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9. Should the enemy forestall you in occupying a pass, do not go

after him if the pass is fully garrisoned, but only if it is

weakly garrisoned.

10. With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand

with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny

spots, and there wait for him to come up.

[Ts'ao Kung says: "The particular advantage of securing heights

and defiles is that your actions cannot then be dictated by the

enemy." [For the enunciation of the grand principle alluded to,

see VI. § 2]. Chang Yu tells the following anecdote of P'ei

Hsing-chien (A.D. 619-682), who was sent on a punitive expedition

against the Turkic tribes. "At night he pitched his camp as

usual, and it had already been completely fortified by wall and

ditch, when suddenly he gave orders that the army should shift

its quarters to a hill near by. This was highly displeasing to

his officers, who protested loudly against the extra fatigue

which it would entail on the men. P'ei Hsing-chien, however, paid

no heed to their remonstrances and had the camp moved as quickly

as possible. The same night, a terrific storm came on, which

flooded their former place of encampment to the depth of over

twelve feet. The recalcitrant officers were amazed at the sight,

and owned that they had been in the wrong.