This “ground” is cursorily mentioned in VIII. § 2, but it does not figure among the Nine 地 of this chapter or the Six 地形 in chap. X. One’s first impulse would be to translate it “distant ground” (絶域 is commonly used in the sense of “distant lands”), but this, if we can trust the commentators, is precisely what is not meant here. Mei Yao-ch‘ên says it is 進不及輕退不及散在二地之間也 “a position not far enough advanced to be called ‘facile,’ and not near enough to home to be called ‘dispersive,’ but something between the two.” That, of course, does not explain the name 絶, which seems to imply that the general has severed his communications and temporarily cut himself off from his base. Thus, Wang Hsi says: “It is ground separated from home by an interjacent state, whose territory we have had to cross in order to reach it. Hence it is incumbent on us to settle our business there quickly.” He adds that this position is of rare occurrence, which is the reason why it is not included among the 九地. Capt. Calthrop gives but a poor rendering of this sentence: “To leave home and cross the borders is to be free from interference.” When there are means of communication The _T‘u Shu_ reads 通 for 達. on all four sides, the ground is one of intersecting highways. From 四達 down to the end of § 45, we have some of the definitions of the early part of the chapter repeated in slightly different language. Capt. Calthrop omits these altogether. 44. 入深者重地也入淺者輕地也 When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious ground. When you penetrate but a little way, it is facile ground. 45. 背固前隘者圍地也無所往者死地也 When you have the enemy’s strongholds on your rear, 固 = 險固. and narrow passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground. When there is no place of refuge at all, it is desperate ground. 46. 是故散地吾將一其志輕地吾將使之屬 Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspire my men with unity of purpose. This end, according to Tu Mu, is best attained by remaining on the defensive, and avoiding battle. Cf. _supra_, § 11. On facile ground, I would see that there is close connection between all parts of my army. The _T‘ung Tien_ has 其 instead of 之. The present reading is supported by the 遺說 of Chêng Yu-hsien. As Tu Mu says, the object is to guard against two possible contingencies: 一者備其逃逸二者恐 其敵至 “(1) the desertion of our own troops; (2) a sudden attack on the part of the enemy.” Cf. VII. § 17: 其徐如林. Mei Yao-ch‘ên says: 行則隊校相繼止則營壘聯屬 “On the march, the regiments should be in close touch; in an encampment, there should be continuity between the fortifications.” He seems to have forgotten, by the way, what Sun Tzŭ says above: 輕地則無止. 47. 爭地吾將趨其後 On contentious ground, I would hurry up my rear.