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of Han in their stead。〃 Turning then to his other officers； he
remarked： 〃Our adversary holds a strong position； and is not
likely to come out and attack us until he sees the standard and
drums of the commander…in…chief； for fear I should turn back and
escape through the mountains。〃 So saying； he first of all sent
out a division consisting of 10；000 men； and ordered them to form
in line of battle with their backs to the River Ti。 Seeing this
maneuver； the whole army of Chao broke into loud laughter。 By
this time it was broad daylight； and Han Hsin； displaying the
generalissimo's flag； marched out of the pass with drums beating；
and was immediately engaged by the enemy。 A great battle
followed； lasting for some time； until at length Han Hsin and his
colleague Chang Ni； leaving drums and banner on the field； fled
to the division on the river bank； where another fierce battle
was raging。 The enemy rushed out to pursue them and to secure
the trophies； thus denuding their ramparts of men； but the two
generals succeeded in joining the other army； which was fighting
with the utmost desperation。 The time had now come for the 2000
horsemen to play their part。 As soon as they saw the men of Chao
following up their advantage； they galloped behind the deserted
walls； tore up the enemy's flags and replaced them by those of
Han。 When the Chao army looked back from the pursuit； the sight
of these red flags struck them with terror。 Convinced that the
Hans had got in and overpowered their king； they broke up in wild
disorder； every effort of their leader to stay the panic being in
vain。 Then the Han army fell on them from both sides and
completed the rout； killing a number and capturing the rest；
amongst whom was King Ya himself。。。。 After the battle； some of
Han Hsin's officers came to him and said： 〃In the ART OF WAR we
are told to have a hill or tumulus on the right rear； and a river
or marsh on the left front。 ＇This appears to be a blend of Sun
Tzu and T‘ai Kung。 See IX ss。 9； and note。＇ You； on the
contrary； ordered us to draw up our troops with the river at our
back。 Under these conditions； how did you manage to gain the
victory？〃 The general replied： 〃I fear you gentlemen have not
studied the Art of War with sufficient care。 Is it not written
there： 'Plunge your army into desperate straits and it will come
off in safety； place it in deadly peril and it will survive'？
Had I taken the usual course； I should never have been able to
bring my colleague round。 What says the Military Classic'Swoop
down on the market…place and drive the men off to fight。' ＇This
passage does not occur in the present text of Sun Tzu。＇ If I had
not placed my troops in a position where they were obliged to
fight for their lives； but had allowed each man to follow his own
discretion； there would have been a general debandade； and it
would have been impossible to do anything with them。〃 The
officers admitted the force of his argument； and said： 〃These
are higher tactics than we should have been capable of。〃 ＇See
CH‘IEN HAN SHU； ch。 34； ff。 4； 5。＇ ＇
59。 For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm's
way that is capable of striking a blow for victory。
＇Danger has a bracing effect。＇
60。 Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating
ourselves to the enemy's purpose。
＇Ts‘ao Kung says： 〃Feign stupidity〃by an appearance of
yielding and falling in with the enemy's wishes。 Chang Yu's note
makes the meaning clear： 〃If the enemy shows an inclination to
advance； lure him on to do so； if he is anxious to retreat； delay
on purpose that he may carry out his intention。〃 The object is
to make him remiss and contemptuous before we deliver our
attack。＇
61。 By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank；
＇I understand the first four words to mean 〃accompanying the
enemy in one direction。〃 Ts‘ao Kung says： 〃unite the soldiers
and make for the enemy。〃 But such a violent displacement of
characters is quite indefensible。＇
we shall succeed in the long run
＇Literally； 〃after a thousand LI。〃＇
in killing the commander…in…chief。
＇Always a great point with the Chinese。＇
62。 This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer
cunning。
63。 On the day that you take up your command； block the
frontier passes； destroy the official tallies；
＇These were tablets of bamboo or wood； one half of which was
issued as a permit or passport by the official in charge of a
gate。 Cf。 the 〃border…warden〃 of LUN YU III。 24； who may have
had similar duties。 When this half was returned to him； within a
fixed period； he was authorized to open the gate and let the
traveler through。＇
and stop the passage of all emissaries。
＇Either to or from the enemy's country。＇
64。 Be stern in the council…chamber；
＇Show no weakness； and insist on your plans being ratified
by the sovereign。＇
so that you may control the situation。
＇Mei Yao…ch‘en understands the whole sentence to mean： Take
the strictest precautions to ensure secrecy in your
deliberations。＇
65。 If the enemy leaves a door open； you must rush in。
66。 Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear；
＇Cf。 supra； ss。 18。＇
and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground。
＇Ch‘en Hao‘s explanation： 〃If I manage to seize a favorable
position； but the enemy does not appear on the scene； the
advantage thus obtained cannot be turned to any practical
account。 He who intends therefore； to occupy a position of
importance to the enemy； must begin by making an artful
appointment； so to speak； with his antagonist； and cajole him
into going there as well。〃 Mei Yao…ch‘en explains that this
〃artful appointment〃 is to be made through the medium of the
enemy's own spies； who will carry back just the amount of
information that we choose to give them。 Then； having cunningly
disclosed our intentions； 〃we must manage； though starting after
the enemy； to arrive before him （VII。 ss。 4）。 We must start
after him in order to ensure his marching thither； we must arrive
before him in order to capture the place without trouble。 Taken
thus； the present passage lends some support to Mei Yao…ch‘en's
interpretation of ss。 47。＇
67。 Walk in the path defined by rule；
＇Chia Lin says： 〃Victory is the only thing that matters；
and this cannot be achieved by adhering to conventional canons。〃
It is unfortunate that this variant rests on very slight
authority； for the sense yielded is certainly much more
satisfactory。 Napoleon； as we know； according to the veterans of
the old school whom he defeated； won his battles by violating
every accepted canon of warfare。＇