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is anxious for the other side to advance。
'Probably because we are in a strong position from which he
wishes to dislodge us。 〃If he came close up to us; says Tu Mu;
〃and tried to force a battle; he would seem to despise us; and
there would be less probability of our responding to the
challenge。〃'
20。 If his place of encampment is easy of access; he is
tendering a bait。
21。 Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the
enemy is advancing。
'Ts‘ao Kung explains this as 〃felling trees to clear a
passage;〃 and Chang Yu says: 〃Every man sends out scouts to
climb high places and observe the enemy。 If a scout sees that
the trees of a forest are moving and shaking; he may know that
they are being cut down to clear a passage for the enemy's
march。〃'
The appearance of a number of screens in the midst of thick grass
means that the enemy wants to make us suspicious。
'Tu Yu's explanation; borrowed from Ts‘ao Kung's; is as
follows: 〃The presence of a number of screens or sheds in the
midst of thick vegetation is a sure sign that the enemy has fled
and; fearing pursuit; has constructed these hiding…places in
order to make us suspect an ambush。〃 It appears that these
〃screens〃 were hastily knotted together out of any long grass
which the retreating enemy happened to come across。'
22。 The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an
ambuscade。
'Chang Yu's explanation is doubtless right: 〃When birds
that are flying along in a straight line suddenly shoot upwards;
it means that soldiers are in ambush at the spot beneath。〃'
Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming。
23。 When there is dust rising in a high column; it is the
sign of chariots advancing; when the dust is low; but spread over
a wide area; it betokens the approach of infantry。
'〃High and sharp;〃 or rising to a peak; is of course
somewhat exaggerated as applied to dust。 The commentators
explain the phenomenon by saying that horses and chariots; being
heavier than men; raise more dust; and also follow one another in
the same wheel…track; whereas foot…soldiers would be marching in
ranks; many abreast。 According to Chang Yu; 〃every army on the
march must have scouts some way in advance; who on sighting dust
raised by the enemy; will gallop back and report it to the
commander…in…chief。〃 Cf。 Gen。 Baden…Powell: 〃As you move along;
say; in a hostile country; your eyes should be looking afar for
the enemy or any signs of him: figures; dust rising; birds
getting up; glitter of arms; etc。〃 '1' '
When it branches out in different directions; it shows that
parties have been sent to collect firewood。 A few clouds of dust
moving to and fro signify that the army is encamping。
'Chang Yu says: 〃In apportioning the defenses for a
cantonment; light horse will be sent out to survey the position
and ascertain the weak and strong points all along its
circumference。 Hence the small quantity of dust and its
motion。〃'
24。 Humble words and increased preparations are signs that
the enemy is about to advance。
'〃As though they stood in great fear of us;〃 says Tu Mu。
〃Their object is to make us contemptuous and careless; after
which they will attack us。〃 Chang Yu alludes to the story of
T‘ien Tan of the Ch‘i…mo against the Yen forces; led by Ch‘i
Chieh。 In ch。 82 of the SHIH CHI we read: 〃T‘ien Tan openly
said: 'My only fear is that the Yen army may cut off the noses
of their Ch‘i prisoners and place them in the front rank to fight
against us; that would be the undoing of our city。' The other
side being informed of this speech; at once acted on the
suggestion; but those within the city were enraged at seeing
their fellow…countrymen thus mutilated; and fearing only lest
they should fall into the enemy's hands; were nerved to defend
themselves more obstinately than ever。 Once again T‘ien Tan sent
back converted spies who reported these words to the enemy:
〃What I dread most is that the men of Yen may dig up the
ancestral tombs outside the town; and by inflicting this
indignity on our forefathers cause us to become faint…hearted。'
Forthwith the besiegers dug up all the graves and burned the
corpses lying in them。 And the inhabitants of Chi…mo; witnessing
the outrage from the city…walls; wept passionately and were all
impatient to go out and fight; their fury being increased
tenfold。 T‘ien Tan knew then that his soldiers were ready for
any enterprise。 But instead of a sword; he himself too a
mattock in his hands; and ordered others to be distributed
amongst his best warriors; while the ranks were filled up with
their wives and concubines。 He then served out all the remaining
rations and bade his men eat their fill。 The regular soldiers
were told to keep out of sight; and the walls were manned with
the old and weaker men and with women。 This done; envoys were
dispatched to the enemy's camp to arrange terms of surrender;
whereupon the Yen army began shouting for joy。 T‘ien Tan also
collected 20;000 ounces of silver from the people; and got the
wealthy citizens of Chi…mo to send it to the Yen general with the
prayer that; when the town capitulated; he would allow their
homes to be plundered or their women to be maltreated。 Ch‘i
Chieh; in high good humor; granted their prayer; but his army now
became increasingly slack and careless。 Meanwhile; T‘ien Tan got
together a thousand oxen; decked them with pieces of red silk;
painted their bodies; dragon…like; with colored stripes; and
fastened sharp blades on their horns and well…greased rushes on
their tails。 When night came on; he lighted the ends of the
rushes; and drove the oxen through a number of holes which he had
pierced in the walls; backing them up with a force of 5000 picked
warriors。 The animals; maddened with pain; dashed furiously
into the enemy's camp where they caused the utmost confusion and
dismay; for their tails acted as torches; showing up the hideous
pattern on their bodies; and the weapons on their horns killed or
wounded any with whom they came into contact。 In the meantime;
the band of 5000 had crept up with gags in their mouths; and now
threw themselves on the enemy。 At the same moment a frightful
din arose in the city itself; all those that remained behind
making as much noise as possible by banging drums and hammering
on bronze vessels; until heaven and earth were convulsed by the
uproar。 Terror…stricken; the Yen army fled in disorder; hotly
pursued by the men of Ch‘i; who succeeded in slaying their
general Ch‘i Chien。。。。 The result of the battle was the ultimate
recovery of some seventy cities which had belonged to the Ch‘i
State。〃'
Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are
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