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[Tu Mu says: "If the enemy is the invading party, we can cut his

line of communications and occupy the roads by which he will have

to return; if we are the invaders, we may direct our attack

against the sovereign himself." It is clear that Sun Tzŭ, unlike

certain generals in the late Boer war, was no believer in frontal

attacks.]

12. If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from

engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely

traced out on the ground. All we need do is to throw something

odd and unaccountable in his way.