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Chinese Text Project
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Scope: The Army on the March Request type: Paragraph
Condition 1: Contains text "散而條違者樵採也" Matched:1.
Total 1 paragraphs. Page 1 of 1.

行軍 - The Army on the March

English translation: Lionel Giles [?] Library Resources
3 行軍:
敵近而靜者,恃其險也。遠而挑戰者,欲人之進也。其所居易者,利也。眾樹動者,來也。眾草多障者,疑也。鳥起者,伏也。獸駭者,覆也。塵:高而銳者,車來也;卑而廣者,徒來也;散而條違者,樵採也;少而往來者,營軍也。辭卑而益備者,進也。辭強而進驅者,退也。輕車先出其側者,陣也。無約而請和者,謀也。奔走而陳兵者,期也。半進半退者,誘也。仗而立者,飢也。汲而先飲者,渴也。見利而不進者,勞也。鳥集者,虛也。夜呼者,恐也。軍擾者,將不重也。旌旗動者,亂也。吏怒者,倦也。殺馬肉食者,軍無糧也。懸缶不返其舍者,窮寇也。諄諄翕翕,徐與人言者,失眾也。數賞者,窘也。數罰者,困也。先暴而後畏其眾者,不精之至也。來委謝者,欲休息也。兵怒而相迎,久而不合,又不相去,必謹察之。
The Army on the...:
When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on the natural strength of his position. When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious for the other side to advance. If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a bait. Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the enemy is advancing. The appearance of a number of screens in the midst of thick grass means that the enemy wants to make us suspicious. The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming. When there is dust rising in a high column, it is the sign of chariots advancing; when the dust is low, but spread over a wide area, it betokens the approach of infantry. When it branches out in different directions, it shows that parties have been sent to collect firewood. A few clouds of dust moving to and fro signify that the army is encamping. Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat. When the light chariots come out first and take up a position on the wings, it is a sign that the enemy is forming for battle. Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot. When there is much running about and the soldiers fall into rank, it means that the critical moment has come. When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure. When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food. If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst. If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to secure it, the soldiers are exhausted. If birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. Clamor by night betokens nervousness. If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary. When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for food, and when the men do not hang their cooking-pots over the camp-fires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you may know that they are determined to fight to the death. The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file. Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his resources; too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress. To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence. When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce. If the enemy's troops march up angrily and remain facing ours for a long time without either joining battle or taking themselves off again, the situation is one that demands great vigilance and circumspection.

Total 1 paragraphs. Page 1 of 1.