Part 5

"If the people hear the word of command, or listen to the order with rejoicing; if, when the army be raised, and a multitude assembled, they go forth gladly to the fight; if, in the tumult of the fight, when blade crosses blade, the soldiers gladly die; upon these three things can the lord of the people place his trust."

And Lord Wen said:--

"How can this be brought about?"

And Wu answered and said:--

"Seek out merit, advance and reward it, and encourage those without fame."

Accordingly Lord Wen set seats in the garden of the palace in three rows, and made a feast unto his chief retainers. In the first row were set those of chief merit, and on the table were placed the best meats and precious utensils. Those of medium merit were set in the middle row, and the utensils on the table were fewer in number. Those without merit were set in the last row, and utensils of no value were put before them. And when the feast was over, and they had all departed, the parents, wives, and children of those with merit were given presents outside the gates of the palace according to their degree.

Further, messengers were sent yearly with gifts to condole with the parents of those who had lost a son in the service of the state, and to show that they were had in remembrance.

And after this was carried out for three years, the people of Chin gathered an army, and came as far as the Western River. And when the soldiers of Wei heard this, without waiting for orders, they armed themselves and fell upon them; and they that went forth were 10,000 in number.

And Lord Wen called Wu and said:--

"The words that you spoke unto me, have they not indeed been carried out?"

And Wu answered and said:--

"I have heard that there are men, great and small; souls, grand and feeble.

"As a trial, let 50,000 men, without merit, be collected, and placed under my command against the country of Chin. If we fail, the state will be the laughing-stock among the princes, and its power under heaven will be lost. If a desperate robber be hidden in a wide plain, and 1,000 men be pursuing him, their glances will be furtive like the owl, looking backward like the wolf, for they are in fear of harm from a sudden onslaught.

"One desperate man can put fear in the hearts of a thousand. Now, if this host of 50,000 men become as a desperate thief, and are led against Chin, there is nought to fear."

On hearing these words Lord Wen agreed, and adding further 500 chariots and 3,000 horse, the hosts of Chin were overthrown, all being due to the encouragement of the troops.

On the day before the battle Wu gave orders to the forces, saying:--

"The army will attack the enemy's chariots, horse and foot, in accordance with our commands. If the chariots do not capture the enemy's chariots, or the horse those of the enemy's, or the foot the enemy's footmen, even if their army be overthrown, no merit will be gained."

Therefore on the day of the battle, the orders were simple, and fear of Wei shook the heavens.

INDEX

A

Abnormal manoeuvres, 31, 32

Advance, followed by retirement, a lure, 51

Advantages, the five, 45

Ally, war to be avoided, if enemy has powerful, 91

Altar, Wu made general before, 77; difficult matters to be laid before, 78

Ambition, one of five causes of war, 80

Ambush, likely places for enemy to be in, 49

Ammunition, lack of, may cause disaster, 41

Anger of officers, cause of, 51; not a fit reason for battle, 69

Animals, the six domestic, to be preserved by besiegers, 115

Apologies, what implied, by general who offers, 52

Archers, employment of, in sieges, 25, _note_

Armies, five, alternate onslaughts by, 111

Armistice, what betokened by sudden desire for, 51

Armour, cost of upkeep of, 21; and of renewing, 22; condition of, an influence in battle, 94

Arms, profession of, not highly regarded in China, 9; the five, 88, _note_

Army, control of the, 93-100; orderly, likened to father and children, 96

Articles of Suntzu, 17-74

Assault, by stratagem, 25

Attack, proportionate number required for, 26; on undefended positions, 35; place of, to be kept secret, 37; five ways of, by fire, 67-68; eight cases of, 89; reckless, 92

B

Banners, use of, to inspirit troops, 9; used, in day fighting, 43; enemy's lines not to be attacked where waving, 43-44; changing of, 51; to be entrusted to strong men, 98; Wutzu on attraction of, 104, 108

Barrack burning, 67

Batons, in day fighting, 108

Battle, the Order of, 28-30

Beacons, in night fighting, 43

Beasts, startled, indicate stealthy approach, 50

Bell, use of, in war, 31; a signal to halt, 31, _note_; Wutzu on, 95; to be entrusted to the bold, 98; use of, attracts ear, 104

Benevolence, quality needed by general, 103

Birds, rising of, indicates ambush, 50; clustering of, round position, shows it unoccupied, 51

Bluster in General, 52

Bogs, movement of troops regarding, 49

Booty, exhaustion betrayed by disregard of, 51

Bows, weapons for tall men, 98

Broken ground, 54

Burning barrack, commissariat, equipment, store, and company, 67-68

C

Calamities, six, among troops, 55

Camp, safe position for, 47; skilful changes of, 63

Castle, Wutzu's counsel for investing, 115

Catapults, weapons for tall men, 98

Causes of war, 80

Cautiousness-over, one of five dangerous faults for general, 46

Chang Mt., illustration of snakes of, 62

Changes, the Nine, 44-46

Chariots, number of, required, 20-21; cost of renewing, 22; rewards for taking from enemy, 23; advance of light, 50; great size of, 76; axles of, to be well oiled, 94

Cheng, Lord Tang, of, 79

Chengsang, Prince, 76

Chi, estimation of forces of, 85; nature of, 86

Chieh, Lord, 79

Chin, nature of, 86; unsuccessfully opposes Wei, 117-118

Chins, the three, 87-88

China, profession of arms not highly regarded in, 9; large rivers of, affect military operations, 12

Chinese, greatly affected by climate, 9

Chinese literature, place of Suntzu and Wutzu in, 7

Chinese wars, patriotism not a factor in, 8

Chou, Wu, of, 79

Chu, courage of, 62; foundation of state of, 74; want of endurance of army of, 85

Chuang, of Chu, holds consultation, 84

Chuyin, use of, in sieges, 25, and _note_

Circumspection, circumstances requiring, 52

Cohesion of troops, in interior of hostile country, 64

Colours must be bright, in war, 104

Commander, professional, in China, 9

Commissariat burning, 67

Confidence, importance of, in operations, 94

Contention, ground of, 58

Continuity of military principles illustrated, 12

Control of army, 93-100

Converted spies, 71

Cooking pots may betray end of resources, 51-52

Cost of war, 21; of supplying army at distance, 22

Courage, universal, dependent on good management, 63; not the only attribute necessary to general, 101; but nevertheless essential, 103

Cowardly, place of the, in action, 43

D

Daylight fighting, use of flags, banners, pennons, and batons in, 108

Death, when only alternative, ensures exertion, 61

Death ground, 58; fighting on, 60; soldiers must recognise conditions of, 64

Death spies, 71, 72

Declaration of war, action following, 66

Decoration for skill in five arms, 88

Defeat, internal causes of, 28; skilful soldiers make impossible, 28; army destined to, trusts in chance, 30; causes of, 55-56

Defence, long, difficulties in, 110

Defensive warfare, when victory unattainable, 28; skill in, 28-29

Deficiency, defence compelled by, 28

Despair, energy born of, wins victory, 15

Desperate enemy not to be pressed, 44

Determination, one of five important matters for general, 101, 102

Dignity, essential for general, 103

Discipline, one of seven important matters in war, 18; perfection of, leads to simulation, 33

Discussion of omens, forbidden, 61

Disorder, a cause of defeat, 96

Disputed ground, action regarding, 64

Distracting ground, action regarding, 64

Disturbing ground, action regarding, 64

Dragons, green (banners), 99

Dragons' heads (mountain extremities), 99

Drum, use of, 31; in night fighting, 43; sounds for advance, 95; meaning of different beats of, 98; to be entrusted to the bold, 98; Wutzu on the, 104, 108

Dust, spurts, masses, columns and clouds of, meaning of, 50

E

Ear, to be attracted in war, 104

Earth, one of five indispensable matters in war, 17, 18; the ninth, 29, and _note_

Elements, five, 39, and _note_

Emptiness and strength, 34-39

Enclosed ground, 58; stratagem to be used on, 60; action regarding, 64

Enemies, six to be avoided, 90-91

Equipment, umbrella part of Chinese soldier's, 9

Estimation of enemy, 56; Wutzu on, 85-93

Exhaustion, result of lateness in field, 34; avoided by good tactics, 35; shown by disregard of booty, 51

Expectation of life or death, 96

Eye, to be struck in war, 104

F

Famine, a cause of war, 80

Faults, five, dangerous for generals, 46

Feast, given by Wen to guests with high, medium, and deficient merit, 117

Feints, use of, 36, 38

Fens, advance in wide, 112

Fighting races, consequences of victories by, 80

Fire, five modes of assault by, 67-68; attack on enemy in overgrown marsh land by, 106

Flag, use of, in war, 31; in day fighting, 43; change of, 51; Wutzu on use of, 104

Flanking (or reserve) force, 12

Flat country, disposal of troops in, 48

Flutes, Wutzu on use of, 108

Fodder, charge of, given to the feeble, 98

Food, taken from enemy, 22; obtained by skilful general, 23; killing of horses for, 51; attack on enemy without, 90; charge of, given to the feeble, 98

Force, one of four important influences in war, 102, 103

Foreign lands, war in, 60

Formation-battle, 97

Frontal attack, 11

G

General, interference with, ill-advised, 10; ability of, one of seven important matters, 18; skilful, is steadfast in "Way" and "Law," 30; as "God of War" changes tactics, 39; must know the Nine Changes, 45; five faults dangerous for, 46; what implied by exceeding graciousness of, 52; blustering and obsequious, 52; strange to troops, 52; weak and amiable, 55; calamities due to defects in, 55; unable to estimate enemy, 56; anxious for people's welfare, 56; must be calm, inscrutable, just, and prudent, 63; conceals plans, 63; must have topographical knowledge and use guides, 65; bestows rewards discreetly, 66; is not actuated by anger, 69; should be in accord with soldiers, 93; must not procrastinate, 97; Wutzu on qualities of, 101-107; five matters important for, 101; of the enemy to be appraised, 104; action in accordance with judgment of enemy's, 105; how to judge enemy's, 106-107

Gongs, use of, in war, 108

Government of a country, 77-84; object of, 79; good, foundation of victory, 95

Ground, influence of, in war, 12; marshy, to be avoided for camp, 44; action in mountainous and wooded, 45; disposal of troops on high, marshy, flat, sunny, steep, boggy, and tangled, 47-49; object of enemy encamped on open, 49; Suntzu on, 53-67; open, 53-54; broken, 54; suspended, 54; defiles in, 54; precipitous, 54; the handmaid of victory, 56; results from good use of, 63; one of four important influences in war, 102, 103; inundation of enemy on marshy, 106

Grounds, the Nine, 58-67; action with regard to, 64; knowledge of, necessary to general, 65

Guests, entertainment of, costly in war, 21

Guides, employment of, necessary, 42, 65

H

Halberd, one of the five arms, 88, _note_

Halberds, great length of, 75-76

Harness, must be strong in all details, 100

Health of troops, consideration for, 48

Heat, attack on enemy who has endured, 89

Heaven, one of five indispensable matters in war, 17, 18

Heaven, the Ninth, 29, _note_

Highways, when not to interrupt, 59

Horses, killed for food, 51; care for, 94; treatment of, 99-100

Hsia, 73

Hsihe, defence of, 77

Huangti, cause of victory by, 48

Humane treatment ensures obedience, 53

Hunger, how shown, by use of weapons, 51; how to meet, in case of enemy, 97

I

Ichih, 73

Ignorance, three ways of, embarrassing to armies, 26; of enemy causes defeat, 27

Impartiality, Wutzu on, 116

Impetuosity, blind, dangerous fault in general, 46

Indispensable matters, five, Suntzu on, 17

Indulgence, ill effects of, 57

Influences, four important, in war, 102

Initiative, disadvantage of, on suspended ground, 54

Inner spies, 71

Internal disorder, a cause of war, 80

Intersecting ground, 58; action on, 64

Inundation of enemy, on marshy ground, 106

Invincible, how ancient masters made armies, 28

Involved ground, 58, 59; action regarding, 59, 64

J

Japan, Sun and Wu revered in, 14

Japanese tactics, unlike Chinese, 10; commentators on Chinese literature, 14

Javelin, one of the five arms, 88, _note_

Justice, importance of, in rewards and punishment, 18; Wutzu on, 116

K

Kingdom, the Middle, 87-88

Kuei, courage of, 62

L

Lateness in field, cause of exhaustion, 34

Law, the, one of five indispensable matters in war, 17; includes partition and ordering of troops, 18; for defeating a country, or taking it, without strife, 24; touching the rule, measure, tables, and scales, and the foretelling of victory, 30

Leader, one of five indispensable matters in war, 17. (_See_ General)

Letters, general should be master of, 101

Light esteem of enemy, result of, 52

Lightness, importance of, in operations, 93; four natures of, 93-94

Literature, Chinese, place of Suntzu and Wutzu in, 7; Japanese commentators on, 14; thought compressed in, 14

Living spies, 71, 72

Lu, number of men in, 24, _note_

Luya, 74

M

Manoeuvre, battle avoided by, 11; normal and abnormal, 31, 32; master in art of, 40

March, forced, 41; should be calm, like forest, 42

Marshes, unsuitable for camp, 44; disposal of troops regarding, 48; attack by fire of enemy encamped in, 106; inundation of enemy in, 106

Measure, the second law of war, 30

Meres, ambush to be expected in, 49

Merit, recognition of, by enemy, 91; to be sought, advanced, and rewarded, 116; Lord Wen discriminates between guests with and without, 117

Messengers, enemy's movements revealed by, 51

Midday, time for spirits of troops to flag, 43

Middle Kingdom, the, 87-88

Might, war of, 81

Modification of military plans, 19

Moon, in quarters suitable for attack by fire, 67-68

Moral of troops, 8; use of banners to maintain, 9

Motion of troops, dignified, 95

Mountain warfare, disposal of troops in, 47

Mountains, advance among, 112

Movement of troops, 47-53

Mu, Prince of Chin, example of, 82

Mysterious Thread, the, 71

Mystery, supposed to surround art of war, 14

N

Night, fighting in, 43; voices calling in, 51

Nine Changes, the, 44-46

Nine Grounds, the, 58-67; action with regard to, 64; knowledge of, necessary to general, 65

Normal manoeuvres, 31, 32

Numbers, proportionate, needed to attack and to divide, 26; subdivision of, 31; superiority of, an economy of strength, 37; no certain mark of strength, 52; Prince Yuhu's trust in, 76; tactics regarding differences in, 109; of no avail in war in valleys, 112

O

Obedience ensured by humane conduct, 53; early training in, 53

Obsequiousness in general, 52

Officers, when angered by soldiers, 51; weak with strong soldiers, and _vice versa_, 55

Officials, who have care for people, 91

Omens, discussion of, to be forbidden, 61

Open ground, movement on, 53-54

Opportunity, one of four important influences in war, 102, 103

Oracles, cases for attack, when needless to consult, 89

Order of Battle, the, 28-30

Order, importance of, 95

Outlet, for retiring enemy, 44; from enclosed ground, 59

Ovens, natural (mouths of valleys), 99

P

Pass, when to meet enemy in, 109

Passages, narrow, avoidance of, 49

Path-ridden ground, 58-59

Patriotism, not a factor in Chinese wars, 8

Penalties, Wutzu on, 104

Pennons, Wutzu on use of, 108

Pestilence, attack on enemy who endures, 90

Pike, one of five arms, 88, _note_

Pillage by enemy, Wutzu on, 115

Plan of campaign, modifications in, 19

Pole star (standard), 99

Population, told by tables of laws of war, 30; division of, into military groups, 70, _note_; cases of enemy's large, 90

Precipitous ground, occupation of, 54

Preparation, one of five important matters for general, 101-102

Pretence, war a thing of, 19

Procedure, military, 40

Procrastination, evil of, in war, 97

Profit, a cause of war, 80

Punishment, frequent, what betokened by, 52; when ordered by strange general, 52

Q

Qualities, of the general, 101-107

R

Rank, for those skilful in five arms, 88

Reason, one of five important matters for general, 101

Regard-over, for troops, dangerous fault, 46

Relaxation of troops, 55

Repulse, resulting from general's incapacity, 55

Requirements of war, 20-21

Reserve (or flanking) force, 12

Rest, propriety in, 95

Rewards, justice in according, 18; for those who take advantage of enemy, 23; frequent, show lack of discipline, 52; general's freedom in bestowing, 66; for families of skilful in five arms, 88; consequence of enemy's wise bestowal of, 91; in advance, 94; to be given to merit, 116

Revenge, war of, 81

Riches, why denied to soldiers, 61

Right-hand men, 73, and _note_

Righteous war, 81

Righteousness, overcome by propriety, 81; at root of achievement and merit, 79

Rivers of China affect operations, 12; encampment on, inundation, and poisoning of, 12; not to be crossed when turbulent, 49; observation of drawers from, 51

Roads to avoid, 45

Rule, as to survey of land, 30; general above, in bestowing rewards, 66; modified by circumstances, 67

S

Sanctuary, reckoning in, before fighting, 20

Scales, in laws of war, 30

Secret of war, Wutzu on, 104

Secret, ground of approaching attack to be kept, 37

Shen, Duke, 84

Shield, one of five arms, 88, _note_

Siege, not to be undertaken, if avoidable, 25; misfortunes entailed by, 25

Simplicity, one of five important matters for leader, 101, 102

Simulation, use of, 33

Situation, important matter in war, 17

Snakes (banners), 99

Soldiers, training of, 18; strength of, 18

Sparrows, red (banners), 99

Spears, weapons for short men, 98

Spies, estimation of, in China, 13; Suntzu on power of, 13-14; on titles and salaries to, 70; five kinds of, 71; of enemy, 73; skillfully sown, 103

Spirit of troops, 31-34; compared to torrent, 33; good fighter seeks victory from, 34; keen in morning, 43; sustained by speed, 60; influence of, 102

Stables, care of, 99

Standard of Takeda Shingen, 42, _note_

Standards to be entrusted to strong men, 98; Wutzu on use of, 104

Strata, Chinese division of earth and sky into nine, 29, _note_

Stratagem, the attack by, 24-27; use of, on enclosed ground, 60; importance of, in war, 17

Strategy, secrets of, 20; how to outwit enemy by, 24; assault by, 25; in offering apparent advantage, 35; not to be repeated, if victorious, 39

Steep place, advantage of, 109

Store burning, 67

Strength, first in field husbands, 34; economy of, 37; ways of husbanding, 43

Strong, place of, with cowardly, 43

Sun. (_See_ Suntzu.)

Sunny ground, 9

Suntzu, place of, in Chinese literature, 7; on march of army, 9; on offensive action, 10; tactics of, unlike Japanese, 10; disinterested comments on war by, 12-13; revered in Japan, 14; influence of, in late Japanese war, 15; not patriot, but strategist, 15; story told of, 15-16; Articles of, 17-74; on five indispensable matters, 17; on operations of war, 20-23; on attack by stratagem, 24-27; on Order of Battle, 28-30; on spirit of troops, 31-34; on emptiness and strength, 34-39; on battle tactics, 40-44; on the Nine Changes, 44-46; on movement of troops, 47-53; on ground, 53-57; on the Nine Grounds, 58-67; on assault by fire, 67-69; on the employment of spies, 70-74

Surprise, case of enemy taken by, 106

Survey of land, 30

Suspended ground, 54

Swamps, movements regarding, 49

Sympathy, between general and soldiers, 53; consequences of, 56-57

T

Tables of population, 30

Tactics, skill in change of, 39; difficulty of military, 40; battle, 40-44

Takeda Shingen, words on standard of, 42, _note_

Tang, Lord, of Cheng, 79

Temper, quick, dangerous fault in general, 46

Tigers, white (banners), 99

Tortoises (banners), 99

Training, one of seven important military matters, 18; Wutzu esteems first requirement in war, 97

Transport, loss of, through bad tactics, 41

Trees, movement among, 49-50

Truce, apologies betray anxiety for, 52

Tsu, number of men in, 24, _note_

Turtle, enquiry by, 78, and _note_

Tyranny, war of, 81

U

Umbrella, part of Chinese soldier's equipment, 9

Uniformity, brought about by authority, 53

Unity results from position of troops in enemy's land, 61

Unrighteous war, 81

V

Valleys, movement of troops regarding steep, 49; advance in, 112; war in, 112

Victory, how to foretell, 18; instruments of, 21; the object of war, 23, 69; five heralds of, 27; skillful soldiers ensure, 28; not always real success, 29; how to calculate, 30; spirit, great factor in, 34; ground handmaid of, 56; good government foundation of, 95

Vigilance, when especially necessary, 52; one of five important matters for general, 101, 102

Village spies, 71

Virtue of the prince, one of seven important matters, 18; essential for general, 103

Virtues, the five, comprised in "The Way," 17, _note_

Voices in night, signification of, in war, 51

W

Waggons, cost of upkeep of, 21

War, evils in train of, 12-13; a thing of pretence, 19; requirements of, 20-21; quick accomplishment of, desirable, 21, 22; evils of, should be realised, 22; victory--not long operations--object of, 23; supreme art of, 24; no fixity in spirit of, 39; action on declaration of, 66; five causes of, 80; five natures of, 81; ways of overcoming five natures of, 81

Water, army likened to, 39; troops in relation to, 47; observation of drawers of, 51; isolation or division of enemy by, 68-69; attack on enemy who lacks, 89; striking of enemy when half across, 93, 114

Way, the, an indispensable matter in war, 17; skillful leader steadfast in, 30; Wutzu on, 78-79

Weapons, the five, 88, _note_; condition of enemy's important, 91; distribution of, to tall, short, strong, bold, feeble, and wise, 98

Wei, Wen, Lord of, 75; army of, opposes that of Chin, 117-118; victory by, 119

Wen, Prince of Chin, example of, 82

Wen, Lord of Wei, questions Wutzu, 75; result of questioning by, 77; addresses further questions, 81, 83, 85, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 98, 99, 106, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116; treatment by, of guests with great, medium, and deficient merit, 117; proposal by Wutzu to, 118

Whistles, Wutzu on use of, 108

Wind, question of, in assault by fire, 68; attack on enemy who has encountered, 89; direction of, to be studied, 99

Woods, advance among, 112

Words, big or smooth, meaning of, 50

Wu, number of men in, 24, _note_

Wu, soldiers of, 38; hatred between men of, and those of Yueh, 62