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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 fighting without delay； is desperate ground。
＇The situation； as pictured by Ts‘ao Kung； is very similar
to the 〃hemmed…in ground〃 except that here escape is no longer
possible： 〃A lofty mountain in front； a large river behind；
advance impossible； retreat blocked。〃 Ch‘en Hao says： 〃to be on
'desperate ground' is like sitting in a leaking boat or crouching
in a burning house。〃 Tu Mu quotes from Li Ching a vivid
description of the plight of an army thus entrapped： 〃Suppose an
army invading hostile territory without the aid of local guides：
it falls into a fatal snare and is at the enemy's mercy。 A
ravine on the left； a mountain on the right； a pathway so
perilous that the horses have to be roped together and the
chariots carried in slings； no passage open in front； retreat cut
off behind； no choice but to proceed in single file。 Then；
before there is time to range our soldiers in order of battle；
the enemy is overwhelming strength suddenly appears on the scene。
Advancing； we can nowhere take a breathing…space； retreating； we
have no haven of refuge。 We seek a pitched battle； but in vain；
yet standing on the defensive； none of us has a moment's respite。
If we simply maintain our ground； whole days and months will
crawl by； the moment we make a move； we have to sustain the
enemy's attacks on front and rear。 The country is wild；
destitute of water and plants； the army is lacking in the
necessaries of life； the horses are jaded and the men worn…out；
all the resources of strength and skill unavailing； the pass so
narrow that a single man defending it can check the onset of ten
thousand； all means of offense in the hands of the enemy； all
points of vantage already forfeited by ourselves：in this
terrible plight； even though we had the most valiant soldiers and
the keenest of weapons； how could they be employed with the
slightest effect？〃 Students of Greek history may be reminded of
the awful close to the Sicilian expedition； and the agony of the
Athenians under Nicias and Demonsthenes。 ＇See Thucydides； VII。
78 sqq。＇。＇
11。 On dispersive ground； therefore； fight not。 On facile
ground； halt not。 On contentious ground； attack not。
＇But rather let all your energies be bent on occupying the
advantageous position first。 So Ts‘ao Kung。 Li Ch‘uan and
others； however； suppose the meaning to be that the enemy has
already forestalled us； sot that it would be sheer madness to
attack。 In the SUN TZU HSU LU； when the King of Wu inquires what
should be done in this case； Sun Tzu replies： 〃The rule with
regard to contentious ground is that those in possession have the
advantage over the other side。 If a position of this kind is
secured first by the enemy； beware of attacking him。 Lure him
away by pretending to fleeshow your banners and sound your
drumsmake a dash for other places that he cannot afford to
losetrail brushwood and raise a dustconfound his ears and
eyesdetach a body of your best troops； and place it secretly in
ambuscade。 Then your opponent will sally forth to the rescue。〃＇
12。 On open ground； do not try to block the enemy's way。
＇Because the attempt would be futile； and would expose the
blocking force itself to serious risks。 There are two
interpretations available here。 I follow that of Chang Yu。 The
other is indicated in Ts‘ao Kung's brief note： 〃Draw closer
together〃i。e。； see that a portion of your own army is not cut
off。＇
On the ground of intersecting highways； join hands with your
allies。
＇Or perhaps； 〃form alliances with neighboring states。〃＇
13。 On serious ground； gather in plunder。
＇On this； Li Ch‘uan has the following delicious note： 〃When
an army penetrates far into the enemy's country； care must be
taken not to alienate the people by unjust treatmen