Question 6-Q&A between Tang & Li Part 1

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Question 6-Q&A between Tang & Li Part 1

English

Tai Zhong said: "If 'dividing and combining are changes,' wherein lies the unorthodox and orthodox?"

Li Jing said: "For those who excel at employing troops, there are none that are not orthodox, none that are not unorthodox, thus they cause the enemy never to be able to discern them. Thus with the orthodox, they are victorious, with the unorthodox, they are also victorious. The officers of the army only know they achieve victory; none knows how it is attained. Without being able to fully comprehend the changes, how could the outstanding generals attain this? As for where the dividing and combining come from to create the orthodox and unorthodox, only Sun Zi was capable of comprehending it. From Wu Zi on, no one has been able to attain it."

Tai Zhong said: "What was Wu Qi's strategy like?"

Li Jing said: "Permit me to speak about the general points. Marquis Wu of Wei asked Wu Qi about the strategy to be employed when two armies confront each other. Wu Qi said: 'Gather some lower ranks men who are courageous and have them lead some light shock troops to test him. hen the enemy responds to the attack, they, the shock troops, should pretend to run off. When they flee, do not punish them, but observe whether the enemy advances to take the bait. If they sit as one and arise as one, and do not pursue your fleeing troops, the enemy has good strategists. If all their troops pursue the fleeing forces, some advancing, some halting, in disordered fashion, the enemy is not talented. Attack them without hesitation.' I think that Wu Qi’s strategy is generally of this sort, not what Sun Zi would refer to as 'In battle, use the direct forces to match the enemy, and use the indirect forces to win the enemy.'."

Tai Zhong said: "My Lord, your uncle Han Qing Hu once said you could discuss Sun Zi and Wu Zi with him. Was he referring to the orthodox and unorthodox?"

Li Jing said: "How could Qing Hu know about the pinnacle of deploying orthodox and unorthodox? He only took the unorthodox as unorthodox, and orthodox as orthodox! He never knew about the 'mutual changes of the unorthodox and orthodox into each other, the inexhaustible cycle.'"

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