Pagina 151 di 266

[Tu Mu cites the unhappy case of T'ien Pu [Hsin T'ang Shu, ch.

148], who was sent to Wei in 821 A.D. with orders to lead an army

against Wang T'ing-ts'ou. But the whole time he was in command,

his soldiers treated him with the utmost contempt, and openly

flouted his authority by riding about the camp on donkeys,

several thousands at a time. T'ien Pu was powerless to put a stop

to this conduct, and when, after some months had passed, he made

an attempt to engage the enemy, his troops turned tail and

dispersed in every direction. After that, the unfortunate man

committed suicide by cutting his throat.]

When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too

weak, the result is collapse.

[Ts'ao Kung says: "The officers are energetic and want to press

on, the common soldiers are feeble and suddenly collapse."]