When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.
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peck.wisdom 23,094 posts
Clear[I follow the interpretation of Ts’ao Kung, also adopted by Li Ch’uan, Tu Mu, and Chang Yu. Another possible meaning set forth by Tu Yu, Chia Lin, Mei Tao-ch’en and Wang Hsi, is: "The general who is first tyrannical towards his men, and then in terror lest they should mutiny, etc." This would connect the sentence with what went before about rewards and punishments.]
To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy’s numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.
[Because in such case discipline becomes relaxed, and unwonted severity is necessary to keep the men to their duty.]
too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress.
[Because, when an army is hard pressed, as Tu Mu says, there is always a fear of mutiny, and lavish rewards are given to keep the men in good temper.]
The Art of War — Chapter 10: Chapter 8: The Army On The March (part 2/2)
Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his resources;
The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file.
[I may quote here the illustrative passage from the Hou Han Shu, ch. 71, given in abbreviated form by the P’ei Wen Yun Fu: "The rebel Wang Kuo of Liang was besieging the town of Ch’en- ts’ang, and Huang-fu Sung, who was in supreme command, and Tung Cho were sent out against him. The latter pressed for hasty measures, but Sung turned a deaf ear to his counsel. At last the rebels were utterly worn out, and began to throw down their weapons of their own accord. Sung was not advancing to the attack, but Cho said: ‘It is a principle of war not to pursue desperate men and not to press a retreating host.’ Sung answered: ‘That does not apply here. What I am about to attack is a jaded army, not a retreating host; with disciplined troops I am falling on a disorganized multitude, not a band of desperate men.’ Thereupon he advances to the attack unsupported by his colleague, and routed the enemy, Wang Kuo being slain."]
and when the men do not hang their cooking-pots over the camp-fires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you may know that they are determined to fight to the death.
[In the ordinary course of things, the men would be fed on grain and the horses chiefly on grass.]
When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for food,
[Tu Mu understands the sentence differently: "If all the officers of an army are angry with their general, it means that they are broken with fatigue" owing to the exertions which he has demanded from them.]
If there is disturbance in the camp, the general’s authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary.
[A useful fact to bear in mind when, for instance, as Ch’en Hao says, the enemy has secretly abandoned his camp.]
If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to secure it, the soldiers are exhausted.
[As Tu Mu remarks: "One may know the condition of a whole army from the behavior of a single man."]
If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst.
When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.