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[Regarding the "Yellow Emperor": Mei Yao-ch'en asks, with some

plausibility, whether there is an error in the text as nothing is

known of Huang Ti having conquered four other Emperors. The Shih

Chi (ch. 1 ad init.) speaks only of his victories over Yen Ti and

Ch'ih Yu. In the Liu T'ao it is mentioned that he "fought seventy

battles and pacified the Empire." Ts'ao Kung's explanation is,

that the Yellow Emperor was the first to institute the feudal

system of vassals princes, each of whom (to the number of four)

originally bore the title of Emperor. Li Ch'uan tells us that the

art of war originated under Huang Ti, who received it from his

Minister Feng Hou.]

11. All armies prefer high ground to low,

["High Ground," says Mei Yao-ch'en, "is not only more agreeable

and salubrious, but more convenient from a military point of

view; low ground is not only damp and unhealthy, but also

disadvantageous for fighting."]

and sunny places to dark.

12. If you are careful of your men,