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27. If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but

are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone

only halfway towards victory.

[That is, Ts'ao Kung says, "the issue in this case is

uncertain."]

28. If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware

that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone

only halfway towards victory.

[Cf. III. § 13 (1).]

29. If we know that the enemy is open to attack, and also know

that our men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that

the nature of the ground makes fighting impracticable, we have

still gone only halfway towards victory.

30. Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never

bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.

[The reason being, according to Tu Mu, that he has taken his

measures so thoroughly as to ensure victory beforehand. "He does

not move recklessly," says Chang Yu, "so that when he does move,

he makes no mistakes."]