art of war-第24节
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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 to you； they will not prove submissive； and； unless
submissive； then will be practically useless。 If； when the
soldiers have become attached to you； punishments are not
enforced； they will still be unless。
43。 Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first
instance with humanity； but kept under control by means of iron
discipline。
＇Yen Tzu ＇B。C。 493＇ said of Ssu…ma Jang…chu： 〃His civil
virtues endeared him to the people； his martial prowess kept his
enemies in awe。〃 Cf。 Wu Tzu； ch。 4 init。： 〃The ideal commander
unites culture with a warlike temper； the profession of arms
requires a combination of hardness and tenderness。〃＇
This is a certain road to victory。
44。 If in training soldiers commands are habitually
enforced； the army will be well…disciplined； if not； its
discipline will be bad。
45。 If a general shows confidence in his men but always
insists on his orders being obeyed；
＇Tu Mu says： 〃A general ought in time of peace to show
kindly confidence in his men and also make his authority
respected； so that when they come to face the enemy； orders may
be executed and discipline maintained； because they all trust and
look up to him。〃 What Sun Tzu has said in ss。 44； however； would
lead one rather to expect something like this： 〃If a general is
always confident that his orders will be carried out；〃 etc。〃＇
the gain will be mutual。
＇Chang Yu says： 〃The general has confidence in the men
under his command； and the men are docile； having confidence in
him。 Thus the gain is mutual〃 He quotes a pregnant sentence
from Wei Liao Tzu； ch。 4： 〃The art of giving orders is not to
try to rectify minor blunders and not to be swayed by petty
doubts。〃 Vacillation and fussiness are the surest means of
sapping the confidence of an army。＇
＇1＇ 〃Aids to Scouting；〃 p。 26。
…
X。 TERRAIN
＇Only about a third of the chapter； comprising ss。 ss。 1…13；
deals with 〃terrain；〃 the subject being more fully treated in ch。
XI。 The 〃six calamities〃 are discussed in SS。 14…20； and the
rest of the chapter is again a mere string of desultory remarks；
though not less interesting； perhaps； on that account。＇
1。 Sun Tzu said： We may distinguish six kinds of terrain；
to wit： （1） Accessible ground；
＇Mei Yao…ch‘en says： 〃plentifully provided with roads and
means of communications。〃＇
（2） entangling ground；
＇The same commentator says： 〃Net…like country； venturing
into which you become entangled。〃＇
（3） temporizing ground；
＇Ground which allows you to 〃stave off〃 or 〃delay。〃＇
（4） narrow passes； （5） precipitous heights； （6） positions at a
great distance from the enemy。
＇It is hardly necessary to point out the faultiness of this
classification。 A strange lack of logical perception is shown in
the Chinaman's unquestioning acceptance of glaring cross…
divisions such as the above。＇
2。 Ground which can be freely traversed by both sides is
called ACCESSIBLE。
3。 With regard to ground of this nature； be before the
enemy in occupying the raised and sunny spots； and carefully
guard your line of supplies。
＇The general meaning of the last phrase is doubtlessly； as
Tu Yu says； 〃not to allow the enemy to cut your communications。〃
In view of Napoleon's dictum； 〃the secret of war lies in the
communications；〃 ＇1＇ we could wish that Sun Tzu had done more
than skirt the edge of this important subject here and in I。 ss。
10； VII。 ss。 11。 Col。 Henderson says： 〃The line of supply may
be said to be as vital to the existence of an army as the heart
to the life of a human being。 Just as the duelist who finds his
adversary's point menacing him with certain death； and his own
guard astray； is compelled to conform to his adversary's
movements； and to content himself with warding off his thrusts；
so the commander whose communications are suddenly threatened
finds himself in a false position； and he will be fortunate if he
has not to change all his plans； to split up his force into more
or less isolated detachments； and to fight with inferior numbers
on ground which he has not had time to prepare； and where defeat
will not be an ordinary failure； but will entail the ruin or
surrender of his whole army。〃 ＇2＇
Then you will be able to fight with advantage。
4。 Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re…occupy
is called ENTANGLING。
5。 From a position of this sort； if the enemy is
unprepared； you may sally forth and defeat him。 But if the enemy
is prepared for your coming； and you fail to defeat him； then；
return being impossible； disaster will ensue。
6。 When the position is such that neither side will gain by
making the first move； it is called TEMPORIZING ground。
＇Tu Mu says： 〃Each side finds it inconvenient to move； and
the situation remains at a deadlock。〃＇
7。 In a position of this sort； even though the enemy should
offer us an attractive bait；
＇Tu Yu says； 〃turning their backs on us and pretending to
flee。〃 But this is only one of the lures which might induce us
to quit our position。＇
it will be advisable not to stir forth； but rather to retreat；
thus enticing the enemy in his turn； then； when part of his army
has come out； we may deliver our attack with advantage。
8。 With regard to NARROW PASSES； if you can occupy them
first； let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of
the enemy。
＇Because then； as Tu Yu observes； 〃the initiative will lie
with us； and by making sudden and unexpected attacks we shall
have the enemy at our mercy。〃＇
9。 Should the army forestall you in occupying a pass； do
not go after him if the pass is fully garrisoned
