敵強

King Wu asked Taigong: "If we lead our army deep into hostile territory and face the enemy's main force — the enemy outnumbering us and stronger than us — and the enemy comes by night, attacking our left and right so that the three armies are shaken — if I wish to win in battle and hold firm in defense, what should be done?" Taigong said: "Such a situation is called shock raiders. The advantage lies in sallying out to fight, not in defending. Select our elite soldiers and powerful crossbows, with chariots and cavalry on the flanks, strike hard at the enemy's front, attack swiftly at their rear — strike their exterior and their interior. Their soldiers will certainly fall into chaos, their general will certainly be terrified."

King Wu said: "If the enemy blocks us from afar in front and attacks urgently from behind, cuts off our crack troops and isolates our elite soldiers, so that inner and outer forces cannot communicate — the three armies are in turmoil, all scattering and fleeing, soldiers with no will to fight and officers with no resolve to hold — what should be done?" Taigong said: "How illuminating is my king's question! Make the signals clear and the orders precise. Send out our bravest and most daring soldiers, each carrying a torch and every pair sharing a drum. They must ascertain where the enemy is, then strike both their exterior and interior. Use covert signals for recognition, then order the torches extinguished and all drumming stopped. When inner and outer forces respond to each other in coordination, with all timing precisely met, and the three armies fight with fury — the enemy will certainly be defeated." King Wu said: "Excellent!"