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[Li Ch'uan remarks that the ground is less likely to be

treacherous where there are trees, while Tu Mu says that they

will serve to protect the rear.]

So much for operations in salt-marshes.

9. In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible position

with rising ground to your right and on your rear,

[Tu Mu quotes T'ai Kung as saying: "An army should have a stream

or a marsh on its left, and a hill or tumulus on its right."]

so that the danger may be in front, and safety lie behind. So

much for campaigning in flat country.

10. These are the four useful branches of military knowledge

[Those, namely, concerned with (1) mountains, (2) rivers, (3)

marshes, and (4) plains. Compare Napoleon's "Military Maxims,"

no. 1.]

which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several

sovereigns.