| The Nine Situations: |
The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-ran. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Chang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both. Asked if an army can be made to imitate the shuai-ran, I should answer, Yes. For the men of Wu and the men of Yue are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come to each other's assistance just as the left hand helps the right. Hence it is not enough to put one's trust in the tethering of horses, and the burying of chariot wheels in the ground The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach. How to make the best of both strong and weak - that is a question involving the proper use of ground. |
