Chang Yü paraphrases the latter part of the sentence 不選驍勇之士使爲 先鋒兵必敗北也, and continues: 凡戰必用精銳爲前鋒者一則壯吾志一則挫敵威也 “Whenever there is fighting to be done, the keenest spirits should be appointed to serve in the front ranks, both in order to strengthen the resolution of our own men and to demoralise the enemy.” Cf. the _primi ordines_ of Caesar (“De Bello Gallico,” V. 28, 44 _et al._). There seems little to distinguish 北 from 走 in § 15, except that 北 is a more forcible word. 20. 凡此六者敗之道也將之至任不可不察也 These are six ways of courting defeat, Ch‘ên Hao makes them out to be: (1) 不量寡衆 “neglect to estimate the enemy’s strength;” (2) 本乏刑德 “want of authority;” (3) 失於訓練 “defective training;” (4) 非理興怒 “unjustifiable anger;” (5) 法令不行 “non-observance of discipline;” (6) 不擇驍果 “failure to use picked men.” which must be carefully noted by the general who has attained a responsible post. See _supra_, § 13. 21. 夫地形者兵之助也料敵制勝計險阨遠近上將之道也 The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally; Chia Lin’s text has the reading 易 for 助. Ch‘ên Hao says: 天時不如 地利 “The advantages of weather and season are not equal to those connected with ground.” but a power of estimating the adversary, The insertion of a “but” is necessary to show the connection of thought here. A general should always utilise, but never rely wholly on natural advantages of terrain. of controlling the forces of victory, 制勝 is one of those condensed expressions which mean so much in Chinese, and so little in an English translation. What it seems to imply is complete mastery of the situation from the beginning. and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers and distances, The _T‘ung Tien_ and _Yü Lan_ read 計極險易利害遠近. I am decidedly puzzled by Capt. Calthrop’s translation: “an eye for steepness, _command_ and distances.” Where did he find the word which I have put in italics? constitutes the test of a great general. A somewhat free translation of 道. As Chang Yü remarks, these are 兵之本 “the essentials of soldiering,” ground being only a helpful accessory. 22. 知此而用戰者必勝不知此而用戰者必敗 He who knows these things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practises them, will surely be defeated. 23. 故戰道必勝主曰無戰必戰可也戰道不勝主曰必戰無戰可也 If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.