Army's Indications-Six Teachings
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Army's Indications (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Dragon Teaching Chapter 12)
本篇论述胜败的先兆。其中用敌军士气盛衰、敌阵治乱、军纪严弛来预见胜负，这是科学的。但用“望气”来判断城邑能否攻取，却是迷信的。
English
King Wu asked Tai Gong:"Before engaging in battle I want to first know the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses, to foresee indications of victory or defeat. How can this be done?"
Tai Gong replied:"Indications of victor or defeat will be first manifest in their spirit. The enlightened general will investigate them, for they will be evidenced in their behavior. Clearly observe the enemy’s coming and going, advancing and withdrawing. Investigate his movements and periods at rest, whether they speak about portents, what the officers and troops are talking about. If the army is exhilarated and the officers and troops fear the laws; respect the general’s commands; rejoice with each other in destroying the enemy; proud of each other’s courage and ferocity; and praise each other for their awesomeness and martial demeanor – these are indications of a strong enemy.
If the army startled a number of times, the officers and troops no longer maintaining good order; they terrify each other with stories about the enemy’s strength; they speak to each other about the disadvantages; they anxiously listening and talking to each other; they talk incessantly of ill omen, spreading doubts and confusing each other; they fear neither laws nor orders and do not regard their general seriously - these are indications of weakness.
When the armies are well ordered; strong fortified defence – with deep moats and high ramparts – and they enjoy the advantages of high winds and heavy rain; the army is untroubled; the signal flags and pennants point to the front; the sound of the gongs and bells crisp and clear; and the sound of the small and large drums clearly rises – these are indications of having obtained spiritual, assistance, foretelling a great victory.
When their formations are not solid; their flags and pennants confused and entangled with each other; they go contrary to the advantages of the high wind and heavy rain; their officers and troops are terrified; and their morale low while they are not unified; their war horses have been frightened and run off, their military chariots have broken axles; the sound of their gongs and bells sinks down and is murky; the sound of their drums is dull and not rousing – these are indications foretelling a great defeat.
In general, when you attack city walls or surround towns, if the color of the city’s aura is liked dead ashes, the city can be slaughtered. If the city’s aura drifts out to the north, the city can be conquered. If the city’s aura goes out and drifts to the west, the city can be forced to surrender. If the aura goes out and drifts to the south, it cannot be taken. If the city’s aura goes out and drifts to the east, the city cannot be attacked. If the city’s aura goes out and drifts back in, the city’s ruler has already fled. If the city’s aura goes out and overspreads our army, the soldiers will surely fall ill. If the city’s aura goes out and just rises up without any direction, the army will have to be employed for a long time. If, when you attacked a walled city or surrounded a town for more than ten days without thunder or rain, you must hastily abandon it, for the city must have a source of great assistance.
Those are the means by which to know that you can attack and then go on to mount the attack, or that you should not attack and therefore stop."
"Excellent!" said King Wu.
Modern
武王问太公说：我想在战前先知敌人的强弱，预见胜败的征侯应该怎么办?
太公说：胜败的征侯，首先在敌人精神上表现出来，明智的将帅是能够察觉的，而精神效果又反映在人的行为上。周到地侦察敌人出入进退的情况，观察它的动静，言语中的吉凶预兆，士卒间传播的消息。凡是全军喜悦，士卒畏惧法令，尊重将帅命令，相互以破敌为喜，相互以勇猛为荣，相互以威武为誉，这是军队坚强的象征。如果全军不断地惊动，士卒意志不统一，相互以敌人的强悍来恐吓，相互传掐不利的情况，相互探听消息，谣言不止，相互欺蒙，不畏惧法令，不尊重将帅，这是军队虚弱的象征。
三军整齐，阵势巩固，深沟高垒，又有顺着大风大雨的有利件，三军未动而旅旗前指，金铎声高扬而清晰，鼙鼓声婉转而响亮，这得到神明的帮助，取得大胜的征候。行阵不稳固，旌旗纷乱而方向明，又有逆着大风大雨的不利条件，士卒恐惧，士气衰竭而涣散军马惊骇乱奔，兵车断轴毁坏，金铎声低沉而混浊，鼙鼓声沉闷而 响，这是大败的征候。
凡攻城因邑：城上的“气”如果是死灰色，城可被毁灭；城上的气出而向北，城可被攻克；城上的气出而向西，城可能投降；城上的气出而向南，该城就坚不可拔； 城上的气出而向东，该城不可进攻；城上的气出而又入，守城的主将必然逃亡败北；城内的气出而覆盖我军上空，对我军必定不利；城内的气高升而不停止，是用兵 长久的征恢。凡是攻城因邑，如果过了十天仍不打雷下雨，必须迅速撤去，因为城中必有贤能的辅佐。这就可以知道为什么可攻就攻，不可攻就停止的道理了。
武王说：好啊！
Original
武王问太公曰：吾欲未战先知敌人之强弱，豫见胜负之征，为之奈何?
太公曰：胜负之征，精神先见，明将察之，其败在人。谨候敌人出入进退，察其动静，言语妖祥，士卒所告。凡三军说怿士卒畏法，敬其将命，相喜以破敌，相陈以勇猛，相贤以威武，此强征也。三军数惊，士卒不齐，相恐以敌强，相语以不利，耳目相属，妖言不止，众口相惑，不畏法令，不重其将，此弱征也。
三军齐整，阵势已固，深沟高垒，又有大风甚雨之利，三军无故，旌旗前指，金铎之声扬以清，鼙鼓之声宛以鸣，此得神明之助，大胜之征也。行陈不固，旌 旗乱而相绕，逆大风甚雨之利，士卒恐惧，气绝而不属，戎马惊奔，兵东折轴，金铎之声下以浊，鼙鼓之声湿如沐，比大败之征也。
凡攻城围邑：城之气色如死灰，城可屠；城之气出而北，城可克；城之气出而西，城必降；城之气出而南，城不可拨；城之气出而东，城不可攻；城之气出而 复入，主逃北；城之气出而覆我军之上，军必病；城之气出高而无止，用兵长久。凡攻城围邑过旬不雷不雨，必亟去之，必有大辅。此所以知可攻而攻，不可攻而 止。
武王曰：善哉!
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