第2章

But,atanyrate,ithascomeaboutthatthemembersofthegoverningclassarequiteafraidofenlargingonmilitarytopics,ordosoonlyinashamefacedmanner.Ifanyareboldenoughtodiscussthesubject,theyareatoncesetdownaseccentricindividualsofcoarseandbrutalpropensities.

Thisisanextraordinaryinstanceinwhich,throughsheerlackofreasoning,menunhappilylosesightoffundamentalprinciples.

WhentheDukeofChouwasministerunderCh`engWang,heregulatedceremoniesandmademusic,andveneratedtheartsofscholarshipandlearning;yetwhenthebarbariansoftheRiverHuairevolted,[60]hesalliedforthandchastisedthem.WhenConfuciusheldofficeundertheDukeofLu,andameetingwasconvenedatChia—ku,[61]hesaid:\"Ifpacificnegotiationsareinprogress,warlikepreparationsshouldhavebeenmadebeforehand.\"HerebukedandshamedtheMarquisofCh`i,whocoweredunderhimanddarednotproceedtoviolence.HowcanitbesaidthatthesetwogreatSageshadnoknowledgeofmilitarymatters?

WehaveseenthatthegreatChuHsiheldSunTzuinhighesteem.HealsoappealstotheauthorityoftheClassics:——

OurMasterConfucius,answeringDukeLingofWei,said:

\"Ihaveneverstudiedmattersconnectedwitharmiesandbattalions.\"[62]ReplyingtoK`ungWen—tzu,hesaid:I

havenotbeeninstructedaboutbuff—coatsandweapons.\"ButifweturntothemeetingatChia—ku,wefindthatheusedarmedforceagainstthemenofLai,sothatthemarquisofCh`iwasoverawed.Again,whentheinhabitantsofPirevolted,theorderedhisofficerstoattackthem,whereupontheyweredefeatedandfledinconfusion.Heonceutteredthewords:\"IfIfight,Iconquer.\"[63]AndJanYualsosaid:\"TheSageexercisesbothcivilandmilitaryfunctions.\"[64]CanitbeafactthatConfuciusneverstudiedorreceivedinstructionintheartofwar?Wecanonlysaythathedidnotspeciallychoosemattersconnectedwitharmiesandfightingtobethesubjectofhisteaching.

SunHsing—yen,theeditorofSunTzu,writesinsimilarstrain:——

Confuciussaid:\"Iamunversedinmilitarymatters.\"

[65]Healsosaid:\"IfIfight,Iconquer.\"Confuciusorderedceremoniesandregulatedmusic.NowwarconstitutesoneofthefiveclassesofStateceremonial,[66]andmustnotbetreatedasanindependentbranchofstudy.Hence,thewords\"Iamunversedin\"mustbetakentomeanthattherearethingswhichevenaninspiredTeacherdoesnotknow.Thosewhohavetoleadanarmyanddevisestratagems,mustlearntheartofwar.ButifonecancommandtheservicesofagoodgenerallikeSunTzu,whowasemployedbyWuTzu—hsu,thereisnoneedtolearnitoneself.HencetheremarkaddedbyConfucius:\"IfIfight,Iconquer.\"

Themenofthepresentday,however,willfullyinterpretthesewordsofConfuciusintheirnarrowestsense,asthoughhemeantthatbooksontheartofwarwerenotworthreading.

Withblindpersistency,theyadducetheexampleofChaoKua,whoporedoverhisfather’sbookstonopurpose,[67]asaproofthatallmilitarytheoryisuseless.Again,seeingthatbooksonwarhavetodowithsuchthingsasopportunismindesigningplans,andtheconversionofspies,theyholdthattheartisimmoralandunworthyofasage.Thesepeopleignorethefactthatthestudiesofourscholarsandtheciviladministrationofourofficialsalsorequiresteadyapplicationandpracticebeforeefficiencyisreached.Theancientswereparticularlycharyofallowingmerenovicestobotchtheirwork.[68]Weaponsarebaneful[69]andfightingperilous;anduselessunlessageneralisinconstantpractice,heoughtnottohazardothermen’slivesinbattle.

[70]HenceitisessentialthatSunTzu’s13chaptersshouldbestudied.

HsiangLiangusedtoinstructhisnephewChi[71]intheartofwar.Chigotaroughideaoftheartinitsgeneralbearings,butwouldnotpursuehisstudiestotheirproperoutcome,theconsequencebeingthathewasfinallydefeatedandoverthrown.Hedidnotrealizethatthetricksandartificesofwararebeyondverbalcomputation.DukeHsiangofSungandKingYenofHsuwerebroughttodestructionbytheirmisplacedhumanity.Thetreacherousandunderhandnatureofwarnecessitatestheuseofguileandstratagemsuitedtotheoccasion.ThereisacaseonrecordofConfuciushimselfhavingviolatedanextortedoath,[72]andalsoofhishavinglefttheSungStateindisguise.[73]CanwethenrecklesslyarraignSunTzufordisregardingtruthandhonesty?

Bibliography————

ThefollowingaretheoldestChinesetreatisesonwar,afterSunTzu.ThenotesoneachhavebeendrawnprincipallyfromtheSSUK`UCH`UANSHUCHIENMINGMULU,ch.9,fol.22sqq.

1.WUTZU,in1CHUANor6chapters.ByWuCh`i(d.381

B.C.).Agenuinework.SeeSHIHCHI,ch.65.

2.SSU—MAFA,in1CHUANor5chapters.WronglyattributedtoSsu—maJang—chuofthe6thcenturyB.C.Itsdate,however,mustbeearly,asthecustomsofthethreeancientdynastiesareconstantlytobemetwithinitspages.SeeSHIHCHI,ch.64.

TheSSUK`UCH`UANSHU(ch.99,f.1)remarksthattheoldestthreetreatisesonwar,SUNTZU,WUTZUandSSU—MAFA,are,generallyspeaking,onlyconcernedwiththingsstrictlymilitary——theartofproducing,collecting,traininganddrillingtroops,andthecorrecttheorywithregardtomeasuresofexpediency,layingplans,transportofgoodsandthehandlingofsoldiers——instrongcontrasttolaterworks,inwhichthescienceofwarisusuallyblendedwithmetaphysics,divinationandmagicalartsingeneral.

3.LIUT`AO,in6CHUAN,or60chapters.AttributedtoLuWang(orLuShang,alsoknownasT`aiKung)ofthe12thcenturyB.C.[74]ButitsstyledoesnotbelongtotheeraoftheThreeDynasties.LuTe—ming(550—625A.D.)mentionsthework,andenumeratestheheadingsofthesixsectionssothattheforgerycannothavebeenlaterthanSuidynasty.

4.WEILIAOTZU,in5CHUAN.AttributedtoWeiLiao(4thcent.B.C.),whostudiedunderthefamousKuei—kuTzu.Theworkappearstohavebeenoriginallyin31chapters,whereasthetextwepossesscontainsonly24.Itsmatterissoundenoughinthemain,thoughthestrategicaldevicesdifferconsiderablyfromthoseoftheWarringStatesperiod.Itisbeenfurnishedwithacommentarybythewell—knownSungphilosopherChangTsai.

5.SANLUEH,in3CHUAN.AttributedtoHuang—shihKung,alegendarypersonagewhoissaidtohavebestoweditonChangLiang(d.187B.C.)inaninterviewonabridge.Buthereagain,thestyleisnotthatofworksdatingfromtheCh`inorHanperiod.TheHanEmperorKuangWu[25—57A.D.]apparentlyquotesfromitinoneofhisproclamations;butthepassageinquestionmayhavebeeninsertedlateron,inordertoprovethegenuinenessofthework.WeshallnotbefaroutifwereferittotheNorthernSungperiod[420—478A.D.],orsomewhatearlier.

6.LIWEIKUNGWENTUI,in3sections.WrittenintheformofadialoguebetweenT`aiTsungandhisgreatgeneralLiChing,itisusuallyascribedtothelatter.Competentauthoritiesconsideritaforgery,thoughtheauthorwasevidentlywellversedintheartofwar.

7.LICHINGPINGFA(nottobeconfoundedwiththeforegoing)isashorttreatisein8chapters,preservedintheT`ungTien,butnotpublishedseparately.ThisfactexplainsitsomissionfromtheSSUK`UCH`UANSHU.

8.WUCH`ICHING,in1CHUAN.AttributedtothelegendaryministerFengHou,withexegeticalnotesbyKung—sunHungoftheHandynasty(d.121B.C.),andsaidtohavebeeneulogizedbythecelebratedgeneralMaLung(d.300A.D.).YettheearliestmentionofitisintheSUNGCHIH.Althoughaforgery,theworkiswellputtogether.

ConsideringthehighpopularestimationinwhichChu—koLianghasalwaysbeenheld,itisnotsurprisingtofindmorethanoneworkonwarascribedtohispen.Suchare(1)theSHIH

LIUTS`E(1CHUAN),preservedintheYUNGLOTATIEN;(2)CHIANG

YUAN(1CHUAN);and(3)HSINSHU(1CHUAN),whichstealswholesalefromSunTzu.Noneofthesehastheslightestclaimtobeconsideredgenuine.

MostofthelargeChineseencyclopediascontainextensivesectionsdevotedtotheliteratureofwar.Thefollowingreferencesmaybefounduseful:——

T`UNGTIEN(circa800A.D.),ch.148—162.

T`AIP`INGYULAN(983),ch.270—359.

WENHSIENTUNGK`AO(13thcent.),ch.221.

YUHAI(13thcent.),ch.140,141.

SANTS`AIT`UHUI(16thcent).

KUANGPOWUCHIH(1607),ch.31,32.

CH`IENCH`IOLEISHU(1632),ch.75.

YUANCHIENLEIHAN(1710),ch.206—229.

KUCHINT`USHUCHICH`ENG(1726),sectionXXX,esp.ch.81—

90.

HSUWENHSIENT`UNGK`AO(1784),ch.121—134.

HUANGCH`AOCHINGSHIHWENPIEN(1826),ch.76,77.

Thebibliographicalsectionsofcertainhistoricalworksalsodeservemention:——

CH`IENHANSHU,ch.30.

SUISHU,ch.32—35.

CHIUT`ANGSHU,ch.46,47.

HSINT`ANGSHU,ch.57,60.

SUNGSHIH,ch.202—209.

T`UNGCHIH(circa1150),ch.68.

TotheseofcoursemustbeaddedthegreatCatalogueoftheImperialLibrary:——

SSUK`UCH`UANSHUTSUNGMUT`IYAO(1790),ch.99,100.

Footnotes—

1.SHICHI,ch.65.

2.Hereignedfrom514to496B.C.

3.SHICHI,ch.130.

4.TheappellationofNangWa.

5.SHICHI,ch.31.

6.SHICHI,ch.25.

7.TheappellationofHuYen,mentionedinch.39undertheyear637.

8.Wang—tzuCh`eng—fu,ch.32,year607.

9.Themistakeisnaturalenough.NativecriticsrefertoaworkoftheHandynasty,whichsays:\"TenLIoutsidetheWUgate[ofthecityofWu,nowSoochowinKiangsu]thereisagreatmound,raisedtocommemoratetheentertainmentofSunWuofCh`i,whoexcelledintheartofwar,bytheKingofWu.\"

10.\"Theyattachedstringstowoodtomakebows,andsharpenedwoodtomakearrows.TheuseofbowsandarrowsistokeeptheEmpireinawe.\"

11.ThesonandsuccessorofHoLu.HewasfinallydefeatedandoverthrownbyKouchien,KingofYueh,in473B.C.Seepost.

12.KingYenofHsu,afabulousbeing,ofwhomSunHsing—yensaysinhispreface:\"Hishumanitybroughthimtodestruction.\"

13.ThepassageIhaveputinbracketsisomittedintheT`U

SHU,andmaybeaninterpolation.Itwasknown,howevertoChangShou—chiehoftheT`angdynasty,andappearsintheT`AIP`INGYU

LAN.

14.Ts`aoKungseemstobethinkingofthefirstpartofchap.

II,perhapsespeciallyofss.8.

15.Seechap.XI.

16.Ontheotherhand,itisnoteworthythatWUTZU,whichisnotin6chapters,has48assignedtoitintheHANCHIH.

Likewise,theCHUNGYUNGiscreditedwith49chapters,thoughnowonlyinoneonly.Inthecaseofveryshortworks,oneistemptedtothinkthatP`IENmightsimplymean\"leaves.\"

17.YehShihoftheSungdynasty[1151—1223].

18.Hehardlydeservestobebracketedwithassassins.

19.SeeChapter7,ss.27andChapter11,ss.28.

20.SeeChapter11,ss.28.ChuanChuistheabbreviatedformofhisname.

21.I.e.PoP`ei.Seeante.

22.Thenucleusofthisworkisprobablygenuine,thoughlargeadditionshavebeenmadebylaterhands.Kuanchungdiedin645

B.C.

23.Seeinfra,beginningofINTRODUCTION.

24.Idonotknowwhatthiswork,unlessitbethelastchapterofanotherwork.Whythatchaptershouldbesingledout,however,isnotclear.

25.About480B.C.

26.Thatis,Isuppose,theageofWuWangandChouKung.

27.Inthe3rdcenturyB.C.

28.Ssu—maJang—chu,whosefamilynamewasT`ien,livedinthelatterhalfofthe6thcenturyB.C.,andisalsobelievedtohavewrittenaworkonwar.SeeSHIHCHI,ch.64,andinfraatthebeginningoftheINTRODUCTION.

29.SeeLegge’sClassics,vol.V,Prolegomenap.27.LeggethinksthattheTSOCHUANmusthavebeenwritteninthe5thcentury,butnotbefore424B.C.

30.SeeMENCIUSIII.1.iii.13—20.

31.WhenWufirstappearsintheCH`UNCH`IUin584,itisalreadyatvariancewithitspowerfulneighbor.TheCH`UNCH`IU

firstmentionsYuehin537,theTSOCHUANin601.

32.ThisisexplicitlystatedintheTSOCHUAN,XXXII,2.

33.Thereisthistobesaidforthelaterperiod,thatthefeudwouldtendtogrowmorebitteraftereachencounter,andthusmorefullyjustifythelanguageusedinXI.ss.30.

34.WithWuYuanhimselfthecaseisjustthereverse:——aspurioustreatiseonwarhasbeenfatheredonhimsimplybecausehewasagreatgeneral.Herewehaveanobviousinducementtoforgery.SunWu,ontheotherhand,cannothavebeenwidelyknowntofameinthe5thcentury.

35.FromTSOCHUAN:\"FromthedateofKingChao’saccession[515]therewasnoyearinwhichCh`uwasnotattackedbyWu.\"

36.Prefaceadfin:\"MyfamilycomesfromLo—an,andwearereallydescendedfromSunTzu.IamashamedtosaythatIonlyreadmyancestor’sworkfromaliterarypointofview,withoutcomprehendingthemilitarytechnique.Solonghavewebeenenjoyingtheblessingsofpeace!\"

37.Hoa—yinisabout14milesfromT`ung—kuanontheeasternborderofShensi.ThetempleinquestionisstillvisitedbythoseabouttheascentoftheWesternSacredMountain.Itismentionedinatextasbeing\"situatedfiveLIeastofthedistrictcityofHua—yin.ThetemplecontainstheHua—shantabletinscribedbytheT`angEmperorHsuanTsung[713—755].\"

38.Seemy\"CatalogueofChineseBooks\"(Luzac&Co.,1908),no.

40.

39.Thisisadiscussionof29difficultpassagesinSunTzu.

40.Cf.CatalogueofthelibraryofFanfamilyatNingpo:\"Hiscommentaryisfrequentlyobscure;itfurnishesaclue,butdoesnotfullydevelopthemeaning.\"

41.WENHSIENT`UNGK`AO,ch.221.

42.ItisinterestingtonotethatM.Pelliothasrecentlydiscoveredchapters1,4and5ofthislostworkinthe\"GrottosoftheThousandBuddhas.\"SeeB.E.F.E.O.,t.VIII,nos.3—4,p.

525.

43.TheHsia,theShangandtheChou.Althoughthelast—namedwasnominallyexistentinSunTzu’sday,itretainedhardlyavestigeofpower,andtheoldmilitaryorganizationhadpracticallygonebytheboard.Icansuggestnootherexplanationofthepassage.

44.SeeCHOULI,xxix.6—10.

45.T`UNGK`AO,ch.221.

46.Thisappearstobestillextant.SeeWylie’s\"Notes,\"p.91

(newedition).

47.T`UNGK`AO,loc.cit.

48.Anotablepersoninhisday.HisbiographyisgivenintheSANKUOCHIH,ch.10.

49.SeeXI.ss.58,note.

50.HOUHANSHU,ch.17adinit.

51.SANKUOCHIH,ch.54.

52.SUNGSHIH,ch.365adinit.

53.ThefewEuropeanswhohaveyethadanopportunityofacquaintingthemselveswithSunTzuarenotbehindhandintheirpraise.Inthisconnection,ImayperhapsbeexcusedforquotingfromaletterfromLordRoberts,towhomthesheetsofthepresentworkweresubmittedprevioustopublication:\"ManyofSunWu’smaximsareperfectlyapplicabletothepresentday,andno.11[inChapterVIII]isonethatthepeopleofthiscountrywoulddowelltotaketoheart.\"

54.Ch.140.

55.SeeIV.ss.3.

56.TheallusionmaybetoMenciusVI.2.ix.2.

57.TheTSOCHUAN.

58.SHIHCHI,ch.25,fol.I.

59.Cf.SHIHCHI,ch47.

60.SeeSHUCHING,prefacess.55.

61.SeeSHIHCHI,ch.47.

62.LunYu,XV.1.

63.Ifailedtotracethisutterance.

64.Supra.

65.Supra.

66.Theotherfourbeingworship,mourning,entertainmentofguests,andfestiverites.SeeSHUCHING,ii.1.III.8,andCHOULI,IX.fol.49.

67.SeeXIII.ss.11,note.

68.ThisisaratherobscureallusiontotheTSOCHUAN,whereTzu—ch`ansays:\"Ifyouhaveapieceofbeautifulbrocade,youwillnotemployamerelearnertomakeitup.\"

69.Cf.TAOTECHING,ch.31.

70.SunHsing—yenmighthavequotedConfuciusagain.SeeLUN

YU,XIII.29,30.

71.BetterknownasHsiangYu[233—202B.C.].

72.SHIHCHI,ch.47.

73.SHIHCHI,ch.38.

74.SeeXIII.ss.27,note.FurtherdetailsonT`aiKungwillbefoundintheSHIHCHI,ch.32adinit.BesidesthetraditionwhichmakeshimaformerministerofChouHsin,twootheraccountsofhimaretheregiven,accordingtowhichhewouldappeartohavebeenfirstraisedfromahumbleprivatestationbyWenWang.

I.LAYINGPLANS

[Ts`aoKung,indefiningthemeaningoftheChineseforthetitleofthischapter,saysitreferstothedeliberationsinthetempleselectedbythegeneralforhistemporaryuse,orasweshouldsay,inhistent.See.ss.26.]

1.SunTzusaid:TheartofwarisofvitalimportancetotheState.

2.Itisamatteroflifeanddeath,aroadeithertosafetyortoruin.Henceitisasubjectofinquirywhichcanonnoaccountbeneglected.

3.Theartofwar,then,isgovernedbyfiveconstantfactors,tobetakenintoaccountinone’sdeliberations,whenseekingtodeterminetheconditionsobtaininginthefield.

4.Theseare:(1)TheMoralLaw;(2)Heaven;(3)Earth;

(4)TheCommander;(5)Methodanddiscipline.

[ItappearsfromwhatfollowsthatSunTzumeansby\"MoralLaw\"aprincipleofharmony,notunliketheTaoofLaoTzuinitsmoralaspect.Onemightbetemptedtorenderitby\"morale,\"

wereitnotconsideredasanattributeoftherulerinss.13.]

5,6.TheMORALLAWcausesthepeopletobeincompleteaccordwiththeirruler,sothattheywillfollowhimregardlessoftheirlives,undismayedbyanydanger.

[TuYuquotesWangTzuassaying:\"Withoutconstantpractice,theofficerswillbenervousandundecidedwhenmusteringforbattle;withoutconstantpractice,thegeneralwillbewaveringandirresolutewhenthecrisisisathand.\"]

7.HEAVENsignifiesnightandday,coldandheat,timesandseasons.

[Thecommentators,Ithink,makeanunnecessarymysteryoftwowordshere.MengShihrefersto\"thehardandthesoft,waxingandwaning\"ofHeaven.WangHsi,however,mayberightinsayingthatwhatismeantis\"thegeneraleconomyofHeaven,\"

includingthefiveelements,thefourseasons,windandclouds,andotherphenomena.]

8.EARTHcomprisesdistances,greatandsmall;dangerandsecurity;opengroundandnarrowpasses;thechancesoflifeanddeath.

9.TheCOMMANDERstandsforthevirtuesofwisdom,sincerely,benevolence,courageandstrictness.

[ThefivecardinalvirtuesoftheChineseare(1)humanityorbenevolence;(2)uprightnessofmind;(3)self—respect,self—

control,or\"properfeeling;\"(4)wisdom;(5)sincerityorgoodfaith.Here\"wisdom\"and\"sincerity\"areputbefore\"humanityorbenevolence,\"andthetwomilitaryvirtuesof\"courage\"and\"strictness\"substitutedfor\"uprightnessofmind\"and\"self—

respect,self—control,or’properfeeling.’\"]

10.ByMETHODANDDISCIPLINEaretobeunderstoodthemarshalingofthearmyinitspropersubdivisions,thegraduationsofrankamongtheofficers,themaintenanceofroadsbywhichsuppliesmayreachthearmy,andthecontrolofmilitaryexpenditure.

11.Thesefiveheadsshouldbefamiliartoeverygeneral:

hewhoknowsthemwillbevictorious;hewhoknowsthemnotwillfail.

12.Therefore,inyourdeliberations,whenseekingtodeterminethemilitaryconditions,letthembemadethebasisofacomparison,inthiswise:——

13.(1)WhichofthetwosovereignsisimbuedwiththeMorallaw?

[I.e.,\"isinharmonywithhissubjects.\"Cf.ss.5.]

(2)Whichofthetwogeneralshasmostability?

(3)WithwhomlietheadvantagesderivedfromHeavenandEarth?

[Seess.7,8]

(4)Onwhichsideisdisciplinemostrigorouslyenforced?

[TuMualludestotheremarkablestoryofTs`aoTs`ao(A.D.

155—220),whowassuchastrictdisciplinarianthatonce,inaccordancewithhisownsevereregulationsagainstinjurytostandingcrops,hecondemnedhimselftodeathforhavingallowedhimhorsetoshyintoafieldofcorn!However,inlieuoflosinghishead,hewaspersuadedtosatisfyhissenseofjusticebycuttingoffhishair.Ts`aoTs`ao’sowncommentonthepresentpassageischaracteristicallycurt:\"whenyoulaydownalaw,seethatitisnotdisobeyed;ifitisdisobeyedtheoffendermustbeputtodeath.\"]

(5)Whicharmyisstronger?

[Morallyaswellasphysically.AsMeiYao—ch`enputsit,freelyrendered,\"ESPIRITDECORPSand’bigbattalions.’\"]

(6)Onwhichsideareofficersandmenmorehighlytrained?

[TuYuquotesWangTzuassaying:\"Withoutconstantpractice,theofficerswillbenervousandundecidedwhenmusteringforbattle;withoutconstantpractice,thegeneralwillbewaveringandirresolutewhenthecrisisisathand.\"]

(7)Inwhicharmyistherethegreaterconstancybothinrewardandpunishment?

[Onwhichsideistherethemostabsolutecertaintythatmeritwillbeproperlyrewardedandmisdeedssummarilypunished?]

14.BymeansofthesesevenconsiderationsIcanforecastvictoryordefeat.

15.Thegeneralthathearkenstomycounselandactsuponit,willconquer:——letsuchaoneberetainedincommand!Thegeneralthathearkensnottomycounselnoractsuponit,willsufferdefeat:——letsuchaonebedismissed!

[TheformofthisparagraphremindsusthatSunTzu’streatisewascomposedexpresslyforthebenefitofhispatronHoLu,kingoftheWuState.]

16.Whileheadingtheprofitofmycounsel,availyourselfalsoofanyhelpfulcircumstancesoverandbeyondtheordinaryrules.

17.Accordingascircumstancesarefavorable,oneshouldmodifyone’splans.

[SunTzu,asapracticalsoldier,willhavenoneofthe\"bookishtheoric.\"Hecautionsusherenottopinourfaithtoabstractprinciples;\"for,\"asChangYuputsit,\"whilethemainlawsofstrategycanbestatedclearlyenoughforthebenefitofallandsundry,youmustbeguidedbytheactionsoftheenemyinattemptingtosecureafavorablepositioninactualwarfare.\"OntheeveofthebattleofWaterloo,LordUxbridge,commandingthecavalry,wenttotheDukeofWellingtoninordertolearnwhathisplansandcalculationswereforthemorrow,because,asheexplained,hemightsuddenlyfindhimselfCommander—in—chiefandwouldbeunabletoframenewplansinacriticalmoment.TheDukelistenedquietlyandthensaid:\"Whowillattackthefirsttomorrow——IorBonaparte?\"\"Bonaparte,\"repliedLordUxbridge.

\"Well,\"continuedtheDuke,\"Bonapartehasnotgivenmeanyideaofhisprojects;andasmyplanswilldependuponhis,howcanyouexpectmetotellyouwhatmineare?\"[1]]

18.Allwarfareisbasedondeception.

[Thetruthofthispithyandprofoundsayingwillbeadmittedbyeverysoldier.Col.HendersontellsusthatWellington,greatinsomanymilitaryqualities,wasespeciallydistinguishedby\"theextraordinaryskillwithwhichheconcealedhismovementsanddeceivedbothfriendandfoe.\"]

19.Hence,whenabletoattack,wemustseemunable;whenusingourforces,wemustseeminactive;whenwearenear,wemustmaketheenemybelievewearefaraway;whenfaraway,wemustmakehimbelievewearenear.

20.Holdoutbaitstoenticetheenemy.Feigndisorder,andcrushhim.

[Allcommentators,exceptChangYu,say,\"Whenheisindisorder,crushhim.\"ItismorenaturaltosupposethatSunTzuisstillillustratingtheusesofdeceptioninwar.]

21.Ifheissecureatallpoints,bepreparedforhim.Ifheisinsuperiorstrength,evadehim.

22.Ifyouropponentisofcholerictemper,seektoirritatehim.Pretendtobeweak,thathemaygrowarrogant.

[WangTzu,quotedbyTuYu,saysthatthegoodtacticianplayswithhisadversaryasacatplayswithamouse,firstfeigningweaknessandimmobility,andthensuddenlypouncinguponhim.]

23.Ifheistakinghisease,givehimnorest.

[ThisisprobablythemeaningthoughMeiYao—ch`enhasthenote:\"whilewearetakingourease,waitfortheenemytotirehimselfout.\"TheYULANhas\"Lurehimonandtirehimout.\"]

Ifhisforcesareunited,separatethem.

[Lessplausibleistheinterpretationfavoredbymostofthecommentators:\"Ifsovereignandsubjectareinaccord,putdivisionbetweenthem.\"]

24.Attackhimwhereheisunprepared,appearwhereyouarenotexpected.

25.Thesemilitarydevices,leadingtovictory,mustnotbedivulgedbeforehand.

26.Nowthegeneralwhowinsabattlemakesmanycalculationsinhistempleerethebattleisfought.

[ChangYutellsusthatinancienttimesitwascustomaryforatempletobesetapartfortheuseofageneralwhowasabouttotakethefield,inorderthathemightthereelaboratehisplanofcampaign.]

Thegeneralwholosesabattlemakesbutfewcalculationsbeforehand.Thusdomanycalculationsleadtovictory,andfewcalculationstodefeat:howmuchmorenocalculationatall!ItisbyattentiontothispointthatIcanforeseewhoislikelytowinorlose.

[1]\"WordsonWellington,\"bySir.W.Fraser.

II.WAGINGWAR

[Ts`aoKunghasthenote:\"Hewhowishestofightmustfirstcountthecost,\"whichpreparesusforthediscoverythatthesubjectofthechapterisnotwhatwemightexpectfromthetitle,butisprimarilyaconsiderationofwaysandmeans.]

1.SunTzusaid:Intheoperationsofwar,wherethereareinthefieldathousandswiftchariots,asmanyheavychariots,andahundredthousandmail—cladsoldiers,[The\"swiftchariots\"werelightlybuiltand,accordingtoChangYu,usedfortheattack;the\"heavychariots\"wereheavier,anddesignedforpurposesofdefense.LiCh`uan,itistrue,saysthatthelatterwerelight,butthisseemshardlyprobable.

ItisinterestingtonotetheanalogiesbetweenearlyChinesewarfareandthatoftheHomericGreeks.Ineachcase,thewar—

chariotwastheimportantfactor,formingasitdidthenucleusroundwhichwasgroupedacertainnumberoffoot—soldiers.Withregardtothenumbersgivenhere,weareinformedthateachswiftchariotwasaccompaniedby75footmen,andeachheavychariotby25footmen,sothatthewholearmywouldbedividedupintoathousandbattalions,eachconsistingoftwochariotsandahundredmen.]

withprovisionsenoughtocarrythemathousandLI,[2.78modernLIgotoamile.ThelengthmayhavevariedslightlysinceSunTzu’stime.]

theexpenditureathomeandatthefront,includingentertainmentofguests,smallitemssuchasglueandpaint,andsumsspentonchariotsandarmor,willreachthetotalofathousandouncesofsilverperday.Suchisthecostofraisinganarmyof100,000

men.

2.Whenyouengageinactualfighting,ifvictoryislongincoming,thenmen’sweaponswillgrowdullandtheirardorwillbedamped.Ifyoulaysiegetoatown,youwillexhaustyourstrength.

3.Again,ifthecampaignisprotracted,theresourcesoftheStatewillnotbeequaltothestrain.

4.Now,whenyourweaponsaredulled,yourardordamped,yourstrengthexhaustedandyourtreasurespent,otherchieftainswillspringuptotakeadvantageofyourextremity.Thennoman,howeverwise,willbeabletoaverttheconsequencesthatmustensue.

5.Thus,thoughwehaveheardofstupidhasteinwar,clevernesshasneverbeenseenassociatedwithlongdelays.

[Thisconciseanddifficultsentenceisnotwellexplainedbyanyofthecommentators.Ts`aoKung,LiCh`uan,MengShih,TuYu,TuMuandMeiYao—ch`enhavenotestotheeffectthatageneral,thoughnaturallystupid,mayneverthelessconquerthroughsheerforceofrapidity.HoShihsays:\"Hastemaybestupid,butatanyrateitsavesexpenditureofenergyandtreasure;protractedoperationsmaybeveryclever,buttheybringcalamityintheirtrain.\"WangHsievadesthedifficultybyremarking:\"Lengthyoperationsmeananarmygrowingold,wealthbeingexpended,anemptyexchequeranddistressamongthepeople;trueclevernessinsuresagainsttheoccurrenceofsuchcalamities.\"ChangYusays:\"Solongasvictorycanbeattained,stupidhasteispreferabletocleverdilatoriness.\"

NowSunTzusaysnothingwhatever,exceptpossiblybyimplication,aboutill—consideredhastebeingbetterthaningeniousbutlengthyoperations.Whathedoessayissomethingmuchmoreguarded,namelythat,whilespeedmaysometimesbeinjudicious,tardinesscanneverbeanythingbutfoolish——ifonlybecauseitmeansimpoverishmenttothenation.InconsideringthepointraisedherebySunTzu,theclassicexampleofFabiusCunctatorwillinevitablyoccurtothemind.ThatgeneraldeliberatelymeasuredtheenduranceofRomeagainstthatofHannibals’sisolatedarmy,becauseitseemedtohimthatthelatterwasmorelikelytosufferfromalongcampaigninastrangecountry.Butitisquiteamootquestionwhetherhistacticswouldhaveprovedsuccessfulinthelongrun.Theirreversalitistrue,ledtoCannae;butthisonlyestablishesanegativepresumptionintheirfavor.]

6.Thereisnoinstanceofacountryhavingbenefitedfromprolongedwarfare.

7.Itisonlyonewhoisthoroughlyacquaintedwiththeevilsofwarthatcanthoroughlyunderstandtheprofitablewayofcarryingiton.

[Thatis,withrapidity.Onlyonewhoknowsthedisastrouseffectsofalongwarcanrealizethesupremeimportanceofrapidityinbringingittoaclose.Onlytwocommentatorsseemtofavorthisinterpretation,butitfitswellintothelogicofthecontext,whereastherendering,\"Hewhodoesnotknowtheevilsofwarcannotappreciateitsbenefits,\"isdistinctlypointless.]

8.Theskillfulsoldierdoesnotraiseasecondlevy,neitherarehissupply—wagonsloadedmorethantwice.

[Oncewarisdeclared,hewillnotwasteprecioustimeinwaitingforreinforcements,norwillhereturnhisarmybackforfreshsupplies,butcrossestheenemy’sfrontierwithoutdelay.

Thismayseemanaudaciouspolicytorecommend,butwithallgreatstrategists,fromJuliusCaesartoNapoleonBonaparte,thevalueoftime——thatis,beingalittleaheadofyouropponent——

hascountedformorethaneithernumericalsuperiorityorthenicestcalculationswithregardtocommissariat.]

9.Bringwarmaterialwithyoufromhome,butforageontheenemy.Thusthearmywillhavefoodenoughforitsneeds.

[TheChinesewordtranslatedhereas\"warmaterial\"

literallymeans\"thingstobeused\",andismeantinthewidestsense.Itincludesalltheimpedimentaofanarmy,apartfromprovisions.]

10.PovertyoftheStateexchequercausesanarmytobemaintainedbycontributionsfromadistance.Contributingtomaintainanarmyatadistancecausesthepeopletobeimpoverished.

[Thebeginningofthissentencedoesnotbalanceproperlywiththenext,thoughobviouslyintendedtodoso.Thearrangement,moreover,issoawkwardthatIcannothelpsuspectingsomecorruptioninthetext.ItneverseemstooccurtoChinesecommentatorsthatanemendationmaybenecessaryforthesense,andwegetnohelpfromthemthere.TheChinesewordsSunTzuusedtoindicatethecauseofthepeople’simpoverishmentclearlyhavereferencetosomesystembywhichthehusbandmensenttheircontributionsofcorntothearmydirect.Butwhyshoulditfallonthemtomaintainanarmyinthisway,exceptbecausetheStateorGovernmentistoopoortodoso?]

11.Ontheotherhand,theproximityofanarmycausespricestogoup;andhighpricescausethepeople’ssubstancetobedrainedaway.

[WangHsisayshighpricesoccurbeforethearmyhasleftitsownterritory.Ts`aoKungunderstandsitofanarmythathasalreadycrossedthefrontier.]

12.Whentheirsubstanceisdrainedaway,thepeasantrywillbeafflictedbyheavyexactions.

13,14.Withthislossofsubstanceandexhaustionofstrength,thehomesofthepeoplewillbestrippedbare,andthree—tenthsoftheirincomewillbedissipated;

[TuMuandWangHsiagreethatthepeoplearenotmulctednotof3/10,butof7/10,oftheirincome.Butthisishardlytobeextractedfromourtext.HoShihhasacharacteristictag:

\"ThePEOPLEbeingregardedastheessentialpartoftheState,andFOODasthepeople’sheaven,isitnotrightthatthoseinauthorityshouldvalueandbecarefulofboth?\"]

whilegovernmentexpensesforbrokenchariots,worn—outhorses,breast—platesandhelmets,bowsandarrows,spearsandshields,protectivemantles,draught—oxenandheavywagons,willamounttofour—tenthsofitstotalrevenue.

15.Henceawisegeneralmakesapointofforagingontheenemy.Onecartloadoftheenemy’sprovisionsisequivalenttotwentyofone’sown,andlikewiseasinglePICULofhisprovenderisequivalenttotwentyfromone’sownstore.

[Becausetwentycartloadswillbeconsumedintheprocessoftransportingonecartloadtothefront.APICULisaunitofmeasureequalto133.3pounds(65.5kilograms).]

16.Nowinordertokilltheenemy,ourmenmustberousedtoanger;thattheremaybeadvantagefromdefeatingtheenemy,theymusthavetheirrewards.

[TuMusays:\"Rewardsarenecessaryinordertomakethesoldiersseetheadvantageofbeatingtheenemy;thus,whenyoucapturespoilsfromtheenemy,theymustbeusedasrewards,sothatallyourmenmayhaveakeendesiretofight,eachonhisownaccount.\"]

17.Thereforeinchariotfighting,whentenormorechariotshavebeentaken,thoseshouldberewardedwhotookthefirst.Ourownflagsshouldbesubstitutedforthoseoftheenemy,andthechariotsmingledandusedinconjunctionwithours.Thecapturedsoldiersshouldbekindlytreatedandkept.

18.Thisiscalled,usingtheconqueredfoetoaugmentone’sownstrength.

19.Inwar,then,letyourgreatobjectbevictory,notlengthycampaigns.

[AsHoShihremarks:\"Warisnotathingtobetrifledwith.\"SunTzuherereiteratesthemainlessonwhichthischapterisintendedtoenforce.\"]

20.Thusitmaybeknownthattheleaderofarmiesisthearbiterofthepeople’sfate,themanonwhomitdependswhetherthenationshallbeinpeaceorinperil.

III.ATTACKBYSTRATAGEM

1.SunTzusaid:Inthepracticalartofwar,thebestthingofallistotaketheenemy’scountrywholeandintact;toshatteranddestroyitisnotsogood.So,too,itisbettertorecaptureanarmyentirethantodestroyit,tocapturearegiment,adetachmentoracompanyentirethantodestroythem.

[Theequivalenttoanarmycorps,accordingtoSsu—maFa,consistednominallyof12500men;accordingtoTs`aoKung,theequivalentofaregimentcontained500men,theequivalenttoadetachmentconsistsfromanynumberbetween100and500,andtheequivalentofacompanycontainsfrom5to100men.Forthelasttwo,however,ChangYugivestheexactfiguresof100and5

respectively.]

2.Hencetofightandconquerinallyourbattlesisnotsupremeexcellence;supremeexcellenceconsistsinbreakingtheenemy’sresistancewithoutfighting.

[Hereagain,nomodernstrategistbutwillapprovethewordsoftheoldChinesegeneral.Moltke’sgreatesttriumph,thecapitulationofthehugeFrencharmyatSedan,waswonpracticallywithoutbloodshed.]

3.Thusthehighestformofgeneralshipistobalktheenemy’splans;

[Perhapstheword\"balk\"fallsshortofexpressingthefullforceoftheChineseword,whichimpliesnotanattitudeofdefense,wherebyonemightbecontenttofoiltheenemy’sstratagemsoneafteranother,butanactivepolicyofcounter—

attack.HoShihputsthisveryclearlyinhisnote:\"Whentheenemyhasmadeaplanofattackagainstus,wemustanticipatehimbydeliveringourownattackfirst.\"]

thenextbestistopreventthejunctionoftheenemy’sforces;

[Isolatinghimfromhisallies.WemustnotforgetthatSunTzu,inspeakingofhostilities,alwayshasinmindthenumerousstatesorprincipalitiesintowhichtheChinaofhisdaywassplitup.]

thenextinorderistoattacktheenemy’sarmyinthefield;

[Whenheisalreadyatfullstrength.]

andtheworstpolicyofallistobesiegewalledcities.

4.Theruleis,nottobesiegewalledcitiesifitcanpossiblybeavoided.

[Anothersoundpieceofmilitarytheory.HadtheBoersacteduponitin1899,andrefrainedfromdissipatingtheirstrengthbeforeKimberley,Mafeking,orevenLadysmith,itismorethanprobablethattheywouldhavebeenmastersofthesituationbeforetheBritishwerereadyseriouslytoopposethem.]

Thepreparationofmantlets,movableshelters,andvariousimplementsofwar,willtakeupthreewholemonths;

[ItisnotquiteclearwhattheChineseword,heretranslatedas\"mantlets\",described.Ts`aoKungsimplydefinesthemas\"largeshields,\"butwegetabetterideaofthemfromLiCh`uan,whosaystheyweretoprotecttheheadsofthosewhowereassaultingthecitywallsatclosequarters.ThisseemstosuggestasortofRomanTESTUDO,readymade.TuMusaystheywerewheeledvehiclesusedinrepellingattacks,butthisisdeniedbyCh`enHao.SeesupraII.14.Thenameisalsoappliedtoturretsoncitywalls.Ofthe\"movableshelters\"wegetafairlycleardescriptionfromseveralcommentators.Theywerewoodenmissile—proofstructuresonfourwheels,propelledfromwithin,coveredoverwithrawhides,andusedinsiegestoconveypartiesofmentoandfromthewalls,forthepurposeoffillinguptheencirclingmoatwithearth.TuMuaddsthattheyarenowcalled\"woodendonkeys.\"]

andthepilingupofmoundsoveragainstthewallswilltakethreemonthsmore.

[Theseweregreatmoundsorrampartsofearthheapeduptotheleveloftheenemy’swallsinordertodiscovertheweakpointsinthedefense,andalsotodestroythefortifiedturretsmentionedintheprecedingnote.]

5.Thegeneral,unabletocontrolhisirritation,willlaunchhismentotheassaultlikeswarmingants,[ThisvividsimileofTs`aoKungistakenfromthespectacleofanarmyofantsclimbingawall.Themeaningisthatthegeneral,losingpatienceatthelongdelay,maymakeaprematureattempttostormtheplacebeforehisenginesofwarareready.]

withtheresultthatone—thirdofhismenareslain,whilethetownstillremainsuntaken.Sucharethedisastrouseffectsofasiege.

[WeareremindedoftheterriblelossesoftheJapanesebeforePortArthur,inthemostrecentsiegewhichhistoryhastorecord.]

6.Thereforetheskillfulleadersubduestheenemy’stroopswithoutanyfighting;hecapturestheircitieswithoutlayingsiegetothem;heoverthrowstheirkingdomwithoutlengthyoperationsinthefield.

[ChiaLinnotesthatheonlyoverthrowstheGovernment,butdoesnoharmtoindividuals.TheclassicalinstanceisWuWang,whoafterhavingputanendtotheYindynastywasacclaimed\"Fatherandmotherofthepeople.\"]

7.WithhisforcesintacthewilldisputethemasteryoftheEmpire,andthus,withoutlosingaman,histriumphwillbecomplete.

[OwingtothedoublemeaningsintheChinesetext,thelatterpartofthesentenceissusceptibleofquiteadifferentmeaning:\"Andthus,theweaponnotbeingbluntedbyuse,itskeennessremainsperfect.\"]

Thisisthemethodofattackingbystratagem.

8.Itistheruleinwar,ifourforcesaretentotheenemy’sone,tosurroundhim;iffivetoone,toattackhim;

[Straightway,withoutwaitingforanyfurtheradvantage.]

iftwiceasnumerous,todivideourarmyintotwo.

[TuMutakesexceptiontothesaying;andatfirstsight,indeed,itappearstoviolateafundamentalprincipleofwar.

Ts’aoKung,however,givesacluetoSunTzu’smeaning:\"Beingtwototheenemy’sone,wemayuseonepartofourarmyintheregularway,andtheotherforsomespecialdiversion.\"ChangYuthusfurtherelucidatesthepoint:\"Ifourforceistwiceasnumerousasthatoftheenemy,itshouldbesplitupintotwodivisions,onetomeettheenemyinfront,andonetofalluponhisrear;ifherepliestothefrontalattack,hemaybecrushedfrombehind;iftotherearwardattack,hemaybecrushedinfront.\"Thisiswhatismeantbysayingthat’onepartmaybeusedintheregularway,andtheotherforsomespecialdiversion.’TuMudoesnotunderstandthatdividingone’sarmyissimplyanirregular,justasconcentratingitistheregular,strategicalmethod,andheistoohastyincallingthisamistake.\"]

9.Ifequallymatched,wecanofferbattle;

[LiCh`uan,followedbyHoShih,givesthefollowingparaphrase:\"Ifattackersandattackedareequallymatchedinstrength,onlytheablegeneralwillfight.\"]

ifslightlyinferiorinnumbers,wecanavoidtheenemy;

[Themeaning,\"wecanWATCHtheenemy,\"iscertainlyagreatimprovementontheabove;butunfortunatelythereappearstobenoverygoodauthorityforthevariant.ChangYuremindsusthatthesayingonlyappliesiftheotherfactorsareequal;asmalldifferenceinnumbersisoftenmorethancounterbalancedbysuperiorenergyanddiscipline.]

ifquiteunequalineveryway,wecanfleefromhim.

10.Hence,thoughanobstinatefightmaybemadebyasmallforce,intheenditmustbecapturedbythelargerforce.

11.NowthegeneralisthebulwarkoftheState;ifthebulwarkiscompleteatallpoints;theStatewillbestrong;ifthebulwarkisdefective,theStatewillbeweak.

[AsLiCh`uanterselyputsit:\"Gapindicatesdeficiency;

ifthegeneral’sabilityisnotperfect(i.e.ifheisnotthoroughlyversedinhisprofession),hisarmywilllackstrength.\"]

12.Therearethreewaysinwhicharulercanbringmisfortuneuponhisarmy:——

13.(1)Bycommandingthearmytoadvanceortoretreat,beingignorantofthefactthatitcannotobey.Thisiscalledhobblingthearmy.