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[These were great mounds or ramparts of earth heaped up to the

level of the enemy's walls in order to discover the weak points

in the defence, and also to destroy the fortified turrets

mentioned in the preceding note.]

5. The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his

men to the assault like swarming ants,

[This vivid simile of Ts'ao Kung is taken from the spectacle of

an army of ants climbing a wall. The meaning is that the general,

losing patience at the long delay, may make a premature attempt

to storm the place before his engines of war are ready.]

with the result that one-third of his men are slain, while the

town still remains untaken. Such are the disastrous effects of a

siege.

[We are reminded of the terrible losses of the Japanese before

Port Arthur, in the most recent siege which history has to

record.]