Fire Warfare-Six Teachings
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Fire Warfare (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Tiger Teaching Chapter 11)
本篇论述在深草及灌木林地带防御敌人火攻的方法。
English
King Wu asked Tai Gong:"Suppose we have led our troops deep into the territory of the feudal lords where we encounter deep grass and heavy growth which surround our army on all sides. The army has traveled several hundred li; men and horses are exhausted and have halted to rest. Taking advantage of the extremely dry weather and a strong wind, the enemy ignites fires upwind from us. Their chariots, cavalry and elite forces are concealed in ambush to our rear. The army becomes terrified, scatter in confusion and run off. What can be done?"
Tai Gong said:"Under such circumstances, use the cloud ladders and flying towers to look far out to the left and right, to carefully investigate front and rear. When you see the fires arise, then set fires in front of our own forces spreading them out over the area. Also set fires to the rear. If the enemy comes, withdraw the army and take up entrenched positions on the blackened earth to await their assault. In the same way, if you see flames arise to the rear, you must move far away. If we occupy the blackened ground with our strong crossbowmen and skilled soldiers protecting the left and right flanks, we can also set fires to the front and rear. In this way, the enemy will not be able to harm us."
King Wu asked:"Suppose the enemy has set fires to the left and right and also to the front and rear. Smoke covers our army, while his main forces appear from over the blackened ground. What should we do?"
Tai Gong replied:"In this case, assuming you have prepared a burnt section of the ground, go into ‘Four Martial Assault Formation’ and have strong crossbowmen cover the flanks. This method will not bring victory, but will also not end in defeat."
Modern
武王问太公说：领军深入敌国境内，茂密的草丛区围绕在我军前后左右，我已行军数百里，人困马乏，宿营休息。敌人趁天干风紧，在上风放火，其车骑锐士又埋伏在我军的后面，以致三军恐怖，散乱逃跑，对此怎么办?
太公说：在草地宿营要利用云梯、飞搂，登高盼望前后左右，发现敌人放火，就顺着风向也在我军较远的前方放起火来，扩大火焚面积。同时又在我军后方放起火 来，[以便淹出一块“黑地”，]若是敌人来攻，我就可以把军队撤到这块黑地坚守。前未围攻的敌人此时还在我军后面，他看到火起，定会退走。我军在黑地内布 阵，用材士强弩掩护两翼，[敌人再行火攻]，我又如法在前后放火，如此反复进行，敌人就无法加害于我了。
武王问：敌人既在我的左右放火，又在我的前后放火，以至烟覆盖了我军，而敌军突然向我据守的黑地逼近，对此怎么办？
太公说：遇上这种情况，可将我军结成“四武冲阵”，以强弩掩护我的左右，这种办法虽然不能取胜，也不会失败。
Original
武王问太公曰：引兵深入诸侯之地，遇深草蓊秽，周吾军前后左右，三军行数百里，人马疲倦休止，敌人因天燥疾风之利，燔吾上风，车骑锐土坚伏吾后，吾三军恐饰，散乱而走，为之奈何?
太公曰：若此者，则以云梯、飞楼远望左右，谨察前后，见火起，即燔吾前而广廷之。又燔吾后，敌人若至，即引军而却，按黑地而坚处。敌人之来，犹在吾后，见火起，必还走。吾报黑地而处，强弩材士卫吾左右，又燔吾前后。若此，则敌不能害我。
武王曰：敌人燔吾左右，又燔吾前后，烟覆吾其大兵按黑地而起，为之奈何?
太公曰：若此者，为“四武冲阵”，强弩翼吾左右，其无胜亦无负。
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