¡¶art of war¡·

ÏÂÔر¾Êé

Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©

art of war- µÚ30²¿·Ö


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡

the¡¡camp¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡then¡¡set¡¡fire¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡from¡¡the¡¡windward¡¡side£»¡¡

whereupon¡¡a¡¡deafening¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡drums¡¡and¡¡shouting¡¡arose¡¡on¡¡the¡¡

front¡¡and¡¡rear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hsiung¡­nu£»¡¡who¡¡rushed¡¡out¡¡pell¡­mell¡¡in¡¡

frantic¡¡disorder¡£¡¡¡¡Pan¡¡Ch¡®ao¡¡slew¡¡three¡¡of¡¡them¡¡with¡¡his¡¡own¡¡

hand£»¡¡¡¡while¡¡his¡¡companions¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡the¡¡heads¡¡of¡¡the¡¡envoy¡¡and¡¡

thirty¡¡of¡¡his¡¡suite¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡remainder£»¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡in¡¡all£»¡¡

perished¡¡in¡¡the¡¡flames¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡following¡¡day£»¡¡¡¡Pan¡¡Ch¡®ao£»¡¡

divining¡¡his¡¡thoughts£»¡¡said¡¡with¡¡uplifted¡¡hand£º¡¡¡¡'Although¡¡you¡¡

did¡¡not¡¡go¡¡with¡¡us¡¡last¡¡night£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡not¡¡think£»¡¡Sir£»¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡

sole¡¡credit¡¡for¡¡our¡¡exploit¡£'¡¡¡¡This¡¡satisfied¡¡Kuo¡¡Hsun£»¡¡and¡¡Pan¡¡

Ch¡®ao£»¡¡¡¡having¡¡sent¡¡for¡¡Kuang£»¡¡King¡¡of¡¡Shan¡­shan£»¡¡showed¡¡him¡¡the¡¡

head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡barbarian¡¡envoy¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡kingdom¡¡was¡¡seized¡¡with¡¡

fear¡¡and¡¡trembling£»¡¡¡¡which¡¡Pan¡¡Ch¡®ao¡¡took¡¡steps¡¡to¡¡allay¡¡by¡¡

issuing¡¡a¡¡public¡¡proclamation¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡sons¡¡as¡¡

hostage£»¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡make¡¡his¡¡report¡¡to¡¡Tou¡¡Ku¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡HOU¡¡HAN¡¡SHU£»¡¡

ch¡£¡¡47£»¡¡ff¡£¡¡1£»¡¡2¡££§¡¡£§



the¡¡second¡¡is¡¡to¡¡burn¡¡stores£»



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§Tu¡¡Mu¡¡says£º¡¡¡¡¡¨Provisions£»¡¡fuel¡¡and¡¡fodder¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡In¡¡order¡¡to¡¡

subdue¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rebellious¡¡population¡¡of¡¡Kiangnan£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Kao¡¡¡¡¡¡Keng¡¡

recommended¡¡Wen¡¡Ti¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sui¡¡dynasty¡¡to¡¡make¡¡periodical¡¡raids¡¡

and¡¡burn¡¡their¡¡stores¡¡of¡¡grain£»¡¡a¡¡policy¡¡which¡¡in¡¡the¡¡long¡¡run¡¡

proved¡¡entirely¡¡successful¡££§



the¡¡third¡¡is¡¡to¡¡burn¡¡baggage¡¡trains£»



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§An¡¡example¡¡given¡¡is¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡Yuan¡¡Shao¡®s¡¡wagons¡¡

and¡¡impedimenta¡¡by¡¡Ts¡®ao¡¡Ts¡®ao¡¡in¡¡200¡¡A¡£D¡££§



the¡¡fourth¡¡is¡¡to¡¡burn¡¡arsenals¡¡and¡¡magazines£»



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§Tu¡¡Mu¡¡says¡¡that¡¡the¡¡things¡¡contained¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¨arsenals¡¨¡¡¡¡and¡¡

¡¨magazines¡¨¡¡¡¡are¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡specifies¡¡weapons¡¡and¡¡other¡¡

implements£»¡¡bullion¡¡and¡¡clothing¡£¡¡¡¡Cf¡£¡¡VII¡£¡¡ss¡£¡¡11¡££§



the¡¡fifth¡¡is¡¡to¡¡hurl¡¡dropping¡¡fire¡¡amongst¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§Tu¡¡Yu¡¡says¡¡in¡¡the¡¡T¡®UNG¡¡TIEN£º¡¡¡¡¡¨To¡¡drop¡¡fire¡¡into¡¡the¡¡

enemy's¡¡camp¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡method¡¡by¡¡which¡¡this¡¡may¡¡be¡¡done¡¡is¡¡to¡¡set¡¡the¡¡

tips¡¡of¡¡arrows¡¡alight¡¡by¡¡dipping¡¡them¡¡into¡¡a¡¡brazier£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡then¡¡

shoot¡¡them¡¡from¡¡powerful¡¡crossbows¡¡into¡¡the¡¡enemy's¡¡lines¡£¡¨£§



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡2¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡order¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡out¡¡an¡¡attack£»¡¡we¡¡must¡¡have¡¡means¡¡

available¡£



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§T¡®sao¡¡Kung¡¡thinks¡¡that¡¡¡¨traitors¡¡in¡¡the¡¡enemy's¡¡camp¡¨¡¡¡¡are¡¡

referred¡¡to¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Ch¡®en¡¡Hao¡¡is¡¡more¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡be¡¡right¡¡in¡¡saying£º¡¡¡¡

¡¨We¡¡must¡¡have¡¡favorable¡¡circumstances¡¡in¡¡general£»¡¡¡¡not¡¡merely¡¡

traitors¡¡to¡¡help¡¡us¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Chia¡¡Lin¡¡says£º¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡must¡¡avail¡¡ourselves¡¡

of¡¡wind¡¡and¡¡dry¡¡weather¡£¡¨£§



the¡¡material¡¡for¡¡raising¡¡fire¡¡should¡¡always¡¡be¡¡kept¡¡in¡¡readiness¡£



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§Tu¡¡Mu¡¡suggests¡¡as¡¡material¡¡for¡¡making¡¡fire£º¡¡¡¡¡¨dry¡¡vegetable¡¡

matter£»¡¡reeds£»¡¡brushwood£»¡¡straw£»¡¡grease£»¡¡oil£»¡¡etc¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Here¡¡we¡¡have¡¡

the¡¡material¡¡cause¡£¡¡¡¡Chang¡¡Yu¡¡says£º¡¡¡¡¡¨vessels¡¡for¡¡hoarding¡¡fire£»¡¡

stuff¡¡for¡¡lighting¡¡fires¡£¡¨£§



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡3¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡proper¡¡season¡¡for¡¡making¡¡attacks¡¡with¡¡fire£»¡¡

and¡¡special¡¡days¡¡for¡¡starting¡¡a¡¡conflagration¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡4¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡proper¡¡season¡¡is¡¡when¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡is¡¡very¡¡dry£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡

special¡¡days¡¡are¡¡those¡¡when¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡constellations¡¡of¡¡

the¡¡Sieve£»¡¡the¡¡Wall£»¡¡the¡¡Wing¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Cross¡­bar£»



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§These¡¡are£»¡¡respectively£»¡¡the¡¡7th£»¡¡14th£»¡¡27th£»¡¡and¡¡28th¡¡of¡¡

the¡¡Twenty¡­eight¡¡Stellar¡¡Mansions£»¡¡¡¡corresponding¡¡roughly¡¡to¡¡

Sagittarius£»¡¡Pegasus£»¡¡Crater¡¡and¡¡Corvus¡££§



for¡¡these¡¡four¡¡are¡¡all¡¡days¡¡of¡¡rising¡¡wind¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡5¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡attacking¡¡with¡¡fire£»¡¡one¡¡should¡¡be¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡

five¡¡possible¡¡developments£º

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡6¡£¡¡¡¡£¨1£©¡¡When¡¡fire¡¡breaks¡¡out¡¡inside¡¡to¡¡enemy's¡¡camp£»¡¡respond¡¡

at¡¡once¡¡with¡¡an¡¡attack¡¡from¡¡without¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡7¡£¡¡¡¡£¨2£©¡¡¡¡If¡¡there¡¡is¡¡an¡¡outbreak¡¡of¡¡fire£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡enemy's¡¡

soldiers¡¡remain¡¡quiet£»¡¡bide¡¡your¡¡time¡¡and¡¡do¡¡not¡¡attack¡£



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§The¡¡prime¡¡object¡¡of¡¡attacking¡¡with¡¡fire¡¡is¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡the¡¡

enemy¡¡into¡¡confusion¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡this¡¡effect¡¡is¡¡not¡¡produced£»¡¡it¡¡means¡¡

that¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡is¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡Hence¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡for¡¡

caution¡££§



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡8¡£¡¡¡¡£¨3£©¡¡When¡¡the¡¡force¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flames¡¡has¡¡reached¡¡its¡¡height£»¡¡

follow¡¡it¡¡up¡¡with¡¡an¡¡attack£»¡¡if¡¡that¡¡is¡¡practicable£»¡¡if¡¡not£»¡¡stay¡¡

where¡¡you¡¡are¡£



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§Ts¡®ao¡¡Kung¡¡says£º¡¡¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡

¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡violent¡¡wind¡¡does¡¡not¡¡last¡¡the¡¡

space¡¡of¡¡a¡¡morning¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡£¨TAO¡¡TE¡¡CHING£»¡¡chap¡£¡¡23¡££©¡¡¡¡¡¡Mei¡¡Yao¡­ch¡®en¡¡

and¡¡Wang¡¡Hsi¡¡say£º¡¡¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Rewards¡¡for¡¡good¡¡service¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡

deferred¡¡a¡¡single¡¡day¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡Tu¡¡Mu£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨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£º¡¡¡¡¡¨Those¡¡who¡¡want¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡succeeding¡¡in¡¡their¡¡

battles¡¡and¡¡as
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü