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The former says: "Powerful though a prince may be, if he attacks

a large state, he will be unable to raise enough troops, and must

rely to some extent on external aid; if he dispenses with this,

and with overweening confidence in his own strength, simply tries

to intimidate the enemy, he will surely be defeated." Chang Yu

puts his view thus: "If we recklessly attack a large state, our

own people will be discontented and hang back. But if (as will

then be the case) our display of military force is inferior by

half to that of the enemy, the other chieftains will take fright

and refuse to join us."]

55. Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and sundry,

nor does he foster the power of other states. He carries out his

own secret designs, keeping his antagonists in awe.