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19. When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is

anxious for the other side to advance.

[Probably because we are in a strong position from which he

wishes to dislodge us. "If he came close up to us, says Tu Mu,

"and tried to force a battle, he would seem to despise us, and

there would be less probability of our responding to the

challenge."]

20. If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering

a bait.

21. Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the enemy

is advancing.

[Ts'ao Kung explains this as "felling trees to clear a passage,"

and Chang Yu says: "Every man sends out scouts to climb high

places and observe the enemy. If a scout sees that the trees of a

forest are moving and shaking, he may know that they are being

cut down to clear a passage for the enemy's march."]

The appearance of a number of screens in the midst of thick grass

means that the enemy wants to make us suspicious.