臨境

King Wu asked Taigong: "If we and the enemy confront each other at the border, where either side can advance, and both formations are solid so neither dares strike first — if I wish to go and raid them but they can equally come at us, what should be done?" Taigong said: "Divide the army into three groups. Order the vanguard to deepen its ditches and raise its ramparts without sallying forth, displaying banners and beating drums as if preparing only to defend. Order the rear army to stockpile provisions in quantity, without letting the enemy perceive our intentions. Then dispatch our elite soldiers to infiltrate and raid their center — strike where they do not expect it, attack where they are unprepared. When the enemy cannot fathom our dispositions, they will halt and not come."

King Wu said: "If the enemy knows our situation, has penetrated our plans, anticipates our every move, and has posted elite troops in deep grass to ambush us at narrow passes and strike at our vulnerable points — what should be done?" Taigong said: "Order our vanguard to sally forth and challenge them at dawn each day, wearing down their alertness. Order our elderly and weak troops to drag brushwood to raise dust clouds, beating drums and shouting as they move back and forth, appearing now on the enemy's left, now on their right, never more than a hundred paces from the enemy. Their general's attention will be exhausted, their soldiers will be on edge. Under these conditions, the enemy will not dare advance. Meanwhile our raiding forces never stop — some strike their interior, others attack their perimeter. When the three armies fight with speed, the enemy will surely be defeated."