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[It is not easy to distinguish the four terms very clearly in the

Chinese. The first seems to be surveying and measurement of the

ground, which enable us to form an estimate of the enemy's

strength, and to make calculations based on the data thus

obtained; we are thus led to a general weighing-up, or comparison

of the enemy's chances with our own; if the latter turn the

scale, then victory ensues. The chief difficulty lies in third

term, which in the Chinese some commentators take as a

calculation of numbers, thereby making it nearly synonymous with

the second term. Perhaps the second term should be thought of as

a consideration of the enemy's general position or condition,

while the third term is the estimate of his numerical strength.

On the other hand, Tu Mu says: "The question of relative strength

having been settled, we can bring the varied resources of cunning

into play." Ho Shih seconds this interpretation, but weakens it.