擒龐涓

The Capture of Pang Juan

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圍魏救趙

Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao

昔者，梁君將攻邯鄲，使將軍龐涓，帶甲八萬至於茬丘。齊君聞之，使將軍忌子，帶甲八萬至..競。龐子攻衛□□□。將軍忌[子]..衛□□，救與..曰："若不救衛，將何為？"孫子曰："請南攻平陵。平陵，其城小而縣大，人眾甲兵盛，東陽戰邑，難攻也。吾將示之疑。吾攻平陵，南有宋，北有衛，當途有市丘，是吾糧途絕也，吾將示之不知事。"於是徙舍而走平陵。

In the past, the lord of Liang intended to attack Handan and dispatched General Pang Juan with eighty thousand armored troops to Ciqiu. The lord of Qi, hearing of this, dispatched General Tian Ji with eighty thousand armored troops to [...]. Pang Juan attacked Wei [lacuna]. General Tian Ji [...] said: 'If we do not rescue Wei, what shall we do?' Sun Bin said: 'I propose we attack Pingling to the south. Pingling has a small inner city but a large outer district, with a numerous population and strong armored forces — it is a fortified battle town of Dongyang, difficult to attack. I shall create the appearance of incompetence. If we attack Pingling, Song lies to our south, Wei to our north, and Shiqiu sits astride our supply route — our grain lines will be cut. I shall make it appear that we do not understand military affairs.' Thereupon they broke camp and marched toward Pingling.

Notes

1person龐涓Páng Juān

Pang Juan (龐涓, d. 341 BC) was a general of Wei who had studied military arts alongside Sun Bin under the hermit Guiguzi. Jealous of Sun Bin's talent, he had Sun Bin's kneecaps removed (膑刑). He was ultimately killed at the Battle of Maling.

2person孫臏Sūn Bìn

Sun Bin (孫臏, fl. 4th century BC) was a descendant of Sun Wu (Sun Tzu) and military strategist of the state of Qi. After being mutilated by Pang Juan, he served as advisor to General Tian Ji and masterminded the victories at Guiling (354 BC) and Maling (341 BC).

3person田忌Tián Jì

Tian Ji (田忌) was a leading general of the state of Qi during the reign of King Wei. He is famous for the horse-racing stratagem devised by Sun Bin and for commanding the Qi forces at the battles of Guiling and Maling.

4context

This chapter describes the Battle of Guiling (桂陵之戰, 354 BC), one of the most celebrated examples of indirect strategy in Chinese military history. Rather than marching directly to relieve the siege of Handan, Sun Bin lured Pang Juan's army back by threatening Wei's own territory. The □ symbols represent lacunae — characters missing from the damaged bamboo strips.

誘敵深入

Luring the Enemy In

..陵，忌子召孫子而問曰："事將何為？"孫子曰："都大夫孰為不識事？"曰："齊城、高唐。"孫子曰："請取所..二大夫□以□□□臧□□都橫卷四達環塗□橫卷所□陣也。環塗甲之所處也。吾未甲勁，本甲不斷。環塗擊柀其後，二大夫可殺也。"於是段齊城、高唐為兩，直將蟻附平陵。夾環塗夾擊其後，齊城、高唐當術而大敗。

[At] Pingling, Tian Ji summoned Sun Bin and asked: 'What should we do now?' Sun Bin said: 'Which of the district commanders are considered incompetent?' He replied: 'The commanders of Qicheng and Gaotang.' Sun Bin said: 'Send these two commanders [lacuna] ... the ring road is where armored forces are positioned. Our crack troops have not yet been committed, and our main force remains intact. Strike from behind along the ring road, and the two commanders can be destroyed.' Thereupon the forces of Qicheng and Gaotang were divided into two columns and sent to make a frontal assault on Pingling. Flanking attacks along the ring road struck from behind, and the Qicheng and Gaotang forces suffered a great defeat as expected.

Notes

1context

Sun Bin deliberately sacrificed incompetent commanders in a feint attack on Pingling, creating the appearance that Qi's army was poorly led. This convinced Pang Juan that he faced no serious threat, inducing overconfidence. The heavy lacunae in this section reflect the fragmentary state of the bamboo strips.

擒龐涓於桂陵

Capturing Pang Juan at Guiling

將軍忌子召孫子問曰："吾攻平陵不得而亡齊城、高唐，當術而厥。事將何為？"孫子曰："請遣輕車西馳梁郊，以怒其氣。分卒而從之，示之寡。"於是為之。龐子果棄其輜重，兼趣舍而至。孫子弗息而擊之桂陵，而擒龐涓。故曰，孫子之所以為者盡矣。

General Tian Ji summoned Sun Bin and asked: 'Our attack on Pingling failed and we lost the Qicheng and Gaotang forces, defeated exactly as planned. What do we do now?' Sun Bin said: 'Send light chariots to race westward to the suburbs of the Liang capital, to provoke his anger. Divide our troops to follow them, creating the appearance of a small force.' This was done. Pang Juan, as expected, abandoned his baggage train and force-marched day and night to intercept. Sun Bin gave him no rest and struck him at Guiling, capturing Pang Juan. Therefore it is said: Sun Bin's stratagem was executed to perfection.

Notes

1place

Guiling (桂陵) was located in modern Henan province, along the route between Wei's capital Daliang and the Zhao border. The battle there in 354 BC became the paradigmatic example of the strategy 'besiege Wei to rescue Zhao' (圍魏救趙).

Edition & Source

Text: 《孫臏兵法》 Sun Bin Bingfa
Edition: 中華古詩文古書籍網 transcription (Yinqueshan bamboo strips reconstruction)
Commentary: Modern reconstruction from 1972 Yinqueshan tomb excavation