art of war-第41章
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main point in this passage is： Whereas you kill the spy himself
〃as a punishment for letting out the secret；〃 the object of
killing the other man is only； as Ch‘en Hao puts it； 〃to stop his
mouth〃 and prevent news leaking any further。 If it had already
been repeated to others； this object would not be gained。 Either
way； Sun Tzu lays himself open to the charge of inhumanity；
though Tu Mu tries to defend him by saying that the man deserves
to be put to death； for the spy would certainly not have told the
secret unless the other had been at pains to worm it out of
him。〃＇
20。 Whether the object be to crush an army； to storm a
city； or to assassinate an individual； it is always necessary to
begin by finding out the names of the attendants； the aides…de…
camp；
＇Literally 〃visitors〃； is equivalent； as Tu Yu says； to
〃those whose duty it is to keep the general supplied with
information；〃 which naturally necessitates frequent interviews
with him。＇
and door…keepers and sentries of the general in command。 Our
spies must be commissioned to ascertain these。
＇As the first step； no doubt towards finding out if any of
these important functionaries can be won over by bribery。＇
21。 The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be
sought out； tempted with bribes； led away and comfortably housed。
Thus they will become converted spies and available for our
service。
22。 It is through the information brought by the converted
spy that we are able to acquire and employ local and inward
spies。
＇Tu Yu says： 〃through conversion of the enemy's spies we
learn the enemy's condition。〃 And Chang Yu says： 〃We must tempt
the converted spy into our service； because it is he that knows
which of the local inhabitants are greedy of gain； and which of
the officials are open to corruption。〃＇
23。 It is owing to his information； again； that we can
cause the doomed spy to carry false tidings to the enemy。
＇Chang Yu says； 〃because the converted spy knows how the
enemy can best be deceived。〃＇
24。 Lastly； it is by his information that the surviving spy
can be used on appointed occasions。
25。 The end and aim of spying in all its five varieties is
knowledge of the enemy； and this knowledge can only be derived；
in the first instance； from the converted spy。
＇As explained in ss。 22…24。 He not only brings information
himself； but makes it possible to use the other kinds of spy to
advantage。＇
Hence it is essential that the converted spy be treated with the
utmost liberality。
26。 Of old； the rise of the Yin dynasty
＇Sun Tzu means the Shang dynasty； founded in 1766 B。C。 Its
name was changed to Yin by P‘an Keng in 1401。
was due to I Chih
＇Better known as I Yin； the famous general and statesman
who took part in Ch‘eng T‘ang's campaign against Chieh Kuei。＇
who had served under the Hsia。 Likewise； the rise of the Chou
dynasty was due to Lu Ya
＇Lu Shang rose to high office under the tyrant Chou Hsin；
whom he afterwards helped to overthrow。 Popularly known as T‘ai
Kung； a title bestowed on him by Wen Wang； he is said to have
composed a treatise on war； erroneously identified with the
LIU T‘AO。＇
who had served under the Yin。
＇There is less precision in the Chinese than I have thought
it well to introduce into my translation； and the commentaries on
the passage are by no means explicit。 But； having regard to the
context； we can hardly doubt that Sun Tzu is holding up I Chih
and Lu Ya as illustrious examples of the converted spy； or
something closely analogous。 His suggestion is； that the Hsia
and Yin dynasties were upset owing to the intimate knowledge of
their weaknesses and shortcoming which these former ministers
were able to impart to the other side。 Mei Yao…ch‘en appears to
resent any such aspersion on these historic names： 〃I Yin and Lu
Ya；〃 he says； 〃were not rebels against the Government。 Hsia
could not employ the former； hence Yin employed him。 Yin could
not employ the latter； hence Hou employed him。 Their great
achievements were all for the good of the people。〃 Ho Shih is
also indignant： 〃How should two divinely inspired men such as I
and Lu have acted as common spies？ Sun Tzu's mention of them
simply means that the proper use of the five classes of spies is
a matter which requires men of the highest mental caliber like I
and Lu； whose wisdom and capacity qualified them for the task。
The above words only emphasize this point。〃 Ho Shih believes
then that the two heroes are mentioned on account of their
supposed skill in the use of spies。 But this is very weak。＇
27。 Hence it is only the enlightened ruler and the wise
general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for
purposes of spying and thereby they achieve great results。
＇Tu Mu closes with a note of warning： 〃Just as water； which
carries a boat from bank to bank； may also be the means of
sinking it； so reliance on spies； while production of great
results； is oft…times the cause of utter destruction。〃＇
Spies are a most important element in water； because on them
depends an army's ability to move。
＇Chia Lin says that an army without spies is like a man with
ears or eyes。＇
＇1＇ 〃Aids to Scouting；〃 p。 2。
＇2＇ 〃Marshal Turenne；〃 p。 311。
End
