art of war-第20节
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37。 Such is the art of warfare。
'1' See Col。 Henderson; op。 cit。 vol。 I。 p。 426。
'2' For a number of maxims on this head; see 〃Marshal Turenne〃
(Longmans; 1907); p。 29。
…
VIII。 VARIATION IN TACTICS
'The heading means literally 〃The Nine Variations;〃 but as
Sun Tzu does not appear to enumerate these; and as; indeed; he
has already told us (V SS。 6…11) that such deflections from the
ordinary course are practically innumerable; we have little
option but to follow Wang Hsi; who says that 〃Nine〃 stands for an
indefinitely large number。 〃All it means is that in warfare we
ought to very our tactics to the utmost degree。。。。 I do not know
what Ts‘ao Kung makes these Nine Variations out to be; but it has
been suggested that they are connected with the Nine Situations〃
… of chapt。 XI。 This is the view adopted by Chang Yu。 The only
other alternative is to suppose that something has been losta
supposition to which the unusual shortness of the chapter lends
some weight。'
1。 Sun Tzu said: In war; the general receives his
commands from the sovereign; collects his army and concentrates
his forces。
'Repeated from VII。 ss。 1; where it is certainly more in
place。 It may have been interpolated here merely in order to
supply a beginning to the chapter。'
2。 When in difficult country; do not encamp。 In country
where high roads intersect; join hands with your allies。 Do not
linger in dangerously isolated positions。
'The last situation is not one of the Nine Situations as
given in the beginning of chap。 XI; but occurs later on (ibid。
ss。 43。 q。v。)。 Chang Yu defines this situation as being situated
across the frontier; in hostile territory。 Li Ch‘uan says it is
〃country in which there are no springs or wells; flocks or herds;
vegetables or firewood;〃 Chia Lin; 〃one of gorges; chasms and
precipices; without a road by which to advance。〃'
In hemmed…in situations; you must resort to stratagem。 In
desperate position; you must fight。
3。 There are roads which must not be followed;
'〃Especially those leading through narrow defiles;〃 says Li
Ch‘uan; 〃where an ambush is to be feared。〃'
armies which must be not attacked;
'More correctly; perhaps; 〃there are times when an army must
not be attacked。〃 Ch‘en Hao says: 〃When you see your way to
obtain a rival advantage; but are powerless to inflict a real
defeat; refrain from attacking; for fear of overtaxing your men's
strength。〃'
towns which must be besieged;
'Cf。 III。 ss。 4 Ts‘ao Kung gives an interesting
illustration from his own experience。 When invading the
territory of Hsu…chou; he ignored the city of Hua…pi; which lay
directly in his path; and pressed on into the heart of the
country。 This excellent strategy was rewarded by the subsequent
capture of no fewer than fourteen important district cities。
Chang Yu says: 〃No town should be attacked which; if taken;
cannot be held; or if left alone; will not cause any trouble。〃
Hsun Ying; when urged to attack Pi…yang; replied: 〃The city is
small and well…fortified; even if I succeed intaking it; it will
be no great feat of arms; whereas if I fail; I shall make myself
a laughing…stock。〃 In the seventeenth century; sieges still
formed a large proportion of war。 It was Turenne who directed
attention to the importance of marches; countermarches and
maneuvers。 He said: 〃It is a great mistake to waste men in
taking a town when the same expenditure of soldiers will gain a
province。〃 '1' '
positions which must not be contested; commands of the sovereign
which must not be obeyed。
'This is a hard saying for the Chinese; with their reverence
for authority; and Wei Liao Tzu (quoted by Tu Mu) is moved to
exclaim: 〃Weapons are baleful instruments; strife is
antagonistic to virtue; a military commander is the negation of
civil order!〃 The unpalatable fact remains; however; that even
Imperial wishes must be subordinated to military necessity。'
4。 The general who thoroughly understands the advantages
that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his
troops。
5。 The general who does not understand these; may be well
acquainted with the configuration of the country; yet he will not
be able to turn his knowledge to practical account。
'Literally; 〃get the advantage of the ground;〃 which means
not only securing good positions; but availing oneself of natural
advantages in every possible way。 Chang Yu says: 〃Every kind of
ground is characterized by certain natural features; and also
gives scope for a certain variability of plan。 How it is
possible to turn these natural features to account unless
topographical knowledge is supplemented by versatility of mind?〃'
6。 So; the student of war who is unversed in the art of war
of varying his plans; even though he be acquainted with the Five
Advantages; will fail to make the best use of his men。
'Chia Lin tells us that these imply five obvious and
generally advantageous lines of action; namely: 〃if a certain
road is short; it must be followed; if an army is isolated; it
must be attacked; if a town is in a parlous condition; it must be
besieged; if a position can be stormed; it must be attempted; and
if consistent with military operations; the ruler's commands must
be obeyed。〃 But there are circumstances which sometimes forbid a
general to use these advantages。 For instance; 〃a certain road
may be the shortest way for him; but if he knows that it abounds
in natural obstacles; or that the enemy has laid an ambush on it;
he will not follow that road。 A hostile force may be open to
attack; but if he knows that it is hard…pressed and likely to
fight with desperation; he will refrain from striking;〃 and so
on。'
7。 Hence in the wise leader's plans; considerations of
advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together。
'〃Whether in an advantageous position or a disadvantageous
one;〃 says Ts‘ao Kung; 〃the opposite state should be always
present to your mind。〃'
8。 If our expectation of advantage be tempered in this way;
we may succeed in accomplishing the essential part of our
schemes。
'Tu Mu says: 〃If we wish to wrest an advantage from the
enemy; we must not fix our minds on that alone; but allow for the
possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to us; and let this
enter as a factor into our calculations。〃'
9。 If; on the other hand; in the midst of difficulties we
are always ready to seize an advantage; we may extricate
ourselves from misfortune。
'Tu Mu says: 〃If I wish to extricate myself from a
dangerous position; I must consider not only the enemy's ability
to injure me; but also my own ability to gain an advantage over
the enemy。 If in my counsels these two considerations are
properly blended; I shall succeed in liberating myself。。。。 For
instance; if I am surrounded by the enemy and only think of
effecting an escape; the nervelessness of my policy will incite
my adversary to pursue and crush me; it would be far better to
encourage my men to deliver a bold counter…attack; and use the
advantage thus gained to free myself from the enemy's toils。〃
See the story of Ts‘ao Ts‘ao; VII。 ss。 35; note。'
10。 Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them;
'Chia Lin enumerates several ways of inflicting this injury;
some of which would only occur to the Oriental mind:〃Entice
away the enemy's best and wisest men; so that he may be left
without counselors。 Introduce traitors into his country; that
the government policy may be rendered futile。 Foment intrigue
and deceit; and thus sow dissension between the ruler and his
ministers。 By means of every artful contrivance; cause
deterioration amongst his men and waste of his treasure。 Corrupt
his morals by insidious gifts leading him into excess。 Disturb
and unsettle his mind by presenting him with lovely women。〃
Chang Yu (after Wang Hsi) makes a different interpretation of Sun
Tzu here: 〃Get the enemy into a position where he must suffer
injury; and he will submit of his own accord。〃'
and make trouble for them;
'Tu Mu; in this phrase; in his interpretation indicates that
trouble should be make for the enemy affecting their
〃possessions;〃 or; as we might say; 〃assets;〃 which he considers
to be 〃a large army; a rich exchequer; harmony amongst the
soldiers; punctual fulfillment of commands。〃 These give us a
whip…hand over the enemy。'
and keep them constantly engaged;
'Literally; 〃make servants of them。〃 Tu Yu says 〃prevent
the from having a