Sayfa 201 / 266

[This is Ts'ao Kung's interpretation. Chang Yu adopts it, saying:

"We must quickly bring up our rear, so that head and tail may

both reach the goal." That is, they must not be allowed to

straggle up a long way apart. Mei Yao-ch'en offers another

equally plausible explanation: "Supposing the enemy has not yet

reached the coveted position, and we are behind him, we should

advance with all speed in order to dispute its possession." Ch'en

Hao, on the other hand, assuming that the enemy has had time to

select his own ground, quotes VI. § 1, where Sun Tzŭ warns us

against coming exhausted to the attack. His own idea of the

situation is rather vaguely expressed: "If there is a favourable

position lying in front of you, detach a picked body of troops to

occupy it, then if the enemy, relying on their numbers, come up

to make a fight for it, you may fall quickly on their rear with

your main body, and victory will be assured." It was thus, he

adds, that Chao She beat the army of Ch'in. (See p.