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advance with all speed in order to dispute its possession。〃
Ch‘en Hao； on the other hand； assuming that the enemy has had
time to select his own ground； quotes VI。 ss。 1； where Sun Tzu
warns us against coming exhausted to the attack。 His own idea of
the situation is rather vaguely expressed： 〃If there is a
favorable position lying in front of you； detach a picked body of
troops to occupy it； then if the enemy； relying on their numbers；
come up to make a fight for it； you may fall quickly on their
rear with your main body； and victory will be assured。〃 It was
thus； he adds； that Chao She beat the army of Ch‘in。 （See p。
57。）＇
48。 On open ground； I would keep a vigilant eye on my
defenses。 On ground of intersecting highways； I would
consolidate my alliances。
49。 On serious ground； I would try to ensure a continuous
stream of supplies。
＇The commentators take this as referring to forage and
plunder； not； as one might expect； to an unbroken communication
with a home base。＇
On difficult ground； I would keep pushing on along the road。
50。 On hemmed…in ground； I would block any way of retreat。
＇Meng Shih says： 〃To make it seem that I meant to defend
the position； whereas my real intention is to burst suddenly
through the enemy's lines。〃 Mei Yao…ch‘en says： 〃in order to
make my soldiers fight with desperation。〃 Wang Hsi says；
〃fearing lest my men be tempted to run away。〃 Tu Mu points out
that this is the converse of VII。 ss。 36； where it is the enemy
who is surrounded。 In 532 A。D。； Kao Huan； afterwards Emperor and
canonized as Shen…wu； was surrounded by a great army under Erh…
chu Chao and others。 His own force was comparatively small；
consisting only of 2000 horse and something under 30；000 foot。
The lines of investment had not been drawn very closely together；
gaps being left at certain points。 But Kao Huan； instead of
trying to escape； actually made a shift to block all the
remaining outlets himself by driving into them a number of oxen
and donkeys roped together。 As soon as his officers and men saw
that there was nothing for it but to conquer or die； their
spirits rose to an extraordinary pitch of exaltation； and they
charged with such desperate ferocity that the opposing ranks
broke and crumbled under their onslaught。＇
On desperate ground； I would proclaim to my soldiers the
hopelessness of saving their lives。
Tu Yu says： 〃Burn your baggage and impedimenta； throw away
your stores and provisions； choke up the wells； destroy your
cooking…stoves； and make it plain to your men that they cannot
survive； but must fight to the death。〃 Mei Yao…ch‘en says： 〃The
only chance of life lies in giving up all hope of it。〃 This
concludes what Sun Tzu has to say about 〃grounds〃 and the
〃variations〃 corresponding to them。 Reviewing the passages which
bear on this important subject； we cannot fail to be struck by
the desultory and unmethodical fashion in which it is treated。
Sun Tzu begins abruptly in VIII。 ss。 2 to enumerate 〃variations〃
before touching on 〃grounds〃 at all； but only mentions five；
namely nos。 7； 5； 8 and 9 of the subsequent list； and one that is
not included in it。 A few varieties of ground are dealt with in
the earlier portion of chap。 IX； and then chap。 X sets forth six
new grounds； with six variations of plan to match。 None of these
is mentioned again； though the first is hardly to be
distinguished from ground no。 4 in the next chapter。 At last； in
chap。 XI； we come to the Nine Grounds par excellence； immediately
followed by the variations。 This takes us down to ss。 14。 In
SS。 43…45； fresh definitions are provided for nos。 5； 6； 2； 8 and
9 （in the order given）； as well as for the tenth ground noticed
in chap。 VIII； and finally； the nine variations are enumerated
once more from beginning to end； all； with the exception of 5； 6
and 7； being different from those previously given。 Though it is
impossible to account for the present state of Sun Tzu's text； a
few suggestive facts maybe brought into prominence： （1） Chap。
VIII； according to the title； should deal with nine variations；
whereas only five appear。 （2） It is an abnormally short chapter。
（3） Chap。 XI is entitled The Nine Grounds。 Several of these are
defined twice over； besides which there are two distinct lists of
the corresponding variations。 （4） The length of the chapter is
disproportionate； being double that of any other except IX。 I do
not propose to draw any inferences from these facts； beyond the
general conclusion that Sun Tzu's work cannot have come down to
us in the shape in which it left his hands： chap。 VIII is
obviously defective and probably out of place； while XI seems to
contain matter that has either been added by a later hand or
ought to appear elsewhere。＇
51。 For it is the soldier's disposition to offer an
obstinate resistance when surrounded； to fight hard when he
cannot help himself； and to obey promptly when he has fallen into
danger。
＇Chang Yu alludes to the conduct of Pan Ch‘ao's devoted
followers in 73 A。D。 The story runs thus in the HOU HAN SHU； ch。
47： 〃When Pan Ch‘ao arrived at Shan…shan； Kuang； the King of the
country； received him at first with great politeness and respect；
but shortly afterwards his behavior underwent a sudden change；
and he became remiss and negligent。 Pan Ch‘ao spoke about this
to the officers of his suite： 'Have you noticed；' he said； 'that
Kuang's polite intentions are on the wane？ This must signify
that envoys have come from the Northern barbarians； and that
consequently he is in a state of indecision； not knowing with
which side to throw in his lot。 That surely is the reason。 The
truly wise man； we are told； can perceive things before they have
come to pass； how much more； then； those that are already
manifest！' Thereupon he called one of the natives who had been
assigned to his service； and set a trap for him； saying： 'Where
are those envoys from the Hsiung…nu who arrived some day ago？'
The man was so taken aback that between surprise and fear he
presently blurted out the whole truth。 Pan Ch‘ao； keeping his
informant carefully under lock and key； then summoned a general
gathering of his officers； thirty…six in all； and began drinking
with them。 When the wine had mounted into their heads a little；
he tried to rouse their spirit still further by addressing them
thus： 'Gentlemen； here we are in the heart of an isolated
region； anxious to achieve riches and honor by some great
exploit。 Now it happens that an ambassador from the Hsiung…no
arrived in this kingdom only a few days ago； and the result is
that the respectful courtesy extended towards us by our royal
host has disappeared。 Should this envoy prevail upon him to
seize ou