IV.
THE ORDER OF BATTLE.
Son the master said:—
The ancient masters of war first made their position impregnable, then waited until the adversary’s condition gave promise of victory. That was a consummation whereby success was made certain, and likewise failure to the adversary.
Skilful soldiers can make their armies invincible, but they cannot always put the enemy in a conquerable position.
The conditions necessary for victory may be present, but it cannot always be obtained.
If the enemy be invincible, we stand on the defensive and await an opportunity; if he be vulnerable, we attack.
Conceal your strength in defence; shew your banners in attack.
The skilful in defence, crouch, hidden in the deepest shades; the skilful in attack, push to the topmost heaven.[1]
If these precepts be observed, victory is certain.
A victory, even if popularly proclaimed as such by the common folk, may not be a true . To win in fight, and for the kingdom to say, "Well done",
is not the perfection of attainment. To lift an
- ↑ Literally 9th heaven, and 9th earth. The Chinese divided the earth and sky each into 9 strata.
