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where you are。
＇Ts‘ao Kung says： 〃If you see a possible way； advance； but
if you find the difficulties too great； retire。〃＇
9。 （4） If it is possible to make an assault with fire from
without； do not wait for it to break out within； but deliver your
attack at a favorable moment。
＇Tu Mu says that the previous paragraphs had reference to
the fire breaking out （either accidentally； we may suppose； or by
the agency of incendiaries） inside the enemy's camp。 〃But；〃 he
continues； 〃if the enemy is settled in a waste place littered
with quantities of grass； or if he has pitched his camp in a
position which can be burnt out； we must carry our fire against
him at any seasonable opportunity； and not await on in hopes of
an outbreak occurring within； for fear our opponents should
themselves burn up the surrounding vegetation； and thus render
our own attempts fruitless。〃 The famous Li Ling once baffled the
leader of the Hsiung…nu in this way。 The latter； taking
advantage of a favorable wind； tried to set fire to the Chinese
general's camp； but found that every scrap of combustible
vegetation in the neighborhood had already been burnt down。 On
the other hand； Po…ts‘ai； a general of the Yellow Turban rebels；
was badly defeated in 184 A。D。 through his neglect of this simple
precaution。 〃At the head of a large army he was besieging
Ch‘ang…she； which was held by Huang…fu Sung。 The garrison was
very small； and a general feeling of nervousness pervaded the
ranks； so Huang…fu Sung called his officers together and said：
〃In war； there are various indirect methods of attack； and
numbers do not count for everything。 ＇The commentator here
quotes Sun Tzu； V。 SS。 5； 6 and 10。＇ Now the rebels have pitched
their camp in the midst of thick grass which will easily burn
when the wind blows。 If we set fire to it at night； they will be
thrown into a panic； and we can make a sortie and attack them on
all sides at once； thus emulating the achievement of T‘ien Tan。'
＇See p。 90。＇ That same evening； a strong breeze sprang up； so
Huang…fu Sung instructed his soldiers to bind reeds together into
torches and mount guard on the city walls； after which he sent
out a band of daring men； who stealthily made their way through
the lines and started the fire with loud shouts and yells。
Simultaneously； a glare of light shot up from the city walls； and
Huang…fu Sung； sounding his drums； led a rapid charge； which
threw the rebels into confusion and put them to headlong flight。〃
＇HOU HAN SHU； ch。 71。＇ ＇
10。 （5） When you start a fire； be to windward of it。 Do
not attack from the leeward。
＇Chang Yu； following Tu Yu； says： 〃When you make a fire；
the enemy will retreat away from it； if you oppose his retreat
and attack him then； he will fight desperately； which will not
conduce to your success。〃 A rather more obvious explanation is
given by Tu Mu： 〃If the wind is in the east； begin burning to
the east of the enemy； and follow up the attack yourself from
that side。 If you start the fire on the east side； and then
attack from the west； you will suffer in the same way as your
enemy。〃＇
11。 A wind that rises in the daytime lasts long； but a
night breeze soon falls。
＇Cf。 Lao Tzu's saying： 〃A violent wind does not last the
space of a morning。〃 （TAO TE CHING； chap。 23。） Mei Yao…ch‘en
and Wang Hsi say： 〃A day breeze dies down at nightfall； and a
night breeze at daybreak。 This is what happens as a general
rule。〃 The phenomenon observed may be correct enough； but how
this sense is to be obtained is not apparent。＇
12。 In every army； the five developments connected with
fire must be known； the movements of the stars calculated； and a
watch kept for the proper days。
＇Tu Mu says： 〃We must make calculations as to the paths of
the stars； and watch for the days on which wind will rise；
before making our attack with fire。〃 Chang Yu seems to interpret
the text differently： 〃We must not only know how to assail our
opponents with fire； but also be on our guard against similar
attacks from them。〃＇
13。 Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show
intelligence； those who use water as an aid to the attack gain an
accession of strength。
14。 By means of water； an enemy may be intercepted； but not
robbed of all his belongings。
＇Ts‘ao Kung's note is： 〃We can merely obstruct the enemy's
road or divide his army； but not sweep away all his accumulated
stores。〃 Water can do useful service； but it lacks the terrible
destructive power of fire。 This is the reason； Chang Yu
concludes； why the former is dismissed in a couple of sentences；
whereas the attack by fire is discussed in detail。 Wu Tzu （ch。
4） speaks thus of the two elements： 〃If an army is encamped on
low…lying marshy ground； from which the water cannot run off； and
where the rainfall is heavy； it may be submerged by a flood。 If
an army is encamped in wild marsh lands thickly overgrown with
weeds and brambles； and visited by frequent gales； it may be
exterminated by fire。〃＇
15。 Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles
and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of
enterprise； for the result is waste of time and general
stagnation。
＇This is one of the most perplexing passages in Sun Tzu。
Ts‘ao Kung says： 〃Rewards for good service should not be
deferred a single day。〃 And Tu Mu： 〃If you do not take
opportunity to advance and reward the deserving； your
subordinates will not carry out your commands； and disaster will
ensue。〃 For several reasons； however； and in spite of the
formidable array of scholars on the other side； I prefer the
interpretation suggested by Mei Yao…ch‘en alone； whose words I
will quote： 〃Those who want to make sure of succeeding in their
battles and assaults must seize the favorable moments when they
come and not shrink on occasion from heroic measures： that is to
say； they must resort to such means of attack of fire； water and
the like。 What they must not do； and what will prove fatal； is
to sit still and simply hold to the advantages they have got。〃＇
16。 Hence the saying： The enlightened ruler lays his plans
well ahead； the good general cultivates his resources。
＇Tu Mu quotes the following from the SAN LUEH； ch。 2： 〃The
warlike prince controls his soldiers by his authority； kits them
together by good faith； and by rewards makes them serviceable。
If faith decays； there will be disruption； if rewards are
deficient； commands will not be respected。〃＇
17。 Move not unless you see an advantage； use not your
troops unless there is something to be gained； fight not unless
the position is critical。
＇Sun Tzu may at times appear t