manantiales ni pozos, rebaños ni hatos, hortalizas ni leña»; Chia Lin, «uno de gargantas, abismos y precipicios, sin un camino por el cual avanzar».]
En situaciones apretadas, debes recurrir a la estratagema. En una posición desesperada, debes luchar.
- Hay caminos que no deben seguirse,
[«Especialmente aquellos que conducen a través de desfiladeros estrechos», dice Li Ch’uan, «donde hay que temer una emboscada».]
ejércitos a los que no se debe atacar,
[More correctly, perhaps, "there are times when an army must not be attacked." Ch’en Hao says: "When you see your way to obtain a rival advantage, but are powerless to inflict a real defeat, refrain from attacking, for fear of overtaxing your men’s strength."]
pueblos que no deben ser sitiados,
[Cf. III. § 4 Ts’ao Kung gives an interesting illustration from his own experience. When invading the territory of Hsu-chou, he ignored the city of Hua-pi, which lay directly in his path, and pressed on into the heart of the country. This excellent strategy was rewarded by the subsequent capture of no fewer than fourteen important district cities. Chang Yu says: "No town should be attacked which, if taken, cannot be held, or if left alone, will not cause any trouble." Hsun Ying, when urged to attack Pi-yang, replied: "The city is small and well-fortified; even if I succeed intaking it, it will be no great feat of arms; whereas if I fail, I shall make myself a laughing-stock." In the seventeenth century, sieges still formed a large proportion of war. It was Turenne who directed attention to the importance of marches, countermarches and manœuvers. He said: "It is a great mistake to waste men in taking a town when the same expenditure of soldiers will gain a province." [1] ]