art of war-第17章
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make the enemy over…confident; you must have exceeding
strength。〃'
18。 Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a
question of subdivision;
'See supra; ss。 1。'
concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of
latent energy;
'The commentators strongly understand a certain Chinese word
here differently than anywhere else in this chapter。 Thus Tu Mu
says: 〃seeing that we are favorably circumstanced and yet make
no move; the enemy will believe that we are really afraid。〃'
masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical
dispositions。
'Chang Yu relates the following anecdote of Kao Tsu; the
first Han Emperor: 〃Wishing to crush the Hsiung…nu; he sent out
spies to report on their condition。 But the Hsiung…nu;
forewarned; carefully concealed all their able…bodied men and
well…fed horses; and only allowed infirm soldiers and emaciated
cattle to be seen。 The result was that spies one and all
recommended the Emperor to deliver his attack。 Lou Ching alone
opposed them; saying: 〃When two countries go to war; they are
naturally inclined to make an ostentatious display of their
strength。 Yet our spies have seen nothing but old age and
infirmity。 This is surely some ruse on the part of the enemy;
and it would be unwise for us to attack。〃 The Emperor; however;
disregarding this advice; fell into the trap and found himself
surrounded at Po…teng。〃'
19。 Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the
move maintains deceitful appearances; according to which the
enemy will act。
'Ts‘ao Kung's note is 〃Make a display of weakness and want。〃
Tu Mu says: 〃If our force happens to be superior to the enemy's;
weakness may be simulated in order to lure him on; but if
inferior; he must be led to believe that we are strong; in order
that he may keep off。 In fact; all the enemy's movements should
be determined by the signs that we choose to give him。〃 Note the
following anecdote of Sun Pin; a descendent of Sun Wu: In 341
B。C。; the Ch‘i State being at war with Wei; sent T‘ien Chi and
Sun Pin against the general P‘ang Chuan; who happened to be a
deadly personal enemy of the later。 Sun Pin said: 〃The Ch‘i
State has a reputation for cowardice; and therefore our adversary
despises us。 Let us turn this circumstance to account。〃
Accordingly; when the army had crossed the border into Wei
territory; he gave orders to show 100;000 fires on the first
night; 50;000 on the next; and the night after only 20;000。
P‘ang Chuan pursued them hotly; saying to himself: 〃I knew these
men of Ch‘i were cowards: their numbers have already fallen away
by more than half。〃 In his retreat; Sun Pin came to a narrow
defile; with he calculated that his pursuers would reach after
dark。 Here he had a tree stripped of its bark; and inscribed
upon it the words: 〃Under this tree shall P‘ang Chuan die。〃
Then; as night began to fall; he placed a strong body of archers
in ambush near by; with orders to shoot directly they saw a
light。 Later on; P‘ang Chuan arrived at the spot; and noticing
the tree; struck a light in order to read what was written on it。
His body was immediately riddled by a volley of arrows; and his
whole army thrown into confusion。 'The above is Tu Mu's version
of the story; the SHIH CHI; less dramatically but probably with
more historical truth; makes P‘ang Chuan cut his own throat with
an exclamation of despair; after the rout of his army。' '
He sacrifices something; that the enemy may snatch at it。
20。 By holding out baits; he keeps him on the march; then
with a body of picked men he lies in wait for him。
'With an emendation suggested by Li Ching; this then reads;
〃He lies in wait with the main body of his troops。〃'
21。 The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined
energy; and does not require too much from individuals。
'Tu Mu says: 〃He first of all considers the power of his
army in the bulk; afterwards he takes individual talent into
account; and uses each men according to his capabilities。 He
does not demand perfection from the untalented。〃'
Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined
energy。
22。 When he utilizes combined energy; his fighting men
become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones。 For it is
the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level
ground; and to move when on a slope; if four…cornered; to come to
a standstill; but if round…shaped; to go rolling down。
'Ts‘au Kung calls this 〃the use of natural or inherent
power。〃'
23。 Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as
the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands
of feet in height。 So much on the subject of energy。
'The chief lesson of this chapter; in Tu Mu's opinion; is
the paramount importance in war of rapid evolutions and sudden
rushes。 〃Great results;〃 he adds; 〃can thus be achieved with
small forces。〃'
'1' 〃Forty…one Years in India;〃 chapter 46。
…
VI。 WEAK POINTS AND STRONG
'Chang Yu attempts to explain the sequence of chapters as
follows: 〃Chapter IV; on Tactical Dispositions; treated of the
offensive and the defensive; chapter V; on Energy; dealt with
direct and indirect methods。 The good general acquaints himself
first with the theory of attack and defense; and then turns his
attention to direct and indirect methods。 He studies the art of
varying and combining these two methods before proceeding to the
subject of weak and strong points。 For the use of direct or
indirect methods arises out of attack and defense; and the
perception of weak and strong points depends again on the above
methods。 Hence the present chapter comes immediately after the
chapter on Energy。〃'
1。 Sun Tzu said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits
the coming of the enemy; will be fresh for the fight; whoever is
second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive
exhausted。
2。 Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the
enemy; but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him。
'One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own
terms or fights not at all。 '1' '
3。 By holding out advantages to him; he can cause the enemy
to approach of his own accord; or; by inflicting damage; he can
make it impossible for the enemy to draw near。
'In the first case; he will entice him with a bait; in the
second; he will strike at some important point which the enemy
will have to defend。'
4。 If the enemy is taking his ease; he can harass him;
'This passage may be cited as evidence against Mei Yao…
Ch‘en's interpretation of I。 ss。 23。'
if well supplied with food; he can starve him out; if quietly
encamped; he can force him to move。
5。 Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend;
march swiftly to places where you are not expected。
6。 An army may march great distances without distress; if
it marches through country where the enemy is not。
'Ts‘ao Kung sums up very well: 〃Emerge from the void 'q。d。
like 〃a bolt from the blue〃'; strike at vulnerable points; shun
places that are defended; attack in unexpected quarters。〃'
7。 You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you
only attack places which are undefended。
'Wang Hsi explains 〃undefended places〃 as 〃weak points; that
is to say; where the general is lacking in capacity; or the
soldiers in spirit; where the walls are not strong enough; or the
precautions not strict enough; where relief comes too late; or
provisions are too scanty; or the defenders are variance amongst
themselves。〃'
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