Strona 81 z 266

[This sentence contains one of those highly condensed and

somewhat enigmatical expressions of which Sun Tzŭ is so fond.

This is how it is explained by Ts'ao Kung: "Make it appear that

you are a long way off, then cover the distance rapidly and

arrive on the scene before your opponent." Tu Mu says: "Hoodwink

the enemy, so that he may be remiss and leisurely while you are

dashing along with utmost speed." Ho Shih gives a slightly

different turn: "Although you may have difficult ground to

traverse and natural obstacles to encounter this is a drawback

which can be turned into actual advantage by celerity of

movement." Signal examples of this saying are afforded by the two

famous passages across the Alps-that of Hannibal, which laid

Italy at his mercy, and that of Napoleon two thousand years

later, which resulted in the great victory of Marengo.]