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47 of the HOU HAN SHU； 〃Pan Ch‘ao took the field with 25；000 men
from Khotan and other Central Asian states with the object of
crushing Yarkand。 The King of Kutcha replied by dispatching his
chief commander to succor the place with an army drawn from the
kingdoms of Wen…su； Ku…mo； and Wei…t‘ou； totaling 50；000 men。
Pan Ch‘ao summoned his officers and also the King of Khotan to a
council of war； and said： 'Our forces are now outnumbered and
unable to make head against the enemy。 The best plan； then； is
for us to separate and disperse； each in a different direction。
The King of Khotan will march away by the easterly route； and I
will then return myself towards the west。 Let us wait until the
evening drum has sounded and then start。' Pan Ch‘ao now secretly
released the prisoners whom he had taken alive； and the King of
Kutcha was thus informed of his plans。 Much elated by the news；
the latter set off at once at the head of 10；000 horsemen to bar
Pan Ch‘ao's retreat in the west； while the King of Wen…su rode
eastward with 8000 horse in order to intercept the King of
Khotan。 As soon as Pan Ch‘ao knew that the two chieftains had
gone； he called his divisions together； got them well in hand；
and at cock…crow hurled them against the army of Yarkand； as it
lay encamped。 The barbarians； panic…stricken； fled in confusion；
and were closely pursued by Pan Ch‘ao。 Over 5000 heads were
brought back as trophies； besides immense spoils in the shape of
horses and cattle and valuables of every description。 Yarkand
then capitulating； Kutcha and the other kingdoms drew off their
respective forces。 From that time forward； Pan Ch‘ao's prestige
completely overawed the countries of the west。〃 In this case； we
see that the Chinese general not only kept his own officers in
ignorance of his real plans； but actually took the bold step of
dividing his army in order to deceive the enemy。＇
37。 By altering his arrangements and changing his plans；
＇Wang Hsi thinks that this means not using the same
stratagem twice。＇
he keeps the enemy without definite knowledge。
＇Chang Yu； in a quotation from another work； says： 〃The
axiom； that war is based on deception； does not apply only to
deception of the enemy。 You must deceive even your own soldiers。
Make them follow you； but without letting them know why。〃＇
By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes； he prevents
the enemy from anticipating his purpose。
38。 At the critical moment； the leader of an army acts like
one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder
behind him。 He carries his men deep into hostile territory
before he shows his hand。
＇Literally； 〃releases the spring〃 （see V。 ss。 15）； that is；
takes some decisive step which makes it impossible for the army
to returnlike Hsiang Yu； who sunk his ships after crossing a
river。 Ch‘en Hao； followed by Chia Lin； understands the words
less well as 〃puts forth every artifice at his command。〃＇
39。 He burns his boats and breaks his cooking…pots； like a
shepherd driving a flock of sheep； he drives his men this way and
that； and nothing knows whither he is going。
＇Tu Mu says： 〃The army is only cognizant of orders to
advance or retreat； it is ignorant of the ulterior ends of
attacking and conquering。〃＇
40。 To muster his host and bring it into danger：this may
be termed the business of the general。
＇Sun Tzu means that after mobilization there should be no
delay in aiming a blow at the enemy's heart。 Note how he returns
again and again to this point。 Among the warring states of
ancient China； desertion was no doubt a much more present fear
and serious evil than it is in the armies of today。＇
41。 The different measures suited to the nine varieties of
ground；
＇Chang Yu says： 〃One must not be hide…bound in interpreting
the rules for the nine varieties of ground。＇
the expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics； and the
fundamental laws of human nature： these are things that must
most certainly be studied。
42。 When invading hostile territory； the general principle
is； that penetrating deeply brings cohesion； penetrating but a
short way means dispersion。
＇Cf。 supra； ss。 20。＇
43。 When you leave your own country behind； and take your
army across neighborhood territory； you find yourself on critical
ground。
＇This 〃ground〃 is curiously mentioned in VIII。 ss。 2； but it
does not figure among the Nine Situations or the Six Calamities
in chap。 X。 One's first impulse would be to translate it distant
ground；〃 but this； if we can trust the commentators； is precisely
what is not meant here。 Mei Yao…ch‘en says it is 〃a position not
far enough advanced to be called 'facile；' and not near enough to
home to be 'dispersive；' but something between the two。〃 Wang Hsi
says： 〃It is ground separated from home by an interjacent state；
whose territory we have had to cross in order to reach it。
Hence； it is incumbent on us to settle our business there
quickly。〃 He adds that this position is of rare occurrence；
which is the reason why it is not included among the Nine
Situations。＇
When there are means of communication on all four sides； the
ground is one of intersecting highways。
44。 When you penetrate deeply into a country； it is serious
ground。 When you penetrate but a little way； it is facile
ground。
45。 When you have the enemy's strongholds on your rear； and
narrow passes in front； it is hemmed…in ground。 When there is no
place of refuge at all； it is desperate ground。
46。 Therefore； on dispersive ground； I would inspire my men
with unity of purpose。
＇This end； according to Tu Mu； is best attained by remaining
on the defensive； and avoiding battle。 Cf。 supra； ss。 11。＇
On facile ground； I would see that there is close connection
between all parts of my army。
＇As Tu Mu says； the object is to guard against two possible
contingencies： 〃（1） the desertion of our own troops； （2） a
sudden attack on the part of the enemy。〃 Cf。 VII。 ss。 17。 Mei
Yao…ch‘en says： 〃On the march； the regiments should be in close
touch； in an encampment； there should be continuity between the
fortifications。〃＇
47。 On contentious ground； I would hurry up my rear。
＇This is Ts‘ao Kung's interpretation。 Chang Yu adopts it；
saying： 〃We must quickly bring up our rear； so that head and
tail may both reach the goal。〃 That is； they must not be allowed
to straggle up a long way apart。 Mei Yao…ch‘en offers another
equally plausible explanation： 〃Supposing the enemy has not yet
reached the coveted position； and we are behind him； we should
advance with all speed in order to dispute its possession。〃
Ch‘en Hao； on the other han