； and the Yangtsze being then in flood；
Hsiao Hsien never dreamt that his adversary would venture to come
down through the gorges； and consequently made no preparations。
But Li Ching embarked his army without loss of time； and was just
about to start when the other generals implored him to postpone
his departure until the river was in a less dangerous state for
navigation。 Li Ching replied： 〃To the soldier； overwhelming
speed is of paramount importance； and he must never miss
opportunities。 Now is the time to strike； before Hsiao Hsien
even knows that we have got an army together。 If we seize the
present moment when the river is in flood； we shall appear before
his capit