Battle Chariots-Six Teachings

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Battle Chariots (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Hound Teaching Chapter 8)

本篇论述车兵部队作战的十种不利地形和八种有利情况。

English

King Wu asked Tai Gong:"What about battle chariots?"

Tai Gong replied:"The infantry’s value comes from knowing changes and movement; the chariot’s value comes from knowing the terrain’s configuration; the cavalry values comes from discover the unknown short-cuts and side roads. Thus these three armies bear the same name, but their employment differs.

In general, in chariot battles, there are ten types of situations on which demise is likely and eight on which victory can be achieved."

King Wu asked:"What are the ten fatal situations like?”

Tai Gong replied:”If after advancing, there is no way to withdraw, this is a fatal terrain for chariots.

Passing beyond narrow defiles, to pursue the enemy some distance, this is terrain which will exhaust the chariots.

When the land in front makes advancing easy, while that to the rear is treacherous, this is terrain that will entrap the chariots.

Penetrating into narrow and obstructed areas from which escape will be difficult, this is terrain on which the chariots may be cut off.

If the land is collapsing, sinking, and marshy, with black mud sticking to everything, this is terrain which will ‘labor’ the chariots.

To the left is precipitous while to the right is easy, with high mounds and sharp hills. This is terrain contrary to the use of chariots.

Luxuriant grass runs through the field, and there are deep, watery channels throughout. This is terrain which thwarts the use of chariots.

When the chariots are few in number, the land easy, and one is outnumbered by enemy infantry, this is terrain on which the chariots may be defeated.

To the rear are water filled ravines and ditches, to the left deep water and to the right steep hills. This is terrain on which chariots are destroyed.

It has been raining day and night for more than ten days without stopping. The roads have collapsed so that it not possible to advance or to escape to the rear. This is the terrain that will sink the chariots.

These ten are deadly terrain for chariots. Thus they are the means by which the stupid general will be captured and the wise general will be able to escape."

King Wu asked:"What about eight conditions of terrain that result in victory?"

Tai Gong replied:"When the enemy’s ranks - front and rear - are not yet settled, strike into them.

When their flags and pennants are in chaos, their men and horses frequently shifting about, then strike into them.

When some of their officers and troops advance while others retreat; when some move to the left, others to the right, then strike into them.

When their battle array is not yet solid, while their officers and troops are looking around at each other, strike them.

When in advancing, they appear full of doubts, and in withdrawing they are fearful, strike them.

When the enemy’s whole army are suddenly frightened, all of them rising up in great confusion, strike into them.

When you are fighting on easy terrain and twilight has not ended, strike into them.

When, after traveling far, at dusk they are camping and their whole army are terrified, strike into them.

These eight situations constitute conditions in which the chariots will be victorious.

If the general is clear about these ten fatal situations and eight situations where victory is possible, then even if the enemy surrounds him on all sides - attacking with one thousand chariots and ten thousand cavalry from the front and the flanks - he will invariably be victorious."

"Excellent!" said King Wu.

Modern

武王问太公说：战车怎样作战?

太公说：步兵作战贵在熟悉情况变化，车兵作战贵在熟悉地形状况，骑兵作战贵在熟悉别道捷径，车骑步同是作战部队而用法不同。车兵作战有十种死地、八种有利的情况。

武王问；什么是十种死地?

太公说：可以前进而不能退回，这就是战车的死地。越险阻，长途追逐敌人，这就是战车的竭地。前面平坦，后面险阻，这就是战车的困地。陷入危险而难于出来， 这就是战车的绝地。毁塌积水粘泥地带，这就是战车的劳地。左面险阻右面平坦，还要爬坡，这就是战车的逆地。盛草连垄，还要渡过水泽，这就是战车的拂地。车少地平，而又战车与步兵配合不当这是战车的败地。后有沟渠，左有深水，右有高坡，这就是战车的坏地。昼夜大雨，连日不停，道路毁坏，前不能进，后不能退， 这就是战车的陷地。这十种都是战车的“死地”。所以愚将由于不了解这十种死地而被擒，智将由于了解之十种死地，就能避开它。

武王又问：八种有利的情况是什么?

太公说：敌人的前后行阵尚未排列完毕就乘机攻破它。敌人旌旗紊乱，人马不断调动，就来机攻破它。敌士卒有的向前，有的退后，有的往左，有的往右，混乱不已，就乘机攻破它。敌阵势不稳定，士卒前后相互观望，就乘机攻破它。敌前进犹豫，后退害怕，就乘机攻破它。故三军突然惊乱，轻举妄动，就乘机攻破它。敌与我战于平坦地形上，日暮还未结束战斗，就用战车攻破它。敌长途行军，宿营很晚，三军惧战，就乘机攻破它。这八种情况都是对战车作战有利的情况。将帅明白了十种“死地”和八种“胜地”，敌人即便四面包围，用千乘万骑向我正面压迫，两侧突击，也不可怕，无论多少次战斗都必定取得胜利。

武王说：好啊！

Original

武王问太公曰：战车奈何?

太公曰：步贵知变动，车贵知地形，骑贵知别径奇道，三军同名而异用也。凡车之死地有十，其胜地有八。

武王曰：十死之地奈何?

太公曰：往而无以还者，车之死地也。越绝险阻，乘敌远行者，车之竭地也。前易后险者，车之困地也。陷之险阻而难出者，车之绝地也。记下渐泽、黑土黏埴者， 车之劳地也。左险右易，上陵仰孤者，车之逆地也。殷草横亩，犯历深泽者，车之拂地也。车少地易，与步不敌者，车之败地也。后有沟读，左有深水，右有峻阪 者，车之坏地也。日反霖雨，旬日不止，道路溃陷，前不能进，后不能解者，车之陷地也。此十者，车之死地也。故拙将之所以见擒，明将之所以能避也。

武王曰：八胜之地奈何?

太公曰：敌之前后，行阵未定，即陷之。族旗扰乱，人马数动，即陷之。士卒或前或后，或左或右，即陷之。阵不坚固，士卒前后相顾，即陷之。前往而疑，后恐而 怯，即陷之。三军卒惊，皆薄而起，即陷之。战于易地，暮不能解，即陷之。远行而暮舍，三军恐惧，即陷之。此八者，车之胜地也。将明于十害、八胜，敌虽围 周，千乘万骑，前驱旁驰，万战必胜。

武王曰：善哉！

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