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every accepted canon of warfare。＇
and accommodate yourself to the enemy until you can fight a
decisive battle。
＇Tu Mu says： 〃Conform to the enemy's tactics until a
favorable opportunity offers； then come forth and engage in a
battle that shall prove decisive。〃＇
68。 At first； then； exhibit the coyness of a maiden； until
the enemy gives you an opening； afterwards emulate the rapidity
of a running hare； and it will be too late for the enemy to
oppose you。
＇As the hare is noted for its extreme timidity； the
comparison hardly appears felicitous。 But of course Sun Tzu was
thinking only of its speed。 The words have been taken to mean：
You must flee from the enemy as quickly as an escaping hare； but
this is rightly rejected by Tu Mu。＇
＇1＇ Giles' Biographical Dictionary； no。 399。
＇2＇ 〃The Science of War；〃 p。 333。
＇3＇ 〃Stonewall Jackson；〃 vol。 I； p。 421。
…
XII。 THE ATTACK BY FIRE
＇Rather more than half the chapter （SS。 1…13） is devoted to
the subject of fire； after which the author branches off into
other topics。＇
1。 Sun Tzu said： There are five ways of attacking with
fire。 The first is to burn soldiers in their camp；
＇So Tu Mu。 Li Ch‘uan says： 〃Set fire to the camp； and kill
the soldiers〃 （when they try to escape from the flames）。 Pan
Ch‘ao； sent on a diplomatic mission to the King of Shan…shan ＇see
XI。 ss。 51； note＇； found himself placed in extreme peril by the
unexpected arrival of an envoy from the Hsiung…nu ＇the mortal
enemies of the Chinese＇。 In consultation with his officers； he
exclaimed： 〃Never venture； never win！ ＇1＇ The only course open
to us now is to make an assault by fire on the barbarians under
cover of night； when they will not be able to discern our
numbers。 Profiting by their panic； we shall exterminate them
completely； this will cool the King's courage and cover us with
glory； besides ensuring the success of our mission。' the
officers all replied that it would be necessary to discuss the
matter first with the Intendant。 Pan Ch‘ao then fell into a
passion： 'It is today；' he cried； 'that our fortunes must be
decided！ The Intendant is only a humdrum civilian； who on
hearing of our project will certainly be afraid； and everything
will be brought to light。 An inglorious death is no worthy fate
for valiant warriors。' All then agreed to do as he wished。
Accordingly； as soon as night came on； he and his little band
quickly made their way to the barbarian camp。 A strong gale was
blowing at the time。 Pan Ch‘ao ordered ten of the party to take
drums and hide behind the enemy's barracks； it being arranged
that when they saw flames shoot up； they should begin drumming
and yelling with all their might。 The rest of his men； armed
with bows and crossbows； he posted in ambuscade at the gate of
the camp。 He then set fire to the place from the windward side；
whereupon a deafening noise of drums and shouting arose on the
front and rear of the Hsiung…nu； who rushed out pell…mell in
frantic disorder。 Pan Ch‘ao slew three of them with his own
hand； while his companions cut off the heads of the envoy and
thirty of his suite。 The remainder； more than a hundred in all；
perished in the flames。 On the following day； Pan Ch‘ao；
divining his thoughts； said with uplifted hand： 'Although you
did not go with us last night； I should not think； Sir； of taking
sole credit for our exploit。' This satisfied Kuo Hsun； and Pan
Ch‘ao； having sent for Kuang； King of Shan…shan； showed him the
head of the barbarian envoy。 The whole kingdom was seized with
fear and trembling； which Pan Ch‘ao took steps to allay by
issuing a public proclamation。 Then； taking the king's sons as
hostage； he returned to make his report to Tou Ku。〃 HOU HAN SHU；
ch。 47； ff。 1； 2。＇ ＇
the second is to burn stores；
＇Tu Mu says： 〃Provisions； fuel and fodder。〃 In order to
subdue the rebellious population of Kiangnan； Kao Keng
recommended Wen Ti of the Sui dynasty to make periodical raids
and burn their stores of grain； a policy which in the long run
proved entirely successful。＇
the third is to burn baggage trains；
＇An example given is the destruction of Yuan Shao‘s wagons
and impedimenta by Ts‘ao Ts‘ao in 200 A。D。＇
the fourth is to burn arsenals and magazines；
＇Tu Mu says that the things contained in 〃arsenals〃 and
〃magazines〃 are the same。 He specifies weapons and other
implements； bullion and clothing。 Cf。 VII。 ss。 11。＇
the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy。
＇Tu Yu says in the T‘UNG TIEN： 〃To drop fire into the
enemy's camp。 The method by which this may be done is to set the
tips of arrows alight by dipping them into a brazier； and then
shoot them from powerful crossbows into the enemy's lines。〃＇
2。 In order to carry out an attack； we must have means
available。
＇T‘sao Kung thinks that 〃traitors in the enemy's camp〃 are
referred to。 But Ch‘en Hao is more likely to be right in saying：
〃We must have favorable circumstances in general； not merely
traitors to help us。〃 Chia Lin says： 〃We must avail ourselves
of wind and dry weather。〃＇
the material for raising fire should always be kept in readiness。
＇Tu Mu suggests as material for making fire： 〃dry vegetable
matter； reeds； brushwood； straw； grease； oil； etc。〃 Here we have
the material cause。 Chang Yu says： 〃vessels for hoarding fire；
stuff for lighting fires。〃＇
3。 There is a proper season for making attacks with fire；
and special days for starting a conflagration。
4。 The proper season is when the weather is very dry； the
special days are those when the moon is in the constellations of
the Sieve； the Wall； the Wing or the Cross…bar；
＇These are； respectively； the 7th； 14th； 27th； and 28th of
the Twenty…eight Stellar Mansions； corresponding roughly to
Sagittarius； Pegasus； Crater and Corvus。＇
for these four are all days of rising wind。
5。 In attacking with fire； one should be prepared to meet
five possible developments：
6。 （1） When fire breaks out inside to enemy's camp； respond
at once with an attack from without。
7。 （2） If there is an outbreak of fire； but the enemy's
soldiers remain quiet； bide your time and do not attack。
＇The prime object of attacking with fire is to throw the
enemy into confusion。 If this effect is not produced； it means
that the enemy is ready to receive us。 Hence the necessity for
caution。＇
8。 （3） When the force of the flames has reached its height；
follow it up with an attack； if that is practicable； if not； stay
where you are。
＇Ts‘ao Kung says： 〃If you see a possible way； advance； but
if you find the difficulties too great； retire。〃＇