were brought to destruction by their misplaced humanity. The treacherous and underhand nature of war necessitates the use of guile and stratagem suited to the occasion. There is a case on record of Confucius himself having violated an extorted oath, 155 and also of his having left the Sung State in disguise. 156 Can we then recklessly arraign Sun Tzǔ for disregarding truth and honesty? 157