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  [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.

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