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champion is goingNot to return。〃 ＇1＇ ＇
But let them once be brought to bay； and they will display the
courage of a Chu or a Kuei。
＇Chu was the personal name of Chuan Chu； a native of the Wu
State and contemporary with Sun Tzu himself； who was employed by
Kung…tzu Kuang； better known as Ho Lu Wang； to assassinate his
sovereign Wang Liao with a dagger which he secreted in the belly
of a fish served up at a banquet。 He succeeded in his attempt；
but was immediately hacked to pieced by the king's bodyguard。
This was in 515 B。C。 The other hero referred to； Ts‘ao Kuei （or
Ts‘ao Mo）； performed the exploit which has made his name famous
166 years earlier； in 681 B。C。 Lu had been thrice defeated by
Ch‘i； and was just about to conclude a treaty surrendering a
large slice of territory； when Ts‘ao Kuei suddenly seized Huan
Kung； the Duke of Ch‘i； as he stood on the altar steps and held a
dagger against his chest。 None of the duke's retainers dared to
move a muscle； and Ts‘ao Kuei proceeded to demand full
restitution； declaring the Lu was being unjustly treated because
she was a smaller and a weaker state。 Huan Kung； in peril of his
life； was obliged to consent； whereupon Ts‘ao Kuei flung away his
dagger and quietly resumed his place amid the terrified
assemblage without having so much as changed color。 As was to be
expected； the Duke wanted afterwards to repudiate the bargain；
but his wise old counselor Kuan Chung pointed out to him the
impolicy of breaking his word； and the upshot was that this bold
stroke regained for Lu the whole of what she had lost in three
pitched battles。＇
29。 The skillful tactician may be likened to the SHUAI…JAN。
Now the SHUAI…JAN is a snake that is found in the Ch‘ang
mountains。
＇〃Shuai…jan〃 means 〃suddenly〃 or 〃rapidly；〃 and the snake in
question was doubtless so called owing to the rapidity of its
movements。 Through this passage； the term in the Chinese has now
come to be used in the sense of 〃military maneuvers。〃＇
Strike at its head； and you will be attacked by its tail； strike
at its tail； and you will be attacked by its head； strike at its
middle； and you will be attacked by head and tail both。
30。 Asked if an army can be made to imitate the SHUAI…JAN；
＇That is； as Mei Yao…ch‘en says； 〃Is it possible to make the
front and rear of an army each swiftly responsive to attack on
the other； just as though they were part of a single living
body？〃＇
I should answer； Yes。 For the men of Wu and the men of Yueh are
enemies；
＇Cf。 VI。 ss。 21。＇
yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught
by a storm； they will come to each other's assistance just as the
left hand helps the right。
＇The meaning is： If two enemies will help each other in a
time of common peril； how much more should two parts of the same
army； bound together as they are by every tie of interest and
fellow…feeling。 Yet it is notorious that many a campaign has
been ruined through lack of cooperation； especially in the case
of allied armies。＇
31。 Hence it is not enough to put one's trust in the
tethering of horses； and the burying of chariot wheels in the
ground
＇These quaint devices to prevent one's army from running
away recall the Athenian hero Sophanes； who carried the anchor
with him at the battle of Plataea； by means of which he fastened
himself firmly to one spot。 ＇See Herodotus； IX。 74。＇ It is not
enough； says Sun Tzu； to render flight impossible by such
mechanical means。 You will not succeed unless your men have
tenacity and unity of purpose； and； above all； a spirit of
sympathetic cooperation。 This is the lesson which can be learned
from the SHUAI…JAN。＇
32。 The principle on which to manage an army is to set up
one standard of courage which all must reach。
＇Literally； 〃level the courage ＇of all＇ as though ＇it were
that of＇ one。〃 If the ideal army is to form a single organic
whole； then it follows that the resolution and spirit of its
component parts must be of the same quality； or at any rate must
not fall below a certain standard。 Wellington's seemingly
ungrateful description of his army at Waterloo as 〃the worst he
had ever commanded〃 meant no more than that it was deficient in
this important particularunity of spirit and courage。 Had he
not foreseen the Belgian defections and carefully kept those
troops in the background； he would almost certainly have lost the
day。＇
33。 How to make the best of both strong and weakthat is a
question involving the proper use of ground。
＇Mei Yao…ch‘en's paraphrase is： 〃The way to eliminate the
differences of strong and weak and to make both serviceable is to
utilize accidental features of the ground。〃 Less reliable
troops； if posted in strong positions； will hold out as long as
better troops on more exposed terrain。 The advantage of position
neutralizes the inferiority in stamina and courage。 Col。
Henderson says： 〃With all respect to the text books； and to the
ordinary tactical teaching； I am inclined to think that the study
of ground is often overlooked； and that by no means sufficient
importance is attached to the selection of positions。。。 and to
the immense advantages that are to be derived； whether you are
defending or attacking； from the proper utilization of natural
features。〃 ＇2＇ ＇
34。 Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as
though he were leading a single man； willy…nilly； by the hand。
＇Tu Mu says： 〃The simile has reference to the ease with
which he does it。〃＇
35。 It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus
ensure secrecy； upright and just； and thus maintain order。
36。 He must be able to mystify his officers and men by
false reports and appearances；
＇Literally； 〃to deceive their eyes and ears。〃＇
and thus keep them in total ignorance。
＇Ts‘ao Kung gives us one of his excellent apophthegms： 〃The
troops must not be allowed to share your schemes in the
beginning； they may only rejoice with you over their happy
outcome。〃 〃To mystify； mislead； and surprise the enemy；〃 is one
of the first principles in war； as had been frequently pointed
out。 But how about the other processthe mystification of one's
own men？ Those who may think that Sun Tzu is over…emphatic on
this point would do well to read Col。 Henderson's remarks on
Stonewall Jackson's Valley campaign： 〃The infinite pains；〃 he
says； 〃with which Jackson sought to conceal； even from his most
trusted staff officers； his movements； his intentions； and his
thoughts； a commander less thorough would have pronounced
useless〃etc。 etc。 ＇3＇ In the year 88 A。D。； as we read in ch。
47 of the HOU HAN SHU； 〃Pan Ch‘ao took the field with 25；000 men
from