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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

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