Page 87 sur 266

15. In war, practise dissimulation, and you will succeed.

[In the tactics of Turenne, deception of the enemy, especially as

to the numerical strength of his troops, took a very prominent

position. [2] ]

Move only if there is a real advantage to be gained.

16. Whether to concentrate or to divide your troops, must be

decided by circumstances.

17. Let your rapidity be that of the wind,

[The simile is doubly appropriate, because the wind is not only

swift but, as Mei Yao-ch'en points out, "invisible and leaves no

tracks."]

your compactness that of the forest.

[Meng Shih comes nearer to the mark in his note: "When slowly

marching, order and ranks must be preserved"-so as to guard

against surprise attacks. But natural forest do not grow in rows,

whereas they do generally possess the quality of density or

compactness.]

18. In raiding and plundering be like fire,

[Cf. Shih Ching, IV. 3. iv. 6: "Fierce as a blazing fire which no

man can check."]

in immovability like a mountain.