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6. If you set a fully equipped army in march in order to snatch

an advantage, the chances are that you will be too late. On the

other hand, to detach a flying column for the purpose involves

the sacrifice of its baggage and stores.

[Some of the Chinese text is unintelligible to the Chinese

commentators, who paraphrase the sentence. I submit my own

rendering without much enthusiasm, being convinced that there is

some deep-seated corruption in the text. On the whole, it is

clear that Sun Tzŭ does not approve of a lengthy march being

undertaken without supplies. Cf. infra, § 11.]

7. Thus, if you order your men to roll up their buff-coats, and

make forced marches without halting day or night, covering double

the usual distance at a stretch,

[The ordinary day's march, according to Tu Mu, was 30 li; but on

one occasion, when pursuing Liu Pei, Ts'ao Ts'ao is said to have

covered the incredible distance of 300 li within twenty-four

hours.]