Pagina 128 de 266

[Tu Yu's explanation, borrowed from Ts'ao Kung's, is as follows:

"The presence of a number of screens or sheds in the midst of

thick vegetation is a sure sign that the enemy has fled and,

fearing pursuit, has constructed these hiding-places in order to

make us suspect an ambush." It appears that these "screens" were

hastily knotted together out of any long grass which the

retreating enemy happened to come across.]

22. The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an

ambuscade.

[Chang Yu's explanation is doubtless right: "When birds that are

flying along in a straight line suddenly shoot upwards, it means

that soldiers are in ambush at the spot beneath."]

Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.

23. When there is dust rising in a high column, it is the sign of

chariots advancing; when the dust is low, but spread over a wide

area, it betokens the approach of infantry.