Pagina 219 van 266

After the battle, some of Han Hsin's officers came to him and

said: "In the _Art of War_ we are told to have a hill or tumulus

on the right rear, and a river or marsh on the left front. [This

appears to be a blend of Sun Tzŭ and T'ai Kung. See IX § 9, and

note.] You, on the contrary, ordered us to draw up our troops

with the river at our back. Under these conditions, how did you

manage to gain the victory?" The general replied: "I fear you

gentlemen have not studied the Art of War with sufficient care.

Is it not written there: 'Plunge your army into desperate straits

and it will come off in safety; place it in deadly peril and it

will survive'? Had I taken the usual course, I should never have

been able to bring my colleague round.