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that the respectful courtesy extended towards us by our royal
host has disappeared。 Should this envoy prevail upon him to
seize our party and hand us over to the Hsiung…no； our bones will
become food for the wolves of the desert。 What are we to do？'
With one accord； the officers replied： 'Standing as we do in
peril of our lives； we will follow our commander through life and
death。' For the sequel of this adventure； see chap。 XII。 ss。 1；
note。＇
52。 We cannot enter into alliance with neighboring princes
until we are acquainted with their designs。 We are not fit to
lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of
the countryits mountains and forests； its pitfalls and
precipices； its marshes and swamps。 We shall be unable to turn
natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides。
＇These three sentences are repeated from VII。 SS。 12…14
in order to emphasize their importance； the commentators seem to
think。 I prefer to regard them as interpolated here in order to
form an antecedent to the following words。 With regard to local
guides； Sun Tzu might have added that there is always the risk of
going wrong； either through their treachery or some
misunderstanding such as Livy records （XXII。 13）： Hannibal； we
are told； ordered a guide to lead him into the neighborhood of
Casinum； where there was an important pass to be occupied； but
his Carthaginian accent； unsuited to the pronunciation of Latin
names； caused the guide to understand Casilinum instead of
Casinum； and turning from his proper route； he took the army in
that direction； the mistake not being discovered until they had
almost arrived。＇
53。 To be ignored of any one of the following four or five
principles does not befit a warlike prince。
54。 When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state； his
generalship shows itself in preventing the concentration of the
enemy's forces。 He overawes his opponents； and their allies are
prevented from joining against him。
＇Mei Tao…ch‘en constructs one of the chains of reasoning
that are so much affected by the Chinese： 〃In attacking a
powerful state； if you can divide her forces； you will have a
superiority in strength； if you have a superiority in strength；
you will overawe the enemy； if you overawe the enemy； the
neighboring states will be frightened； and if the neighboring
states are frightened； the enemy's allies will be prevented from
joining her。〃 The following gives a stronger meaning： 〃If the
great state has once been defeated （before she has had time to
summon her allies）； then the lesser states will hold aloof and
refrain from massing their forces。〃 Ch‘en Hao and Chang Yu take
the sentence in quite another way。 The former says： 〃Powerful
though a prince may be； if he attacks a large state； he will be
unable to raise enough troops； and must rely to some extent on
external aid； if he dispenses with this； and with overweening
confidence in his own strength； simply tries to intimidate the
enemy； he will surely be defeated。〃 Chang Yu puts his view thus：
〃If we recklessly attack a large state； our own people will be
discontented and hang back。 But if （as will then be the case）
our display of military force is inferior by half to that of the
enemy； the other chieftains will take fright and refuse to join
us。〃＇
55。 Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and
sundry； nor does he foster the power of other states。 He carries
out his own secret designs； keeping his antagonists in awe。
＇The train of thought； as said by Li Ch‘uan； appears to be
this： Secure against a combination of his enemies； 〃he can
afford to reject entangling alliances and simply pursue his own
secret designs； his prestige enable him to dispense with external
friendships。〃＇
Thus he is able to capture their cities and overthrow their
kingdoms。
＇This paragraph； though written many years before the Ch‘in
State became a serious menace； is not a bad summary of the policy
by which the famous Six Chancellors gradually paved the way for
her final triumph under Shih Huang Ti。 Chang Yu； following up
his previous note； thinks that Sun Tzu is condemning this
attitude of cold…blooded selfishness and haughty isolation。＇
56。 Bestow rewards without regard to rule；
＇Wu Tzu （ch。 3） less wisely says： 〃Let advance be richly
rewarded and retreat be heavily punished。〃＇
issue orders
＇Literally； 〃hang〃 or post up。〃＇
without regard to previous arrangements；
＇〃In order to prevent treachery；〃 says Wang Hsi。 The
general meaning is made clear by Ts‘ao Kung's quotation from the
SSU…MA FA： 〃Give instructions only on sighting the enemy； give
rewards when you see deserving deeds。〃 Ts‘ao Kung's paraphrase：
〃The final instructions you give to your army should not
correspond with those that have been previously posted up。〃
Chang Yu simplifies this into 〃your arrangements should not be
divulged beforehand。〃 And Chia Lin says： 〃there should be no
fixity in your rules and arrangements。〃 Not only is there danger
in letting your plans be known； but war often necessitates the
entire reversal of them at the last moment。＇
and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to
do with but a single man。
＇Cf。 supra； ss。 34。＇
57。 Confront your soldiers with the deed itself； never let
them know your design。
＇Literally； 〃do not tell them words；〃 i。e。 do not give your
reasons for any order。 Lord Mansfield once told a junior
colleague to 〃give no reasons〃 for his decisions； and the maxim
is even more applicable to a general than to a judge。＇
When the outlook is bright； bring it before their eyes； but tell
them nothing when the situation is gloomy。
58。 Place your army in deadly peril； and it will survive；
plunge it into desperate straits； and it will come off in safety。
＇These words of Sun Tzu were once quoted by Han Hsin in
explanation of the tactics he employed in one of his most
brilliant battles； already alluded to on p。 28。 In 204 B。C。； he
was sent against the army of Chao； and halted ten miles from the
mouth of the Ching…hsing pass； where the enemy had mustered in
full force。 Here； at midnight； he detached a body of 2000 light
cavalry； every man of which was furnished with a red flag。 Their
instructions were to make their way through narrow defiles and
keep a secret watch on the enemy。 〃When the men of Chao see me
in full flight；〃 Han Hsin said； 〃they will abandon their
fortifications and give chase。 This must be the sign for you to
rush in； pluck down the Chao standards and set up the red banners
of Han in their stead。〃 Turning then to his other officers； he
remarked： 〃Our adversary holds a stro