Military Strategy Classics of Ancient China

by Shawn Conners

  Army's Indications

  King Wu asked Jiāng Zǐyá: “Before engaging in battle I want to first know the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses, to foresee indications of victory or defeat. How can this be done?”

  Jiāng Zǐyá replied: “Indications of victory or defeat will be first manifest in their spirit. The enlightened general will investigate, for that will be evidenced in their behavior. Clearly observe the enemy’s coming and going, advancing and withdrawing. Investigate his movements and periods at rest, whether they speak about portents, what the officers and troops are talking about. If the army is exhilarated and the officers and troops fear the laws; respect the general’s commands; rejoice with each other in destroying the enemy; proud of each other’s courage and ferocity; and praise each other for their military greatness and martial demeanor – these are indications of a strong enemy.

  “If the army is startled a number of times, the officers and troops no longer maintaining good order; they terrify each other with stories about the enemy’s strength; they speak to each other about the disadvantages; they are anxiously listening and talking to each other; they talk incessantly of ill omens, spreading doubts and confusing each other; they fear neither laws nor orders and do not regard their general seriously - these are indications of weakness.

  “When the armies are well ordered; strong fortified defenses – with deep moats and high ramparts – and they enjoy the advantages of high winds and heavy rain; the army is untroubled; the signal flags and pennants point to the front; the sound of the gongs and bells crisp and clear; and the sound of the small and large drums clearly rises – these are indications of having obtained spiritual assistance, foretelling a great victory.

  “When their formations are not solid; their flags and pennants confused and entangled with each other; they go contrary to the advantages of the high wind and heavy rain; their officers and troops are terrified; and their morale is low while they are not unified; their war horses have been frightened and run off, their military chariots have broken axles; the sound of their gongs and bells sink down and is murky; the sound of their drums is dull and not rousing – these are indications foretelling a great defeat.

  “In general, when you attack city walls or surround towns, if the color of the city’s aura is like dead ashes, the city can be slaughtered. If the city’s aura drifts out to the north, the city can be conquered. If the city’s aura goes out and drifts to the west, the city can be forced to surrender. If the aura goes out and drifts to the south, it cannot be taken. If the city’s aura goes out and drifts to the east, the city cannot be attacked. If the city’s aura goes out and drifts back in, the city’s ruler has already fled. If the city’s aura goes out and overspreads our army, the soldiers will surely fall ill. If the city’s aura goes out and just rises up without any direction, the army will have to be employed for a long time. If, when you attack a walled city or surround a town for more than ten days without thunder or rain, you must hastily abandon it, for the city must have a source of great assistance.

  “Those are the means by which to know whether you can attack and then go on to mount the attack, or whether you should not attack and therefore stop.”

  “Excellent!” said King Wu.

  武王问太公说：我想在战前先知敌人的强弱，预见胜败的征侯应该怎么办?

  太公说：胜败的征侯，首先在敌人精神上表现出来，明智的将帅是能够察觉的，而精神效果又反映在人的行为上。周到地侦察敌人出入进退的情况，观察它的动静，言语中的吉凶预兆，士卒间传播的消息。凡是全军喜悦，士卒畏惧法令，尊重将帅命令，相互以破敌为喜，相互以勇猛为荣，相互以威武为誉，这是军队坚强的象征。如果全军不断地惊动，士卒意志不统一，相互以敌人的强悍来恐吓，相互传掐不利的情况，相互探听消息，谣言不止，相互欺蒙，不畏惧法令，不尊重将帅，这是军队虚弱的象征。

  三军整齐，阵势巩固，深沟高垒，又有顺着大风大雨的有利件，三军未动而旅旗前指，金铎声高扬而清晰，鼙鼓声婉转而响亮，这得到神明的帮助，取得大胜的征候。行阵不稳固，旌旗纷乱而方向明，又有逆着大风大雨的不利条件，士卒恐惧，士气衰竭而涣散军马惊骇乱奔，兵车断轴毁坏，金铎声低沉而混浊，鼙鼓声沉闷而 响，这是大败的征候。

  凡攻城因邑：城上的”气”如果是死灰色，城可被毁灭；城上的气出而向北，城可被攻克；城上的气出而向西，城可能投降；城上的气出而向南，该城就坚不可拔； 城上的气出而向东，该城不可进攻；城上的气出而又入，守城的主将必然逃亡败北；城内的气出而覆盖我军上空，对我军必定不利；城内的气高升而不停止，是用兵 长久的征恢。凡是攻城因邑，如果过了十天仍不打雷下雨，必须迅速撤去，因为城中必有贤能的辅佐。这就可以知道为什么可攻就攻，不可攻就停止的道理了。

  武王说：好啊！

  Agriculture Implements

  King Wu asked Jiāng Zǐyá: “The Empire has achieved peace and is settled, and the state is not engaged in any conflict, can we dispense with maintaining the implements of war? Can we forego preparing for defense?”

  Jiāng Zǐyá replied: “The implements for offense and defense are fully found in ordinary human activity. Digging sticks serve as chevaux-de-frise (defensive structures used to obstruct cavalry), obstacles to movement. Oxen and horse-pulled wagons can be used in the encampment and as covering shields. The different hoes can be used as spears and spear tipped halberds. Raincoats of straw and large umbrellas serve as armor and protective shields. Large hoes, spades, axes, saws, mortars and pestles are tools for attacking walls. Oxen and horses are the means to transport provisions. Chickens and dogs serve as lookouts. The cloth that women weave serves as flags and pennants.

  “The method that the men use for leveling the fields is the same for attacking walls. The skill needed in spring to cut down grass and thickets is the same as needed for fighting against chariots and cavalry. The weeding method used in summer is the same as used in battle against foot soldiers. The grain harvested and the firewood cut in the fall will be provisions for the military. In the winter, well filled granaries and storehouses will ensure a solid defense.

  “The units formed in the fields and villages will provide the tallies and good faith that bind the men together. The villages have officials and the offices have chiefs, similar to an army having a general who can lead. The villages have walls surrounding them, which are not crossed; they provide the basis for the division into platoons. The transportation of grain and cutting of hay provide for the state storehouses and armories. The skills used in repairing the inner and outer walls in the spring and fall, can be used to build ramparts and fortifications.

  “Thus the tools and skills for employing the military are completely found in ordinary human activity. One who is good at governing a state will take them from ordinary human affairs. Then they must be made to accord with the good management of livestock, to the opening up of wild lands, and the settling of the people where they dwell. The husband has a number of acres that he farms, the wife a measured amount of material to weave – this is the way to enrich the state and strengthen the army.”

  “Excellent!” said King Wu.

  武王问太公说：天下安定，国家没有战争，野战、攻城的器械，可以不要整备吗？防守的设备，可以不要设施吗?

  太公说：战时的战攻守御器材全可在平时的人民生产生活用具筹集，耒耜，可用为作战的障碍器材；马、牛、车、舆，可用作为的营垒和屏障器材；锄耰，可用为作战的矛戟；蓑衣、雨伞、斗笠，可用为作战的盔甲和大小盾牌；钁锸、斧、锯、杵臼，都可用为攻城器材；牛马，可用来转运粮食；鸡可用来报时，犬可用来警戒，妇纺织的布柿，可用作指挥旗帜；男子平整土地技术，可用于攻城业；春季割苹斩
棘的方法，可用为同战车骑兵作战的技术；夏季耘锄草的方法，可用为同步兵决战的技巧；秋季收割庄稼柴草，就是储备战时粮秣；冬季粮食装满仓库，就是为域时长期坚守作准备；同村同里的人，平时相编为伍，可用为战时管理军队的依据；里有 吏，官有长，如同军队有将帅；里有围墙不得相越如同军队的驻地区分；运输粮食、收割饲草，如同战时充实仓库；春秋两季筑城郭、修沟渠，如同战时增强壁垒滚沟。所以说，作战的准备完全寓于农事之中。所以治理国家必须使人民繁殖六畜，开垦田地，安定住所，男子种田有一定的亩数，妇女纺织有一定的尺度，这就是富国强兵的方法。

  武王说：好啊!

  Army's Equipment

  King Wu asked Jiāng Zǐyá: “When the king mobilizes the army, are there any rules for determining the army’s equipment, such as the implements for attack and defense, including type and quantity?”

  Jiāng Zǐyá said: “A great question, my King! The implements for attack and defense each have their own categories. These implements will affect the effectiveness of the army: the source of military greatness of the army.”

  King Wu said: “I would like to hear about them.”

  Jiāng Zǐyá replied: “As for the basic numbers when employing the army, if commanding 10,000 armed soldiers, the rules for the various types of equipment and their employment are as follows.

  “Thirty six Large Charging Chariots, with teams of skilled officers, strong crossbowmen, spear bearers, and halberdiers - for each side of the large chariots; altogether twenty four people in each chariot. The chariots have eight-foot wheels. On it, pennants and drums are set up. According to the Art of War, such chariots are referred to as 'Shaking Fear'. They are used to penetrate solid formations, to defeat strong enemies.

  “Seventy two Large Flank Chariots, equipped with teams of skilled officers, strong crossbowmen, spear bearers, and halberdiers comprise the flanks. They have five-foot wheels and winch-powered linked crossbows which fire multiple arrows for self-protection. They are used to penetrate solid formations and defeat strong enemies.

  “144 Flank Supporting Small Chariots, equipped with winch-powered linked crossbows to fire multiple arrows for self-protection. They have deer wheels and are used to penetrate solid formations and defeat strong enemies.

  “Thirty six Crossbow Large Chariots, equipped with skilled officers, strong crossbowmen, spear bearers, and halberdiers comprising the flanks, with ‘flying duck’ and ‘lightning’s shadow’ arrows for self-protection. ‘Flying duck’ arrows have red shafts and white feathers, with bronze arrowheads. ‘Lightning’s shadow’ arrows have green shafts and red feathers, with iron heads. In the daytime, they display pennants of red silk six feet long by six inches wide, called ‘Blinding Light’. At night, they hang pennants of white silk, also six feet long by six inches wide, called ‘Meteors’. They are used to penetrate solid formations, to defeat infantry and cavalry.

  “Thirty six Great Attack Chariots, carrying Praying Mantis Martial Warriors; they can attack both horizontal and vertical formations and can defeat the enemy. Light Chariots for repelling mounted invaders, also called ‘Lightning Chariots’. The Art of War refers to them as mounting ‘thunder attacks’. They are used to penetrate solid formations, to defeat both infantry and cavalry attacking at night.

  “170 Spear and Halberd Chariots for repelling night invaders from the front flank. Each carries three Praying Mantis Martial Knights. The Art of War refers to them as mounting ‘thunder attacks’. They are used to penetrate solid formations, to defeat both infantry and cavalry.

  “Iron truncheons with large square heads weighting twelve catties (1 stone = 120 catties), and shafts more than five feet long: 1,200 of them. These are also termed ‘Heaven’s Truncheon’. The Great Handle Fu Ax with an eight-inch blade weighing eight catties, and shafts more than five feet long: 1,200 of them. These are also termed ‘Heaven’s Ax’. Also the Iron Square Head Pounder, weighing eight catties, with a shaft of more than five feet: 1,200. These are also termed ‘Heaven Pounder’. They are used to defeat infantry and hordes of mounted invaders. The Flying Hook is eight inches long. The curve of the hook is five inches long and the shaft is more than six feet long: 1,200 of them. They are thrown into the masses of soldiers to hook the soldiers.

  “To defend the army, deploy chariots equipped with wooden Praying Mantises and sword blades. Each chariot is twenty feet across, altogether twenty of them. On open and level ground the infantry can use them to defeat chariots and cavalry. Wooden caltrops which stick out of the ground, about two feet five inches: 120 of them. They are employed to defeat infantry and cavalry, to urgently press the attack against invaders, and to intercept their flight.

  “Short-axle Quick-turning Spear and Halberd Chariots: 120 of them. They were employed by the Yellow Emperor to vanquish Chi You. They are used to defeat both infantry and cavalry, to urgently press the attack against the invaders, and to intercept their flight.

  “For narrow roads and small bypaths, set out iron caltrops eight inches wide, having hooks four inches high and shafts of more than six feet: 1,200. They are for defeating retreating cavalry.

  “If, in darkness of night, the enemy should suddenly press an attack, and there are bound to be clashes, stretch out a ground net and spread out two arrow headed caltrops connected together with weaving women-type caltrops on both sides. The points of the blades should be about two feet apart: 12,000 sets.

  “For fighting in wild expanses and in the middle of tall grass, there is the square-shank, arrow-shaped spear: 1,200 of them. The method for deploying these spears is to have them stick out of the ground one foot five inches. They are used to defeat infantry and cavalry, to urgently press the attack against invaders and to intercept their flight.

  “In narrow roads and small bypaths, and constricted terrains, set out iron chains: 120 of them, to defeat infantry and cavalry, urgently press the attack against the invaders, and intercept their flight. For protection and defense of the gates to fortifications, there are small mobile shields with spear and halberd tips affixed: twelve of them and winch-drive, multiple arrow crossbows for self-protection.

  “For the protection of the army, there are Heaven’s Net and Tiger’s Drop, linked together with chains: 120 of them. One array is fifteen feet wide and eight feet tall. For chariots with Tiger’s Drop and sword blades affixed, the array is fifteen feet wide and eight feet tall: 520 of them.

  “For crossing over moats and ditches, there is the Flying Bridge. One section is fifteen feet wide and more than twenty feet long: eight of them. On top, there are swivel winches to extend them by linked chains.

  “For crossing over large bodies of water, there is the Flying River: eight of them. They are fifteen feet wide and more than twenty feet long and are extended by linked chains.

  “There is also the Heavenly Float with Iron Praying Mantis, rectangular inside, circular outside, four feet or more in diameter, equipped with winches: thirty two of them. When the Heavenly Floats are used to deploy the Flying River to cross a large lake, they are referred to as ‘Heaven’s Huang’ and also termed as ‘Heaven’s Boat’.

  “When in mountain forests or occupying the wilds, connect the Tiger’s Drops to make a fenced encampment. Employ iron chains, lengths of more than twenty feet: 1,200 sets. Also employ 600 large ropes with rings, girth of four inches, length of more than forty feet; 200 sets of midsized ropes with rings, girth of two inches, length of forty feet or more; and 12,000 sets of small braided cords with rings, length of twenty feet or more.

  “Wooden canopies for covering the heavy chariots, called ‘Heaven’s Rain’, which fit together along serrated seams, each four feet wide and more than four feet long: one for each chariot. They are erected by using small iron posts.

  “For cutting trees, there is the Heavenly Ax, which weighs eight catties. Its handle is more than three feet long. Procure 300 of them. Also procur
e the mattock with a blade six inches wide and a shaft more than five feet long: 300 of them.

  “Copper rams for pounding, more than five feet long: 300. Eagle claws with square shafts, iron handles, and shafts more than seven feet long: 300. Square-shafted iron pitchforks with handles more than seven feet long: 300. Square-shafted double-pronged iron pitchforks with shafts more than seven feet long: 300. Large sickles for cutting grass and light trees with shafts more than seven feet long: 300. Great oar-shaped blades, weight of eight catties with shafts more than six feet long: 300. Iron stakes with rings affixed at top, more than three feet long: 300. Large hammers for pounding posts, weight of five catties, handles more than two feet long: 120.

  “Armored soldiers: 10,000. Strong crossbowmen: 6,000. Halberdiers with shields: 2,000. Spearmen with shields: 2,000. Skilled men to repair offensive weapons and sharpen them: 300. These then are the general numbers required for each category when raising an army.”

  King Wu said: “So it shall be.”

  武王问太公道：君王起兵征伐，军队武器装备和攻守器材，其种类和数量有一定标准吗？

  太公说：这的确是个大问题啊！攻守战具的种类、数量，各有不同，这是有关军队威力强弱的大问题。

  武王说：我想知道得详细些。

  太公说：凡统率甲士万人，其所使用的武器嚣材的大概标准是：武冲大战车三十六辆，以”材士”使用强弩、矛、我在两旁护卫，每车用二十四人推行。其车轮高八尺，车上竖旗设鼓。兵法上把这车辆叫做”震骇”，可用它攻破坚阵，击败强敌。

  武翼大橹矛戟战车七十二部，以有技能而勇敢的武士使用强弩、矛、戟为两旁护卫。这种车装有五尺高的车轮，并附有绞车连努，可用它攻破坚阵，击败强敌。提翼小橹战车一百四十四部，并附有绞车连弩，这种车装有独轮，可用它攻破坚阵，击败强敌。

  大黄参连弩大战车三十六辆，以”材士”使用强弩矛戟在两旁护卫，并附有”飞凫”、”电影”两种族帜。飞凫用红色的竿，白色的羽，以铜矛头为旗竿头；”电影”用青色的竿，红色的羽，以铁矛头为旗芋头。白天用大红色的绢作旗子，其长六尺，宽六寸，名为”光耀”；夜间用白色的绢作旗子，其长六尺，宽六寸，名为”流星”。这种战车可用以攻破坚阵，击败强敌。