Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, “By concealing the disposition of his troops, covering up his tracks, and taking unremitting precautions” (Chang Yü). but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. The original text reads 使敵之可勝, which the modern text has further modified into 使敵之必可勝. Capt. Calthrop makes out the impossible meaning, “and further render the enemy incapable of victory.” 4. 故曰勝可知而不可爲 Hence the saying: One may _know_ how to conquer without being able to _do_ it. Capt. Calthrop translates: “The conditions necessary for victory may be present, but they cannot always be obtained,” which is more or less unintelligible. 5. 不可勝者守也可勝者攻也 Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive. For 不可勝 I retain the sense which it undoubtedly bears in §§ 1–3, in spite of the fact that the commentators are all against me. The meaning they give, “He who cannot conquer takes the defensive,” is plausible enough, but it is highly improbable that 勝 should suddenly become active in this way. An incorrect variant in the _Yü Lan_ is 不可勝則守可勝則攻. 6. 守則不足攻則有餘 Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength. 7. 善守者藏於九地之下善攻者動於九天之上故能自保而全勝也 The general who is skilled in defence hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; Literally, “hides under the ninth earth,” which is a metaphor indicating the utmost secrecy and concealment, so that the enemy may not know his whereabouts. The 九地 of this passage have of course no connection with the 九地 “Nine situations” of chap. XI. he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Another metaphor, implying that he falls on his adversary like a thunderbolt, against which there is no time to prepare. This is the opinion of most of the commentators, though Ts‘ao Kung, followed by Tu Yu, explains 地 as the hills, rivers, and other natural features which will afford shelter or protection to the attacked, and 天 as the phases of weather which may be turned to account by the attacking party. Capt. Calthrop’s “The skilful in attack push to the topmost heaven” conveys no meaning at all. Thus on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves; on the other, a victory that is complete. Capt. Calthrop draws on a fertile imagination for the following: “If these precepts be observed, victory is certain.” 8. 見勝不過衆人之所知非善之善者也 To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.