[Thisend,accordingtoTuMu,isbestattainedbyremainingonthedefensive,andavoidingbattle.Cf.supra,ss.11.]
Onfacileground,Iwouldseethatthereiscloseconnectionbetweenallpartsofmyarmy.
[AsTuMusays,theobjectistoguardagainsttwopossiblecontingencies:\"(1)thedesertionofourowntroops;(2)asuddenattackonthepartoftheenemy.\"Cf.VII.ss.17.MeiYao—ch`ensays:\"Onthemarch,theregimentsshouldbeinclosetouch;inanencampment,thereshouldbecontinuitybetweenthefortifications.\"]
47.Oncontentiousground,Iwouldhurryupmyrear.
[ThisisTs`aoKung’sinterpretation.ChangYuadoptsit,saying:\"Wemustquicklybringupourrear,sothatheadandtailmaybothreachthegoal.\"Thatis,theymustnotbeallowedtostraggleupalongwayapart.MeiYao—ch`enoffersanotherequallyplausibleexplanation:\"Supposingtheenemyhasnotyetreachedthecovetedposition,andwearebehindhim,weshouldadvancewithallspeedinordertodisputeitspossession.\"
Ch`enHao,ontheotherhand,assumingthattheenemyhashadtimetoselecthisownground,quotesVI.ss.1,whereSunTzuwarnsusagainstcomingexhaustedtotheattack.Hisownideaofthesituationisrathervaguelyexpressed:\"Ifthereisafavorablepositionlyinginfrontofyou,detachapickedbodyoftroopstooccupyit,theniftheenemy,relyingontheirnumbers,comeuptomakeafightforit,youmayfallquicklyontheirrearwithyourmainbody,andvictorywillbeassured.\"Itwasthus,headds,thatChaoShebeatthearmyofCh`in.(Seep.
57.)]
48.Onopenground,Iwouldkeepavigilanteyeonmydefenses.Ongroundofintersectinghighways,Iwouldconsolidatemyalliances.
49.Onseriousground,Iwouldtrytoensureacontinuousstreamofsupplies.
[Thecommentatorstakethisasreferringtoforageandplunder,not,asonemightexpect,toanunbrokencommunicationwithahomebase.]
Ondifficultground,Iwouldkeeppushingonalongtheroad.
50.Onhemmed—inground,Iwouldblockanywayofretreat.
[MengShihsays:\"TomakeitseemthatImeanttodefendtheposition,whereasmyrealintentionistoburstsuddenlythroughtheenemy’slines.\"MeiYao—ch`ensays:\"inordertomakemysoldiersfightwithdesperation.\"WangHsisays,\"fearinglestmymenbetemptedtorunaway.\"TuMupointsoutthatthisistheconverseofVII.ss.36,whereitistheenemywhoissurrounded.In532A.D.,KaoHuan,afterwardsEmperorandcanonizedasShen—wu,wassurroundedbyagreatarmyunderErh—
chuChaoandothers.Hisownforcewascomparativelysmall,consistingonlyof2000horseandsomethingunder30,000foot.
Thelinesofinvestmenthadnotbeendrawnverycloselytogether,gapsbeingleftatcertainpoints.ButKaoHuan,insteadoftryingtoescape,actuallymadeashifttoblockalltheremainingoutletshimselfbydrivingintothemanumberofoxenanddonkeysropedtogether.Assoonashisofficersandmensawthattherewasnothingforitbuttoconquerordie,theirspiritsrosetoanextraordinarypitchofexaltation,andtheychargedwithsuchdesperateferocitythattheopposingranksbrokeandcrumbledundertheironslaught.]
Ondesperateground,Iwouldproclaimtomysoldiersthehopelessnessofsavingtheirlives.
TuYusays:\"Burnyourbaggageandimpedimenta,throwawayyourstoresandprovisions,chokeupthewells,destroyyourcooking—stoves,andmakeitplaintoyourmenthattheycannotsurvive,butmustfighttothedeath.\"MeiYao—ch`ensays:\"Theonlychanceoflifeliesingivingupallhopeofit.\"ThisconcludeswhatSunTzuhastosayabout\"grounds\"andthe\"variations\"correspondingtothem.Reviewingthepassageswhichbearonthisimportantsubject,wecannotfailtobestruckbythedesultoryandunmethodicalfashioninwhichitistreated.
SunTzubeginsabruptlyinVIII.ss.2toenumerate\"variations\"
beforetouchingon\"grounds\"atall,butonlymentionsfive,namelynos.7,5,8and9ofthesubsequentlist,andonethatisnotincludedinit.Afewvarietiesofgroundaredealtwithintheearlierportionofchap.IX,andthenchap.Xsetsforthsixnewgrounds,withsixvariationsofplantomatch.Noneoftheseismentionedagain,thoughthefirstishardlytobedistinguishedfromgroundno.4inthenextchapter.Atlast,inchap.XI,wecometotheNineGroundsparexcellence,immediatelyfollowedbythevariations.Thistakesusdowntoss.14.InSS.43—45,freshdefinitionsareprovidedfornos.5,6,2,8and9(intheordergiven),aswellasforthetenthgroundnoticedinchap.VIII;andfinally,theninevariationsareenumeratedoncemorefrombeginningtoend,all,withtheexceptionof5,6
and7,beingdifferentfromthosepreviouslygiven.ThoughitisimpossibletoaccountforthepresentstateofSunTzu’stext,afewsuggestivefactsmaybebroughtintoprominence:(1)Chap.
VIII,accordingtothetitle,shoulddealwithninevariations,whereasonlyfiveappear.(2)Itisanabnormallyshortchapter.
(3)Chap.XIisentitledTheNineGrounds.Severalofthesearedefinedtwiceover,besideswhichtherearetwodistinctlistsofthecorrespondingvariations.(4)Thelengthofthechapterisdisproportionate,beingdoublethatofanyotherexceptIX.Idonotproposetodrawanyinferencesfromthesefacts,beyondthegeneralconclusionthatSunTzu’sworkcannothavecomedowntousintheshapeinwhichitlefthishands:chap.VIIIisobviouslydefectiveandprobablyoutofplace,whileXIseemstocontainmatterthathaseitherbeenaddedbyalaterhandoroughttoappearelsewhere.]
51.Foritisthesoldier’sdispositiontoofferanobstinateresistancewhensurrounded,tofighthardwhenhecannothelphimself,andtoobeypromptlywhenhehasfallenintodanger.
[ChangYualludestotheconductofPanCh`ao’sdevotedfollowersin73A.D.ThestoryrunsthusintheHOUHANSHU,ch.
47:\"WhenPanCh`aoarrivedatShan—shan,Kuang,theKingofthecountry,receivedhimatfirstwithgreatpolitenessandrespect;
butshortlyafterwardshisbehaviorunderwentasuddenchange,andhebecameremissandnegligent.PanCh`aospokeaboutthistotheofficersofhissuite:’Haveyounoticed,’hesaid,’thatKuang’spoliteintentionsareonthewane?ThismustsignifythatenvoyshavecomefromtheNorthernbarbarians,andthatconsequentlyheisinastateofindecision,notknowingwithwhichsidetothrowinhislot.Thatsurelyisthereason.Thetrulywiseman,wearetold,canperceivethingsbeforetheyhavecometopass;howmuchmore,then,thosethatarealreadymanifest!’Thereuponhecalledoneofthenativeswhohadbeenassignedtohisservice,andsetatrapforhim,saying:’WherearethoseenvoysfromtheHsiung—nuwhoarrivedsomedayago?’
Themanwassotakenabackthatbetweensurpriseandfearhepresentlyblurtedoutthewholetruth.PanCh`ao,keepinghisinformantcarefullyunderlockandkey,thensummonedageneralgatheringofhisofficers,thirty—sixinall,andbegandrinkingwiththem.Whenthewinehadmountedintotheirheadsalittle,hetriedtorousetheirspiritstillfurtherbyaddressingthemthus:’Gentlemen,hereweareintheheartofanisolatedregion,anxioustoachieverichesandhonorbysomegreatexploit.NowithappensthatanambassadorfromtheHsiung—noarrivedinthiskingdomonlyafewdaysago,andtheresultisthattherespectfulcourtesyextendedtowardsusbyourroyalhosthasdisappeared.ShouldthisenvoyprevailuponhimtoseizeourpartyandhandusovertotheHsiung—no,ourboneswillbecomefoodforthewolvesofthedesert.Whatarewetodo?’
Withoneaccord,theofficersreplied:’Standingaswedoinperilofourlives,wewillfollowourcommanderthroughlifeanddeath.’Forthesequelofthisadventure,seechap.XII.ss.1,note.]
52.Wecannotenterintoalliancewithneighboringprincesuntilweareacquaintedwiththeirdesigns.Wearenotfittoleadanarmyonthemarchunlesswearefamiliarwiththefaceofthecountry——itsmountainsandforests,itspitfallsandprecipices,itsmarshesandswamps.Weshallbeunabletoturnnaturaladvantagestoaccountunlesswemakeuseoflocalguides.
[ThesethreesentencesarerepeatedfromVII.SS.12—14——
inordertoemphasizetheirimportance,thecommentatorsseemtothink.Iprefertoregardthemasinterpolatedhereinordertoformanantecedenttothefollowingwords.Withregardtolocalguides,SunTzumighthaveaddedthatthereisalwaystheriskofgoingwrong,eitherthroughtheirtreacheryorsomemisunderstandingsuchasLivyrecords(XXII.13):Hannibal,wearetold,orderedaguidetoleadhimintotheneighborhoodofCasinum,wheretherewasanimportantpasstobeoccupied;buthisCarthaginianaccent,unsuitedtothepronunciationofLatinnames,causedtheguidetounderstandCasilinuminsteadofCasinum,andturningfromhisproperroute,hetookthearmyinthatdirection,themistakenotbeingdiscovereduntiltheyhadalmostarrived.]
53.Tobeignoredofanyoneofthefollowingfourorfiveprinciplesdoesnotbefitawarlikeprince.
54.Whenawarlikeprinceattacksapowerfulstate,hisgeneralshipshowsitselfinpreventingtheconcentrationoftheenemy’sforces.Heoveraweshisopponents,andtheiralliesarepreventedfromjoiningagainsthim.
[MeiTao—ch`enconstructsoneofthechainsofreasoningthataresomuchaffectedbytheChinese:\"Inattackingapowerfulstate,ifyoucandivideherforces,youwillhaveasuperiorityinstrength;ifyouhaveasuperiorityinstrength,youwilloverawetheenemy;ifyouoverawetheenemy,theneighboringstateswillbefrightened;andiftheneighboringstatesarefrightened,theenemy’sallieswillbepreventedfromjoiningher.\"Thefollowinggivesastrongermeaning:\"Ifthegreatstatehasoncebeendefeated(beforeshehashadtimetosummonherallies),thenthelesserstateswillholdaloofandrefrainfrommassingtheirforces.\"Ch`enHaoandChangYutakethesentenceinquiteanotherway.Theformersays:\"Powerfulthoughaprincemaybe,ifheattacksalargestate,hewillbeunabletoraiseenoughtroops,andmustrelytosomeextentonexternalaid;ifhedispenseswiththis,andwithoverweeningconfidenceinhisownstrength,simplytriestointimidatetheenemy,hewillsurelybedefeated.\"ChangYuputshisviewthus:
\"Ifwerecklesslyattackalargestate,ourownpeoplewillbediscontentedandhangback.Butif(aswillthenbethecase)
ourdisplayofmilitaryforceisinferiorbyhalftothatoftheenemy,theotherchieftainswilltakefrightandrefusetojoinus.\"]
55.Hencehedoesnotstrivetoallyhimselfwithallandsundry,nordoeshefosterthepowerofotherstates.Hecarriesouthisownsecretdesigns,keepinghisantagonistsinawe.
[Thetrainofthought,assaidbyLiCh`uan,appearstobethis:Secureagainstacombinationofhisenemies,\"hecanaffordtorejectentanglingalliancesandsimplypursuehisownsecretdesigns,hisprestigeenablehimtodispensewithexternalfriendships.\"]
Thusheisabletocapturetheircitiesandoverthrowtheirkingdoms.
[Thisparagraph,thoughwrittenmanyyearsbeforetheCh`inStatebecameaseriousmenace,isnotabadsummaryofthepolicybywhichthefamousSixChancellorsgraduallypavedthewayforherfinaltriumphunderShihHuangTi.ChangYu,followinguphispreviousnote,thinksthatSunTzuiscondemningthisattitudeofcold—bloodedselfishnessandhaughtyisolation.]
56.Bestowrewardswithoutregardtorule,[WuTzu(ch.3)lesswiselysays:\"Letadvanceberichlyrewardedandretreatbeheavilypunished.\"]
issueorders[Literally,\"hang\"orpostup.\"]
withoutregardtopreviousarrangements;
[\"Inordertopreventtreachery,\"saysWangHsi.ThegeneralmeaningismadeclearbyTs`aoKung’squotationfromtheSSU—MAFA:\"Giveinstructionsonlyonsightingtheenemy;giverewardswhenyouseedeservingdeeds.\"Ts`aoKung’sparaphrase:
\"Thefinalinstructionsyougivetoyourarmyshouldnotcorrespondwiththosethathavebeenpreviouslypostedup.\"
ChangYusimplifiesthisinto\"yourarrangementsshouldnotbedivulgedbeforehand.\"AndChiaLinsays:\"thereshouldbenofixityinyourrulesandarrangements.\"Notonlyistheredangerinlettingyourplansbeknown,butwaroftennecessitatestheentirereversalofthematthelastmoment.]
andyouwillbeabletohandleawholearmyasthoughyouhadtodowithbutasingleman.
[Cf.supra,ss.34.]
57.Confrontyoursoldierswiththedeeditself;neverletthemknowyourdesign.
[Literally,\"donottellthemwords;\"i.e.donotgiveyourreasonsforanyorder.LordMansfieldoncetoldajuniorcolleagueto\"givenoreasons\"forhisdecisions,andthemaximisevenmoreapplicabletoageneralthantoajudge.]
Whentheoutlookisbright,bringitbeforetheireyes;buttellthemnothingwhenthesituationisgloomy.
58.Placeyourarmyindeadlyperil,anditwillsurvive;
plungeitintodesperatestraits,anditwillcomeoffinsafety.
[ThesewordsofSunTzuwereoncequotedbyHanHsininexplanationofthetacticsheemployedinoneofhismostbrilliantbattles,alreadyalludedtoonp.28.In204B.C.,hewassentagainstthearmyofChao,andhaltedtenmilesfromthemouthoftheChing—hsingpass,wheretheenemyhadmusteredinfullforce.Here,atmidnight,hedetachedabodyof2000lightcavalry,everymanofwhichwasfurnishedwitharedflag.Theirinstructionsweretomaketheirwaythroughnarrowdefilesandkeepasecretwatchontheenemy.\"WhenthemenofChaoseemeinfullflight,\"HanHsinsaid,\"theywillabandontheirfortificationsandgivechase.Thismustbethesignforyoutorushin,pluckdowntheChaostandardsandsetuptheredbannersofHanintheirstead.\"Turningthentohisotherofficers,heremarked:\"Ouradversaryholdsastrongposition,andisnotlikelytocomeoutandattackusuntilheseesthestandardanddrumsofthecommander—in—chief,forfearIshouldturnbackandescapethroughthemountains.\"Sosaying,hefirstofallsentoutadivisionconsistingof10,000men,andorderedthemtoforminlineofbattlewiththeirbackstotheRiverTi.Seeingthismaneuver,thewholearmyofChaobrokeintoloudlaughter.Bythistimeitwasbroaddaylight,andHanHsin,displayingthegeneralissimo’sflag,marchedoutofthepasswithdrumsbeating,andwasimmediatelyengagedbytheenemy.Agreatbattlefollowed,lastingforsometime;untilatlengthHanHsinandhiscolleagueChangNi,leavingdrumsandbanneronthefield,fledtothedivisionontheriverbank,whereanotherfiercebattlewasraging.Theenemyrushedouttopursuethemandtosecurethetrophies,thusdenudingtheirrampartsofmen;butthetwogeneralssucceededinjoiningtheotherarmy,whichwasfightingwiththeutmostdesperation.Thetimehadnowcomeforthe2000
horsementoplaytheirpart.AssoonastheysawthemenofChaofollowinguptheiradvantage,theygallopedbehindthedesertedwalls,toreuptheenemy’sflagsandreplacedthembythoseofHan.WhentheChaoarmylookedbackfromthepursuit,thesightoftheseredflagsstruckthemwithterror.ConvincedthattheHanshadgotinandoverpoweredtheirking,theybrokeupinwilddisorder,everyeffortoftheirleadertostaythepanicbeinginvain.ThentheHanarmyfellonthemfrombothsidesandcompletedtherout,killinganumberandcapturingtherest,amongstwhomwasKingYahimselfAfterthebattle,someofHanHsin’sofficerscametohimandsaid:\"IntheARTOFWARwearetoldtohaveahillortumulusontherightrear,andariverormarshontheleftfront.[ThisappearstobeablendofSunTzuandT`aiKung.SeeIXss.9,andnote.]You,onthecontrary,orderedustodrawupourtroopswiththeriveratourback.Undertheseconditions,howdidyoumanagetogainthevictory?\"Thegeneralreplied:\"IfearyougentlemenhavenotstudiedtheArtofWarwithsufficientcare.Isitnotwrittenthere:’Plungeyourarmyintodesperatestraitsanditwillcomeoffinsafety;placeitindeadlyperilanditwillsurvive’?
HadItakentheusualcourse,Ishouldneverhavebeenabletobringmycolleagueround.WhatsaystheMilitaryClassic——’Swoopdownonthemarket—placeanddrivethemenofftofight.’[ThispassagedoesnotoccurinthepresenttextofSunTzu.]IfIhadnotplacedmytroopsinapositionwheretheywereobligedtofightfortheirlives,buthadallowedeachmantofollowhisowndiscretion,therewouldhavebeenageneraldebandade,anditwouldhavebeenimpossibletodoanythingwiththem.\"Theofficersadmittedtheforceofhisargument,andsaid:\"Thesearehighertacticsthanweshouldhavebeencapableof.\"[SeeCH`IENHANSHU,ch.34,ff.4,5.]]
59.Foritispreciselywhenaforcehasfallenintoharm’swaythatiscapableofstrikingablowforvictory.
[Dangerhasabracingeffect.]
60.Successinwarfareisgainedbycarefullyaccommodatingourselvestotheenemy’spurpose.
[Ts`aoKungsays:\"Feignstupidity\"——byanappearanceofyieldingandfallinginwiththeenemy’swishes.ChangYu’snotemakesthemeaningclear:\"Iftheenemyshowsaninclinationtoadvance,lurehimontodoso;ifheisanxioustoretreat,delayonpurposethathemaycarryouthisintention.\"Theobjectistomakehimremissandcontemptuousbeforewedeliverourattack.]
61.Bypersistentlyhangingontheenemy’sflank,[Iunderstandthefirstfourwordstomean\"accompanyingtheenemyinonedirection.\"Ts`aoKungsays:\"unitethesoldiersandmakefortheenemy.\"Butsuchaviolentdisplacementofcharactersisquiteindefensible.]
weshallsucceedinthelongrun[Literally,\"afterathousandLI.\"]
inkillingthecommander—in—chief.
[AlwaysagreatpointwiththeChinese.]
62.Thisiscalledabilitytoaccomplishathingbysheercunning.
63.Onthedaythatyoutakeupyourcommand,blockthefrontierpasses,destroytheofficialtallies,[Theseweretabletsofbambooorwood,onehalfofwhichwasissuedasapermitorpassportbytheofficialinchargeofagate.Cf.the\"border—warden\"ofLUNYUIII.24,whomayhavehadsimilarduties.Whenthishalfwasreturnedtohim,withinafixedperiod,hewasauthorizedtoopenthegateandletthetravelerthrough.]
andstopthepassageofallemissaries.
[Eithertoorfromtheenemy’scountry.]
64.Besterninthecouncil—chamber,[Shownoweakness,andinsistonyourplansbeingratifiedbythesovereign.]
sothatyoumaycontrolthesituation.
[MeiYao—ch`enunderstandsthewholesentencetomean:Takethestrictestprecautionstoensuresecrecyinyourdeliberations.]
65.Iftheenemyleavesadooropen,youmustrushin.
66.Forestallyouropponentbyseizingwhatheholdsdear,[Cf.supra,ss.18.]
andsubtlycontrivetotimehisarrivalontheground.
[Ch`enHao`sexplanation:\"IfImanagetoseizeafavorableposition,buttheenemydoesnotappearonthescene,theadvantagethusobtainedcannotbeturnedtoanypracticalaccount.Hewhointendstherefore,tooccupyapositionofimportancetotheenemy,mustbeginbymakinganartfulappointment,sotospeak,withhisantagonist,andcajolehimintogoingthereaswell.\"MeiYao—ch`enexplainsthatthis\"artfulappointment\"istobemadethroughthemediumoftheenemy’sownspies,whowillcarrybackjusttheamountofinformationthatwechoosetogivethem.Then,havingcunninglydisclosedourintentions,\"wemustmanage,thoughstartingaftertheenemy,toarrivebeforehim(VII.ss.4).Wemuststartafterhiminordertoensurehismarchingthither;wemustarrivebeforehiminordertocapturetheplacewithouttrouble.Takenthus,thepresentpassagelendssomesupporttoMeiYao—ch`en’sinterpretationofss.47.]
67.Walkinthepathdefinedbyrule,[ChiaLinsays:\"Victoryistheonlythingthatmatters,andthiscannotbeachievedbyadheringtoconventionalcanons.\"
Itisunfortunatethatthisvariantrestsonveryslightauthority,forthesenseyieldediscertainlymuchmoresatisfactory.Napoleon,asweknow,accordingtotheveteransoftheoldschoolwhomhedefeated,wonhisbattlesbyviolatingeveryacceptedcanonofwarfare.]
andaccommodateyourselftotheenemyuntilyoucanfightadecisivebattle.
[TuMusays:\"Conformtotheenemy’stacticsuntilafavorableopportunityoffers;thencomeforthandengageinabattlethatshallprovedecisive.\"]
68.Atfirst,then,exhibitthecoynessofamaiden,untiltheenemygivesyouanopening;afterwardsemulatetherapidityofarunninghare,anditwillbetoolatefortheenemytoopposeyou.
[Asthehareisnotedforitsextremetimidity,thecomparisonhardlyappearsfelicitous.ButofcourseSunTzuwasthinkingonlyofitsspeed.Thewordshavebeentakentomean:
Youmustfleefromtheenemyasquicklyasanescapinghare;butthisisrightlyrejectedbyTuMu.]
[1]Giles’BiographicalDictionary,no.399.
[2]\"TheScienceofWar,\"p.333.
[3]\"StonewallJackson,\"vol.I,p.421.
XII.THEATTACKBYFIRE
[Rathermorethanhalfthechapter(SS.1—13)isdevotedtothesubjectoffire,afterwhichtheauthorbranchesoffintoothertopics.]
1.SunTzusaid:Therearefivewaysofattackingwithfire.Thefirstistoburnsoldiersintheircamp;
[SoTuMu.LiCh`uansays:\"Setfiretothecamp,andkillthesoldiers\"(whentheytrytoescapefromtheflames).PanCh`ao,sentonadiplomaticmissiontotheKingofShan—shan[seeXI.ss.51,note],foundhimselfplacedinextremeperilbytheunexpectedarrivalofanenvoyfromtheHsiung—nu[themortalenemiesoftheChinese].Inconsultationwithhisofficers,heexclaimed:\"Neverventure,neverwin![1]Theonlycourseopentousnowistomakeanassaultbyfireonthebarbariansundercoverofnight,whentheywillnotbeabletodiscernournumbers.Profitingbytheirpanic,weshallexterminatethemcompletely;thiswillcooltheKing’scourageandcoveruswithglory,besidesensuringthesuccessofourmission.’theofficersallrepliedthatitwouldbenecessarytodiscussthematterfirstwiththeIntendant.PanCh`aothenfellintoapassion:’Itistoday,’hecried,’thatourfortunesmustbedecided!TheIntendantisonlyahumdrumcivilian,whoonhearingofourprojectwillcertainlybeafraid,andeverythingwillbebroughttolight.Aningloriousdeathisnoworthyfateforvaliantwarriors.’Allthenagreedtodoashewished.
Accordingly,assoonasnightcameon,heandhislittlebandquicklymadetheirwaytothebarbariancamp.Astronggalewasblowingatthetime.PanCh`aoorderedtenofthepartytotakedrumsandhidebehindtheenemy’sbarracks,itbeingarrangedthatwhentheysawflamesshootup,theyshouldbegindrummingandyellingwithalltheirmight.Therestofhismen,armedwithbowsandcrossbows,hepostedinambuscadeatthegateofthecamp.Hethensetfiretotheplacefromthewindwardside,whereuponadeafeningnoiseofdrumsandshoutingaroseonthefrontandrearoftheHsiung—nu,whorushedoutpell—mellinfranticdisorder.PanCh`aoslewthreeofthemwithhisownhand,whilehiscompanionscutofftheheadsoftheenvoyandthirtyofhissuite.Theremainder,morethanahundredinall,perishedintheflames.Onthefollowingday,PanCh`ao,divininghisthoughts,saidwithupliftedhand:’Althoughyoudidnotgowithuslastnight,Ishouldnotthink,Sir,oftakingsolecreditforourexploit.’ThissatisfiedKuoHsun,andPanCh`ao,havingsentforKuang,KingofShan—shan,showedhimtheheadofthebarbarianenvoy.Thewholekingdomwasseizedwithfearandtrembling,whichPanCh`aotookstepstoallaybyissuingapublicproclamation.Then,takingtheking’ssonsashostage,hereturnedtomakehisreporttoTouKu.\"HOUHANSHU,ch.47,ff.1,2.]]
thesecondistoburnstores;
[TuMusays:\"Provisions,fuelandfodder.\"InordertosubduetherebelliouspopulationofKiangnan,KaoKengrecommendedWenTioftheSuidynastytomakeperiodicalraidsandburntheirstoresofgrain,apolicywhichinthelongrunprovedentirelysuccessful.]
thethirdistoburnbaggagetrains;
[AnexamplegivenisthedestructionofYuanShao`swagonsandimpedimentabyTs`aoTs`aoin200A.D.]
thefourthistoburnarsenalsandmagazines;
[TuMusaysthatthethingscontainedin\"arsenals\"and\"magazines\"arethesame.Hespecifiesweaponsandotherimplements,bullionandclothing.Cf.VII.ss.11.]
thefifthistohurldroppingfireamongsttheenemy.
[TuYusaysintheT`UNGTIEN:\"Todropfireintotheenemy’scamp.Themethodbywhichthismaybedoneistosetthetipsofarrowsalightbydippingthemintoabrazier,andthenshootthemfrompowerfulcrossbowsintotheenemy’slines.\"]
2.Inordertocarryoutanattack,wemusthavemeansavailable.
[T`saoKungthinksthat\"traitorsintheenemy’scamp\"arereferredto.ButCh`enHaoismorelikelytoberightinsaying:
\"Wemusthavefavorablecircumstancesingeneral,notmerelytraitorstohelpus.\"ChiaLinsays:\"Wemustavailourselvesofwindanddryweather.\"]
thematerialforraisingfireshouldalwaysbekeptinreadiness.
[TuMusuggestsasmaterialformakingfire:\"dryvegetablematter,reeds,brushwood,straw,grease,oil,etc.\"Herewehavethematerialcause.ChangYusays:\"vesselsforhoardingfire,stuffforlightingfires.\"]
3.Thereisaproperseasonformakingattackswithfire,andspecialdaysforstartingaconflagration.
4.Theproperseasoniswhentheweatherisverydry;thespecialdaysarethosewhenthemoonisintheconstellationsoftheSieve,theWall,theWingortheCross—bar;
[Theseare,respectively,the7th,14th,27th,and28thoftheTwenty—eightStellarMansions,correspondingroughlytoSagittarius,Pegasus,CraterandCorvus.]
forthesefourarealldaysofrisingwind.
5.Inattackingwithfire,oneshouldbepreparedtomeetfivepossibledevelopments:
6.(1)Whenfirebreaksoutinsidetoenemy’scamp,respondatoncewithanattackfromwithout.
7.(2)Ifthereisanoutbreakoffire,buttheenemy’ssoldiersremainquiet,bideyourtimeanddonotattack.
[Theprimeobjectofattackingwithfireistothrowtheenemyintoconfusion.Ifthiseffectisnotproduced,itmeansthattheenemyisreadytoreceiveus.Hencethenecessityforcaution.]
8.(3)Whentheforceoftheflameshasreacheditsheight,followitupwithanattack,ifthatispracticable;ifnot,staywhereyouare.
[Ts`aoKungsays:\"Ifyouseeapossibleway,advance;butifyoufindthedifficultiestoogreat,retire.\"]
9.(4)Ifitispossibletomakeanassaultwithfirefromwithout,donotwaitforittobreakoutwithin,butdeliveryourattackatafavorablemoment.
[TuMusaysthatthepreviousparagraphshadreferencetothefirebreakingout(eitheraccidentally,wemaysuppose,orbytheagencyofincendiaries)insidetheenemy’scamp.\"But,\"hecontinues,\"iftheenemyissettledinawasteplacelitteredwithquantitiesofgrass,orifhehaspitchedhiscampinapositionwhichcanbeburntout,wemustcarryourfireagainsthimatanyseasonableopportunity,andnotawaitoninhopesofanoutbreakoccurringwithin,forfearouropponentsshouldthemselvesburnupthesurroundingvegetation,andthusrenderourownattemptsfruitless.\"ThefamousLiLingoncebaffledtheleaderoftheHsiung—nuinthisway.Thelatter,takingadvantageofafavorablewind,triedtosetfiretotheChinesegeneral’scamp,butfoundthateveryscrapofcombustiblevegetationintheneighborhoodhadalreadybeenburntdown.Ontheotherhand,Po—ts`ai,ageneraloftheYellowTurbanrebels,wasbadlydefeatedin184A.D.throughhisneglectofthissimpleprecaution.\"AttheheadofalargearmyhewasbesiegingCh`ang—she,whichwasheldbyHuang—fuSung.Thegarrisonwasverysmall,andageneralfeelingofnervousnesspervadedtheranks;soHuang—fuSungcalledhisofficerstogetherandsaid:
\"Inwar,therearevariousindirectmethodsofattack,andnumbersdonotcountforeverything.[ThecommentatorherequotesSunTzu,V.SS.5,6and10.]Nowtherebelshavepitchedtheircampinthemidstofthickgrasswhichwilleasilyburnwhenthewindblows.Ifwesetfiretoitatnight,theywillbethrownintoapanic,andwecanmakeasortieandattackthemonallsidesatonce,thusemulatingtheachievementofT`ienTan.’
[Seep.90.]Thatsameevening,astrongbreezesprangup;soHuang—fuSunginstructedhissoldierstobindreedstogetherintotorchesandmountguardonthecitywalls,afterwhichhesentoutabandofdaringmen,whostealthilymadetheirwaythroughthelinesandstartedthefirewithloudshoutsandyells.
Simultaneously,aglareoflightshotupfromthecitywalls,andHuang—fuSung,soundinghisdrums,ledarapidcharge,whichthrewtherebelsintoconfusionandputthemtoheadlongflight.\"
[HOUHANSHU,ch.71.]]
10.(5)Whenyoustartafire,betowindwardofit.Donotattackfromtheleeward.
[ChangYu,followingTuYu,says:\"Whenyoumakeafire,theenemywillretreatawayfromit;ifyouopposehisretreatandattackhimthen,hewillfightdesperately,whichwillnotconducetoyoursuccess.\"ArathermoreobviousexplanationisgivenbyTuMu:\"Ifthewindisintheeast,beginburningtotheeastoftheenemy,andfollowuptheattackyourselffromthatside.Ifyoustartthefireontheeastside,andthenattackfromthewest,youwillsufferinthesamewayasyourenemy.\"]
11.Awindthatrisesinthedaytimelastslong,butanightbreezesoonfalls.
[Cf.LaoTzu’ssaying:\"Aviolentwinddoesnotlastthespaceofamorning.\"(TAOTECHING,chap.23.)MeiYao—ch`enandWangHsisay:\"Adaybreezediesdownatnightfall,andanightbreezeatdaybreak.Thisiswhathappensasageneralrule.\"Thephenomenonobservedmaybecorrectenough,buthowthissenseistobeobtainedisnotapparent.]
12.Ineveryarmy,thefivedevelopmentsconnectedwithfiremustbeknown,themovementsofthestarscalculated,andawatchkeptfortheproperdays.
[TuMusays:\"Wemustmakecalculationsastothepathsofthestars,andwatchforthedaysonwhichwindwillrise,beforemakingourattackwithfire.\"ChangYuseemstointerpretthetextdifferently:\"Wemustnotonlyknowhowtoassailouropponentswithfire,butalsobeonourguardagainstsimilarattacksfromthem.\"]
13.Hencethosewhousefireasanaidtotheattackshowintelligence;thosewhousewaterasanaidtotheattackgainanaccessionofstrength.
14.Bymeansofwater,anenemymaybeintercepted,butnotrobbedofallhisbelongings.
[Ts`aoKung’snoteis:\"Wecanmerelyobstructtheenemy’sroadordividehisarmy,butnotsweepawayallhisaccumulatedstores.\"Watercandousefulservice,butitlackstheterribledestructivepoweroffire.Thisisthereason,ChangYuconcludes,whytheformerisdismissedinacoupleofsentences,whereastheattackbyfireisdiscussedindetail.WuTzu(ch.
4)speaksthusofthetwoelements:\"Ifanarmyisencampedonlow—lyingmarshyground,fromwhichthewatercannotrunoff,andwheretherainfallisheavy,itmaybesubmergedbyaflood.Ifanarmyisencampedinwildmarshlandsthicklyovergrownwithweedsandbrambles,andvisitedbyfrequentgales,itmaybeexterminatedbyfire.\"]
15.Unhappyisthefateofonewhotriestowinhisbattlesandsucceedinhisattackswithoutcultivatingthespiritofenterprise;fortheresultiswasteoftimeandgeneralstagnation.
[ThisisoneofthemostperplexingpassagesinSunTzu.
Ts`aoKungsays:\"Rewardsforgoodserviceshouldnotbedeferredasingleday.\"AndTuMu:\"Ifyoudonottakeopportunitytoadvanceandrewardthedeserving,yoursubordinateswillnotcarryoutyourcommands,anddisasterwillensue.\"Forseveralreasons,however,andinspiteoftheformidablearrayofscholarsontheotherside,IprefertheinterpretationsuggestedbyMeiYao—ch`enalone,whosewordsI
willquote:\"Thosewhowanttomakesureofsucceedingintheirbattlesandassaultsmustseizethefavorablemomentswhentheycomeandnotshrinkonoccasionfromheroicmeasures:thatistosay,theymustresorttosuchmeansofattackoffire,waterandthelike.Whattheymustnotdo,andwhatwillprovefatal,istositstillandsimplyholdtotheadvantagestheyhavegot.\"]
16.Hencethesaying:Theenlightenedrulerlayshisplanswellahead;thegoodgeneralcultivateshisresources.
[TuMuquotesthefollowingfromtheSANLUEH,ch.2:\"Thewarlikeprincecontrolshissoldiersbyhisauthority,kitsthemtogetherbygoodfaith,andbyrewardsmakesthemserviceable.
Iffaithdecays,therewillbedisruption;ifrewardsaredeficient,commandswillnotberespected.\"]
17.Movenotunlessyouseeanadvantage;usenotyourtroopsunlessthereissomethingtobegained;fightnotunlessthepositioniscritical.
[SunTzumayattimesappeartobeover—cautious,buthenevergoessofarinthatdirectionastheremarkablepassageintheTAOTECHING,ch.69.\"Idarenottaketheinitiative,butprefertoactonthedefensive;Idarenotadvanceaninch,butprefertoretreatafoot.\"]
18.Norulershouldputtroopsintothefieldmerelytogratifyhisownspleen;nogeneralshouldfightabattlesimplyoutofpique.
19.Ifitistoyouradvantage,makeaforwardmove;ifnot,staywhereyouare.
[ThisisrepeatedfromXI.ss.17.HereIfeelconvincedthatitisaninterpolation,foritisevidentthatss.20oughttofollowimmediatelyonss.18.]
20.Angermayintimechangetogladness;vexationmaybesucceededbycontent.
21.Butakingdomthathasoncebeendestroyedcannevercomeagainintobeing;
[TheWuStatewasdestinedtobeamelancholyexampleofthissaying.]
norcanthedeadeverbebroughtbacktolife.
22.Hencetheenlightenedrulerisheedful,andthegoodgeneralfullofcaution.Thisisthewaytokeepacountryatpeaceandanarmyintact.
[1]\"Unlessyouenterthetiger’slair,youcannotgetholdofthetiger’scubs.\"
XIII.THEUSEOFSPIES
1.SunTzusaid:RaisingahostofahundredthousandmenandmarchingthemgreatdistancesentailsheavylossonthepeopleandadrainontheresourcesoftheState.Thedailyexpenditurewillamounttoathousandouncesofsilver.
[Cf.II.ss.ss.1,13,14.]
Therewillbecommotionathomeandabroad,andmenwilldropdownexhaustedonthehighways.
[Cf.TAOTECHING,ch.30:\"Wheretroopshavebeenquartered,bramblesandthornsspringup.ChangYuhasthenote:
\"Wemayberemindedofthesaying:’Onseriousground,gatherinplunder.’Whythenshouldcarriageandtransportationcauseexhaustiononthehighways?——Theansweris,thatnotvictualsalone,butallsortsofmunitionsofwarhavetobeconveyedtothearmy.Besides,theinjunctionto’forageontheenemy’onlymeansthatwhenanarmyisdeeplyengagedinhostileterritory,scarcityoffoodmustbeprovidedagainst.Hence,withoutbeingsolelydependentontheenemyforcorn,wemustforageinorderthattheremaybeanuninterruptedflowofsupplies.Then,again,thereareplaceslikesaltdesertswhereprovisionsbeingunobtainable,suppliesfromhomecannotbedispensedwith.\"]
Asmanyassevenhundredthousandfamilieswillbeimpededintheirlabor.
[MeiYao—ch`ensays:\"Menwillbelackingattheplough—
tail.\"Theallusionistothesystemofdividinglandintonineparts,eachconsistingofabout15acres,theplotinthecenterbeingcultivatedonbehalfoftheStatebythetenantsoftheothereight.Itwasherealso,soTuMutellsus,thattheircottageswerebuiltandawellsunk,tobeusedbyallincommon.
[SeeII.ss.12,note.]Intimeofwar,oneofthefamilieshadtoserveinthearmy,whiletheothersevencontributedtoitssupport.Thus,byalevyof100,000men(reckoningoneable—
bodiedsoldiertoeachfamily)thehusbandryof700,000familieswouldbeaffected.]
2.Hostilearmiesmayfaceeachotherforyears,strivingforthevictorywhichisdecidedinasingleday.Thisbeingso,toremaininignoranceoftheenemy’sconditionsimplybecauseonegrudgestheoutlayofahundredouncesofsilverinhonorsandemoluments,[\"Forspies\"isofcoursethemeaning,thoughitwouldspoiltheeffectofthiscuriouslyelaborateexordiumifspieswereactuallymentionedatthispoint.]
istheheightofinhumanity.
[SunTzu’sagreementiscertainlyingenious.Hebeginsbyadvertingtothefrightfulmiseryandvastexpenditureofbloodandtreasurewhichwaralwaysbringsinitstrain.Now,unlessyouarekeptinformedoftheenemy’scondition,andarereadytostrikeattherightmoment,awarmaydragonforyears.Theonlywaytogetthisinformationistoemployspies,anditisimpossibletoobtaintrustworthyspiesunlesstheyareproperlypaidfortheirservices.Butitissurelyfalseeconomytogrudgeacomparativelytriflingamountforthispurpose,wheneverydaythatthewarlastseatsupanincalculablygreatersum.
Thisgrievousburdenfallsontheshouldersofthepoor,andhenceSunTzuconcludesthattoneglecttheuseofspiesisnothinglessthanacrimeagainsthumanity.]
3.Onewhoactsthusisnoleaderofmen,nopresenthelptohissovereign,nomasterofvictory.
[Thisidea,thatthetrueobjectofwarispeace,hasitsrootinthenationaltemperamentoftheChinese.Evensofarbackas597B.C.,thesememorablewordswereutteredbyPrinceChuangoftheCh`uState:\"The[Chinese]characterfor’prowess’
ismadeupof[thecharactersfor]’tostay’and’aspear’
(cessationofhostilities).Militaryprowessisseenintherepressionofcruelty,thecallinginofweapons,thepreservationoftheappointmentofHeaven,thefirmestablishmentofmerit,thebestowalofhappinessonthepeople,puttingharmonybetweentheprinces,thediffusionofwealth.\"]
4.Thus,whatenablesthewisesovereignandthegoodgeneraltostrikeandconquer,andachievethingsbeyondthereachofordinarymen,isFOREKNOWLEDGE.
[Thatis,knowledgeoftheenemy’sdispositions,andwhathemeanstodo.]
5.Nowthisforeknowledgecannotbeelicitedfromspirits;
itcannotbeobtainedinductivelyfromexperience,[TuMu’snoteis:\"[knowledgeoftheenemy]cannotbegainedbyreasoningfromotheranalogouscases.\"]
norbyanydeductivecalculation.
[LiCh`uansays:\"Quantitieslikelength,breadth,distanceandmagnitude,aresusceptibleofexactmathematicaldetermination;humanactionscannotbesocalculated.\"]
6.Knowledgeoftheenemy’sdispositionscanonlybeobtainedfromothermen.
[MeiYao—ch`enhasratheraninterestingnote:\"Knowledgeofthespirit—worldistobeobtainedbydivination;informationinnaturalsciencemaybesoughtbyinductivereasoning;thelawsoftheuniversecanbeverifiedbymathematicalcalculation:butthedispositionsofanenemyareascertainablethroughspiesandspiesalone.\"]
7.Hencetheuseofspies,ofwhomtherearefiveclasses:
(1)Localspies;(2)inwardspies;(3)convertedspies;(4)
doomedspies;(5)survivingspies.
8.Whenthesefivekindsofspyareallatwork,nonecandiscoverthesecretsystem.Thisiscalled\"divinemanipulationofthethreads.\"Itisthesovereign’smostpreciousfaculty.
[Cromwell,oneofthegreatestandmostpracticalofallcavalryleaders,hadofficersstyled’scoutmasters,’whosebusinessitwastocollectallpossibleinformationregardingtheenemy,throughscoutsandspies,etc.,andmuchofhissuccessinwarwastraceabletothepreviousknowledgeoftheenemy’smovesthusgained.\"[1]]
9.HavingLOCALSPIESmeansemployingtheservicesoftheinhabitantsofadistrict.
[TuMusays:\"Intheenemy’scountry,winpeopleoverbykindtreatment,andusethemasspies.\"]
10.HavingINWARDSPIES,makinguseofofficialsoftheenemy.
[TuMuenumeratesthefollowingclassesaslikelytodogoodserviceinthisrespect:\"Worthymenwhohavebeendegradedfromoffice,criminalswhohaveundergonepunishment;also,favoriteconcubineswhoaregreedyforgold,menwhoareaggrievedatbeinginsubordinatepositions,orwhohavebeenpassedoverinthedistributionofposts,otherswhoareanxiousthattheirsideshouldbedefeatedinorderthattheymayhaveachanceofdisplayingtheirabilityandtalents,fickleturncoatswhoalwayswanttohaveafootineachboat.Officialsoftheseseveralkinds,\"hecontinues,\"shouldbesecretlyapproachedandboundtoone’sinterestsbymeansofrichpresents.Inthiswayyouwillbeabletofindoutthestateofaffairsintheenemy’scountry,ascertaintheplansthatarebeingformedagainstyou,andmoreoverdisturbtheharmonyandcreateabreachbetweenthesovereignandhisministers.\"Thenecessityforextremecaution,however,indealingwith\"inwardspies,\"appearsfromanhistoricalincidentrelatedbyHoShih:\"LoShang,GovernorofI—Chou,senthisgeneralWeiPotoattacktherebelLiHsiungofShuinhisstrongholdatP`i.Aftereachsidehadexperiencedanumberofvictoriesanddefeats,LiHsiunghadrecoursetotheservicesofacertainP`o—t`ai,anativeofWu—tu.Hebegantohavehimwhippeduntilthebloodcame,andthensenthimofftoLoShang,whomhewastodeludebyofferingtocooperatewithhimfrominsidethecity,andtogiveafiresignalattherightmomentformakingageneralassault.LoShang,confidinginthesepromises,marchoutallhisbesttroops,andplacedWeiPoandothersattheirheadwithorderstoattackatP`o—t`ai’sbidding.Meanwhile,LiHsiung’sgeneral,LiHsiang,hadpreparedanambuscadeontheirlineofmarch;andP`o—t`ai,havingrearedlongscaling—laddersagainstthecitywalls,nowlightedthebeacon—fire.WeiPo’smenraceduponseeingthesignalandbeganclimbingtheladdersasfastastheycould,whileothersweredrawnupbyropesloweredfromabove.MorethanahundredofLoShang’ssoldiersenteredthecityinthisway,everyoneofwhomwasforthwithbeheaded.LiHsiungthenchargedwithallhisforces,bothinsideandoutsidethecity,androutedtheenemycompletely.\"[Thishappenedin303A.D.IdonotknowwhereHoShihgotthestoryfrom.ItisnotgiveninthebiographyofLiHsiungorthatofhisfatherLiT`e,CHINSHU,ch.120,121.]
11.HavingCONVERTEDSPIES,gettingholdoftheenemy’sspiesandusingthemforourownpurposes.
[Bymeansofheavybribesandliberalpromisesdetachingthemfromtheenemy’sservice,andinducingthemtocarrybackfalseinformationaswellastospyinturnontheirowncountrymen.Ontheotherhand,HsiaoShih—hsiensaysthatwepretendnottohavedetectedhim,butcontrivetolethimcarryawayafalseimpressionofwhatisgoingon.Severalofthecommentatorsacceptthisasanalternativedefinition;butthatitisnotwhatSunTzumeantisconclusivelyprovedbyhissubsequentremarksabouttreatingtheconvertedspygenerously(ss.21sqq.).HoShihnotesthreeoccasionsonwhichconvertedspieswereusedwithconspicuoussuccess:(1)byT`ienTaninhisdefenseofChi—mo(seesupra,p.90);(2)byChaoSheonhismarchtoO—yu(seep.57);andbythewilyFanChuin260B.C.,whenLienP`owasconductingadefensivecampaignagainstCh`in.
TheKingofChaostronglydisapprovedofLienP`o’scautiousanddilatorymethods,whichhadbeenunabletoavertaseriesofminordisasters,andthereforelentareadyeartothereportsofhisspies,whohadsecretlygoneovertotheenemyandwerealreadyinFanChu’spay.Theysaid:\"TheonlythingwhichcausesCh`inanxietyislestChaoKuashouldbemadegeneral.
LienP`otheyconsideraneasyopponent,whoissuretobevanquishedinthelongrun.\"NowthisChaoKuawasasunofthefamousChaoShe.Fromhisboyhood,hehadbeenwhollyengrossedinthestudyofwarandmilitarymatters,untilatlasthecametobelievethattherewasnocommanderinthewholeEmpirewhocouldstandagainsthim.Hisfatherwasmuchdisquietedbythisoverweeningconceit,andtheflippancywithwhichhespokeofsuchaseriousthingaswar,andsolemnlydeclaredthatifeverKuawasappointedgeneral,hewouldbringruinonthearmiesofChao.Thiswasthemanwho,inspiteofearnestprotestsfromhisownmotherandtheveteranstatesmanLinHsiang—ju,wasnowsenttosucceedLienP`o.Needlesstosay,heprovednomatchfortheredoubtablePoCh`iandthegreatmilitarypowerofCh`in.Hefellintoatrapbywhichhisarmywasdividedintotwoandhiscommunicationscut;andafteradesperateresistancelasting46days,duringwhichthefamishedsoldiersdevouredoneanother,hewashimselfkilledbyanarrow,andhiswholeforce,amounting,itissaid,to400,000men,ruthlesslyputtothesword.]
12.HavingDOOMEDSPIES,doingcertainthingsopenlyforpurposesofdeception,andallowingourspiestoknowofthemandreportthemtotheenemy.
[TuYugivesthebestexpositionofthemeaning:\"Weostentatiouslydothingcalculatedtodeceiveourownspies,whomustbeledtobelievethattheyhavebeenunwittinglydisclosed.
Then,whenthesespiesarecapturedintheenemy’slines,theywillmakeanentirelyfalsereport,andtheenemywilltakemeasuresaccordingly,onlytofindthatwedosomethingquitedifferent.Thespieswillthereuponbeputtodeath.\"Asanexampleofdoomedspies,HoShihmentionstheprisonersreleasedbyPanCh`aoinhiscampaignagainstYarkand.(Seep.132.)HealsoreferstoT`angChien,whoin630A.D.wassentbyT`aiTsungtolulltheTurkishKahnChieh—liintofanciedsecurity,untilLiChingwasabletodeliveracrushingblowagainsthim.
ChangYusaysthattheTurksrevengedthemselvesbykillingT`angChien,butthisisamistake,forwereadinboththeoldandtheNewT`angHistory(ch.58,fol.2andch.89,fol.8
respectively)thatheescapedandlivedonuntil656.LiI—chiplayedasomewhatsimilarpartin203B.C.,whensentbytheKingofHantoopenpeacefulnegotiationswithCh`i.Hehascertainlymoreclaimtobedescribeda\"doomedspy\",forthekingofCh`i,beingsubsequentlyattackedwithoutwarningbyHanHsin,andinfuriatedbywhatheconsideredthetreacheryofLiI—chi,orderedtheunfortunateenvoytobeboiledalive.]
13.SURVIVINGSPIES,finally,arethosewhobringbacknewsfromtheenemy’scamp.
[Thisistheordinaryclassofspies,properlysocalled,formingaregularpartofthearmy.TuMusays:\"Yoursurvivingspymustbeamanofkeenintellect,thoughinoutwardappearanceafool;ofshabbyexterior,butwithawillofiron.Hemustbeactive,robust,endowedwithphysicalstrengthandcourage;
thoroughlyaccustomedtoallsortsofdirtywork,abletoendurehungerandcold,andtoputupwithshameandignominy.\"HoShihtellsthefollowingstoryofTa`hsiWuoftheSuidynasty:\"WhenhewasgovernorofEasternCh`in,Shen—wuofCh`imadeahostilemovementuponSha—yuan.TheEmperorT`aiTsu[?KaoTsu]sentTa—hsiWutospyupontheenemy.Hewasaccompaniedbytwoothermen.Allthreewereonhorsebackandworetheenemy’suniform.
Whenitwasdark,theydismountedafewhundredfeetawayfromtheenemy’scampandstealthilycreptuptolisten,untiltheysucceededincatchingthepasswordsusedinthearmy.Thentheygotontheirhorsesagainandboldlypassedthroughthecampundertheguiseofnight—watchmen;andmorethanonce,happeningtocomeacrossasoldierwhowascommittingsomebreachofdiscipline,theyactuallystoppedtogivetheculpritasoundcudgeling!Thustheymanagedtoreturnwiththefullestpossibleinformationabouttheenemy’sdispositions,andreceivedwarmcommendationfromtheEmperor,whoinconsequenceoftheirreportwasabletoinflictaseveredefeatonhisadversary.\"]
14.Henceitisthatwhichnoneinthewholearmyaremoreintimaterelationstobemaintainedthanwithspies.
[TuMuandMeiYao—ch`enpointoutthatthespyisprivilegedtoentereventhegeneral’sprivatesleeping—tent.]
Noneshouldbemoreliberallyrewarded.Innootherbusinessshouldgreatersecrecybepreserved.
[TuMugivesagraphictouch:allcommunicationwithspiesshouldbecarried\"mouth—to—ear.\"ThefollowingremarksonspiesmaybequotedfromTurenne,whomadeperhapslargeruseofthemthananypreviouscommander:\"Spiesareattachedtothosewhogivethemmost,hewhopaysthemillisneverserved.Theyshouldneverbeknowntoanybody;norshouldtheyknowoneanother.Whentheyproposeanythingverymaterial,securetheirpersons,orhaveinyourpossessiontheirwivesandchildrenashostagesfortheirfidelity.Nevercommunicateanythingtothembutwhatisabsolutelynecessarythattheyshouldknow.[2]]
15.Spiescannotbeusefullyemployedwithoutacertainintuitivesagacity.
[MeiYao—ch`ensays:\"Inordertousethem,onemustknowfactfromfalsehood,andbeabletodiscriminatebetweenhonestyanddouble—dealing.\"WangHsiinadifferentinterpretationthinksmorealongthelinesof\"intuitiveperception\"and\"practicalintelligence.\"TuMustrangelyreferstheseattributestothespiesthemselves:\"Beforeusingspieswemustassureourselvesastotheirintegrityofcharacterandtheextentoftheirexperienceandskill.\"Buthecontinues:\"A
brazenfaceandacraftydispositionaremoredangerousthanmountainsorrivers;ittakesamanofgeniustopenetratesuch.\"
Sothatweareleftinsomedoubtastohisrealopiniononthepassage.\"]
16.Theycannotbeproperlymanagedwithoutbenevolenceandstraightforwardness.
[ChangYusays:\"Whenyouhaveattractedthembysubstantialoffers,youmusttreatthemwithabsolutesincerity;
thentheywillworkforyouwithalltheirmight.\"]
17.Withoutsubtleingenuityofmind,onecannotmakecertainofthetruthoftheirreports.
[MeiYao—ch`ensays:\"Beonyourguardagainstthepossibilityofspiesgoingovertotheserviceoftheenemy.\"]
18.Besubtle!besubtle!anduseyourspiesforeverykindofbusiness.
[Cf.VI.ss.9.]
19.Ifasecretpieceofnewsisdivulgedbyaspybeforethetimeisripe,hemustbeputtodeathtogetherwiththemantowhomthesecretwastold.
[Wordforword,thetranslationhereis:\"Ifspymattersareheardbefore[ourplans]arecarriedout,\"etc.SunTzu’smainpointinthispassageis:Whereasyoukillthespyhimself\"asapunishmentforlettingoutthesecret,\"theobjectofkillingtheothermanisonly,asCh`enHaoputsit,\"tostophismouth\"andpreventnewsleakinganyfurther.Ifithadalreadybeenrepeatedtoothers,thisobjectwouldnotbegained.Eitherway,SunTzulayshimselfopentothechargeofinhumanity,thoughTuMutriestodefendhimbysayingthatthemandeservestobeputtodeath,forthespywouldcertainlynothavetoldthesecretunlesstheotherhadbeenatpainstowormitoutofhim.\"]
20.Whethertheobjectbetocrushanarmy,tostormacity,ortoassassinateanindividual,itisalwaysnecessarytobeginbyfindingoutthenamesoftheattendants,theaides—de—
camp,[Literally\"visitors\",isequivalent,asTuYusays,to\"thosewhosedutyitistokeepthegeneralsuppliedwithinformation,\"whichnaturallynecessitatesfrequentinterviewswithhim.]
anddoor—keepersandsentriesofthegeneralincommand.Ourspiesmustbecommissionedtoascertainthese.
[Asthefirststep,nodoubttowardsfindingoutifanyoftheseimportantfunctionariescanbewonoverbybribery.]
21.Theenemy’sspieswhohavecometospyonusmustbesoughtout,temptedwithbribes,ledawayandcomfortablyhoused.
Thustheywillbecomeconvertedspiesandavailableforourservice.
22.Itisthroughtheinformationbroughtbytheconvertedspythatweareabletoacquireandemploylocalandinwardspies.
[TuYusays:\"throughconversionoftheenemy’sspieswelearntheenemy’scondition.\"AndChangYusays:\"Wemusttempttheconvertedspyintoourservice,becauseitishethatknowswhichofthelocalinhabitantsaregreedyofgain,andwhichoftheofficialsareopentocorruption.\"]
23.Itisowingtohisinformation,again,thatwecancausethedoomedspytocarryfalsetidingstotheenemy.
[ChangYusays,\"becausetheconvertedspyknowshowtheenemycanbestbedeceived.\"]
24.Lastly,itisbyhisinformationthatthesurvivingspycanbeusedonappointedoccasions.
25.Theendandaimofspyinginallitsfivevarietiesisknowledgeoftheenemy;andthisknowledgecanonlybederived,inthefirstinstance,fromtheconvertedspy.
[Asexplainedinss.22—24.Henotonlybringsinformationhimself,butmakesitpossibletousetheotherkindsofspytoadvantage.]
Henceitisessentialthattheconvertedspybetreatedwiththeutmostliberality.
26.Ofold,theriseoftheYindynasty[SunTzumeanstheShangdynasty,foundedin1766B.C.ItsnamewaschangedtoYinbyP`anKengin1401.
wasduetoIChih[BetterknownasIYin,thefamousgeneralandstatesmanwhotookpartinCh`engT`ang’scampaignagainstChiehKuei.]
whohadservedundertheHsia.Likewise,theriseoftheChoudynastywasduetoLuYa[LuShangrosetohighofficeunderthetyrantChouHsin,whomheafterwardshelpedtooverthrow.PopularlyknownasT`aiKung,atitlebestowedonhimbyWenWang,heissaidtohavecomposedatreatiseonwar,erroneouslyidentifiedwiththeLIUT`AO.]
whohadservedundertheYin.
[ThereislessprecisionintheChinesethanIhavethoughtitwelltointroduceintomytranslation,andthecommentariesonthepassagearebynomeansexplicit.But,havingregardtothecontext,wecanhardlydoubtthatSunTzuisholdingupIChihandLuYaasillustriousexamplesoftheconvertedspy,orsomethingcloselyanalogous.Hissuggestionis,thattheHsiaandYindynastieswereupsetowingtotheintimateknowledgeoftheirweaknessesandshortcomingwhichtheseformerministerswereabletoimparttotheotherside.MeiYao—ch`enappearstoresentanysuchaspersiononthesehistoricnames:\"IYinandLuYa,\"hesays,\"werenotrebelsagainsttheGovernment.Hsiacouldnotemploytheformer,henceYinemployedhim.Yincouldnotemploythelatter,henceHouemployedhim.Theirgreatachievementswereallforthegoodofthepeople.\"HoShihisalsoindignant:\"HowshouldtwodivinelyinspiredmensuchasI
andLuhaveactedascommonspies?SunTzu’smentionofthemsimplymeansthattheproperuseofthefiveclassesofspiesisamatterwhichrequiresmenofthehighestmentalcaliberlikeI
andLu,whosewisdomandcapacityqualifiedthemforthetask.
Theabovewordsonlyemphasizethispoint.\"HoShihbelievesthenthatthetwoheroesarementionedonaccountoftheirsupposedskillintheuseofspies.Butthisisveryweak.]
27.Henceitisonlytheenlightenedrulerandthewisegeneralwhowillusethehighestintelligenceofthearmyforpurposesofspyingandtherebytheyachievegreatresults.
[TuMucloseswithanoteofwarning:\"Justaswater,whichcarriesaboatfrombanktobank,mayalsobethemeansofsinkingit,sorelianceonspies,whileproductionofgreatresults,isoft—timesthecauseofutterdestruction.\"]
Spiesareamostimportantelementinwater,becauseonthemdependsanarmy’sabilitytomove.
[ChiaLinsaysthatanarmywithoutspiesislikeamanwithearsoreyes.]
[1]\"AidstoScouting,\"p.2.
[2]\"MarshalTurenne,\"p.311.