art of war-第26节
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engaging picture of the famous general Wu Ch‘i； from whose
treatise on war I have frequently had occasion to quote： 〃He
wore the same clothes and ate the same food as the meanest of his
soldiers； refused to have either a horse to ride or a mat to
sleep on； carried his own surplus rations wrapped in a parcel；
and shared every hardship with his men。 One of his soldiers was
suffering from an abscess； and Wu Ch‘i himself sucked out the
virus。 The soldier's mother； hearing this； began wailing and
lamenting。 Somebody asked her； saying： 'Why do you cry？ Your
son is only a common soldier； and yet the commander…in…chief
himself has sucked the poison from his sore。' The woman replied；
'Many years ago； Lord Wu performed a similar service for my
husband； who never left him afterwards； and finally met his death
at the hands of the enemy。 And now that he has done the same for
my son； he too will fall fighting I know not where。'〃 Li Ch‘uan
mentions the Viscount of Ch‘u； who invaded the small state of
Hsiao during the winter。 The Duke of Shen said to him： 〃Many of
the soldiers are suffering severely from the cold。〃 So he made a
round of the whole army； comforting and encouraging the men； and
straightway they felt as if they were clothed in garments lined
with floss silk。＇
26。 If； however； you are indulgent； but unable to make your
authority felt； kind…hearted； but unable to enforce your
commands； and incapable； moreover； of quelling disorder： then
your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children； they are
useless for any practical purpose。
＇Li Ching once said that if you could make your soldiers
afraid of you； they would not be afraid of the enemy。 Tu Mu
recalls an instance of stern military discipline which occurred
in 219 A。D。； when Lu Meng was occupying the town of Chiang…ling。
He had given stringent orders to his army not to molest the
inhabitants nor take anything from them by force。 Nevertheless；
a certain officer serving under his banner； who happened to be a
fellow…townsman； ventured to appropriate a bamboo hat belonging
to one of the people； in order to wear it over his regulation
helmet as a protection against the rain。 Lu Meng considered that
the fact of his being also a native of Ju…nan should not be
allowed to palliate a clear breach of discipline； and accordingly
he ordered his summary execution； the tears rolling down his
face； however； as he did so。 This act of severity filled the
army with wholesome awe； and from that time forth even articles
dropped in the highway were not picked up。＇
27。 If we know that our own men are in a condition to
attack； but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack； we
have gone only halfway towards victory。
＇That is； Ts‘ao Kung says； 〃the issue in this case is
uncertain。〃＇
28。 If we know that the enemy is open to attack； but are
unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack； we
have gone only halfway towards victory。
＇Cf。 III。 ss。 13 （1）。＇
29。 If we know that the enemy is open to attack； and also
know that our men are in a condition to attack； but are unaware
that the nature of the ground makes fighting impracticable； we
have still gone only halfway towards victory。
30。 Hence the experienced soldier； once in motion； is never
bewildered； once he has broken camp； he is never at a loss。
＇The reason being； according to Tu Mu； that he has taken his
measures so thoroughly as to ensure victory beforehand。 〃He does
not move recklessly；〃 says Chang Yu； 〃so that when he does move；
he makes no mistakes。〃＇
31。 Hence the saying： If you know the enemy and know
yourself； your victory will not stand in doubt； if you know
Heaven and know Earth； you may make your victory complete。
＇Li Ch‘uan sums up as follows： 〃Given a knowledge of three
thingsthe affairs of men； the seasons of heaven and the natural
advantages of earth； victory will invariably crown your
battles。〃＇
＇1＇ See 〃Pensees de Napoleon 1er；〃 no。 47。
＇2＇ 〃The Science of War；〃 chap。 2。
＇3＇ 〃Aids to Scouting；〃 p。 xii。
…
XI。 THE NINE SITUATIONS
1。 Sun Tzu said： The art of war recognizes nine varieties
of ground： （1） Dispersive ground； （2） facile ground； （3）
contentious ground； （4） open ground； （5） ground of intersecting
highways； （6） serious ground； （7） difficult ground； （8） hemmed…in
ground； （9） desperate ground。
2。 When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory； it is
dispersive ground。
＇So called because the soldiers； being near to their homes
and anxious to see their wives and children； are likely to seize
the opportunity afforded by a battle and scatter in every
direction。 〃In their advance；〃 observes Tu Mu； 〃they will lack
the valor of desperation； and when they retreat； they will find
harbors of refuge。〃＇
3。 When he has penetrated into hostile territory； but to no
great distance； it is facile ground。
＇Li Ch‘uan and Ho Shih say 〃because of the facility for
retreating；〃 and the other commentators give similar
explanations。 Tu Mu remarks： 〃When your army has crossed the
border； you should burn your boats and bridges； in order to make
it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home。〃＇
4。 Ground the possession of which imports great advantage
to either side； is contentious ground。
＇Tu Mu defines the ground as ground 〃to be contended for。〃
Ts‘ao Kung says： 〃ground on which the few and the weak can
defeat the many and the strong；〃 such as 〃the neck of a pass；〃
instanced by Li Ch‘uan。 Thus； Thermopylae was of this
classification because the possession of it； even for a few days
only； meant holding the entire invading army in check and thus
gaining invaluable time。 Cf。 Wu Tzu； ch。 V。 ad init。： 〃For
those who have to fight in the ratio of one to ten； there is
nothing better than a narrow pass。〃 When Lu Kuang was returning
from his triumphant expedition to Turkestan in 385 A。D。； and had
got as far as I…ho； laden with spoils； Liang Hsi； administrator
of Liang…chou； taking advantage of the death of Fu Chien； King of
Ch‘in； plotted against him and was for barring his way into the
province。 Yang Han； governor of Kao…ch‘ang； counseled him；
saying： 〃Lu Kuang is fresh from his victories in the west； and
his soldiers are vigorous and mettlesome。 If we oppose him in
the shifting sands of the desert； we shall be no match for him；
and we must therefore try a different plan。 Let us hasten to
occupy the defile at the mouth of the Kao…wu pass； thus cutting
him off from supplies of water； and when his troops are
prostrated with thirst； we can dictate our own terms without
moving。 Or if you think that the pass I mention is too far off；
we could make a stand against him at the I…wu pass； which is
nearer。 The cunning and resource of Tzu…fang himself would be
expended in vain against the enormous strength of these two
positions。〃 Liang Hsi； refusing to act on this advice； was
overwhelmed and swept away by the invader。＇
5。 Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is
open ground。
＇There are various interpretations of the Chinese adjective
for this type of ground。 Ts‘ao Kung says it means 〃ground
covered with a network of roads；〃 like a chessboard。 Ho Shih
suggested： 〃ground on which intercommunication is easy。〃＇
6。 Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states；
＇Ts‘au Kung defines this as： 〃Our country adjoining the
enemy's and a third country conterminous with both。〃 Meng Shih
instances the small principality of Cheng； which was bounded on
the north…east by Ch‘i； on the west by Chin； and on the south by
Ch‘u。＇
so that he who occupies it first has most of the Empire at his
command；
＇The belligerent who holds this dominating position can
constrain most of them to become his allies。＇
is a ground of intersecting highways。
7。 When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile
country； leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear； it is
serious ground。
＇Wang Hsi explains the name by saying that 〃when an army has
reached such a point； its situation is serious。〃＇
8。 Mountain forests；
＇Or simply 〃forests。〃＇
rugged steeps； marshes and fensall country that is hard to
traverse： this is difficult ground。
9。 Ground which is reached through narrow gorges； and from
which we can only retire by tortuous paths； so that a small
number of the enemy would suffice to crush a large body of our
men： this is hemmed in ground。
10。 Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction
by
