is weakened; and if he strengthens his left, his right is weakened.
Everywhere to make preparations, is to be everywhere weak. The enemy is weakened by his extended preparations, and we gain in strength.
Having decided on the place and day of attack, though the enemy be a hundred leagues away, we can defeat him.
If the ground and occasion be not known, the front cannot help the rear; the left cannot support the right ; nor the right the left; nor the rear the front. For on occasion, the front and rear are two score leagues apart. To be separated a league or so, is to be called near.
The soldiers of Go[1] are less than the soldiers of Etsu; but as superiority in numbers does not of necessity bring victory, I say then, that we may obtain the victory.
If the enemy be many in number, prevent him from using his multitudes simultaneously with effect, and ascertain his plan of operations. Challenge the enemy and discover the weak and strong points of his position. Flap the wings, and unmask his sufficiency or insufficiency. By constant feints and excursions, we may produce on the enemy an impression of intangibility, which neither spies nor art can dispel.
A victory so gained cannot be understood by the
- ↑ Sonshi, as has been said, was a man of Go. Go and Etsu were continually at war.
