Certain Escape-Six Teachings

From World's Chinese Wiki

Certain Escape (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Tiger Teaching Chapter 4)

本篇论述夜间突围作战和渡过江河溪谷的方法。

English

King Wu asked Tai Gong:"Suppose we have led our troops deep into the territory of the feudal lords where the enemy unites from all quarters and surrounds us, cutting off our road back home and severing our supply lines. The enemy is numerous and extremely well-provisioned, and gained the terrain advantage. We want get out - how can we?"

Tai Gong said:"In the matter of effecting a certain escape, your equipment is the key while courageous fighting is foremost. If you investigate and learn where in the enemy’s formation weakly defended, the places where there are no men, you can then effect a certain escape.

Order your generals and officers to carry the black pennants and take up the implements of war. Require the soldiers to put wooden gags into their mouths. Then move out at night. Men of courage, strength and swiftness, who will risk danger, should occupy the front to level enemy’s fortifications and open a passage for the army. Skilled soldiers and strong crossbowmen should compose an ambushing force which will remain in the rear. Your weak soldiers, chariots and cavalry should occupy the middle. When deployment is complete, slowly advance, being very cautious not to startle or frighten the enemy. Have the Large Charging Chariots defend the front and rear and the Large Flank Great Chariots protect the left and right flanks.

If the enemy should be startled, have your courageous, strong risk-takers fervently attack and advance. The weaker troops, chariots and cavalry should bring up the rear. Your skilled soldiers and strong crossbowmen should conceal themselves in ambush. If you determine that the enemy is in pursuit, the men lying in ambush should swiftly attack their rear. Make your fires and drums numerous to confuse the enemy, and attack as if coming out of the very ground or dropping from Heaven above. If the army fight courageously no one will be able to withstand us!"

King Wu said:"In front of us lies a large body of water, or broad moat, or deep water hole which we want to cross. However, we do not have equipments such as boats and oars. The enemy has fortifications and ramparts which limit our army’s advance and block off our retreat. Patrols are constantly watchful; passes are fully defended. Their chariots and cavalry press us in front; their fighters attacking us from the rear. What should we do?"

Tai Gong said:"Large bodies of water, broad moats and deep water holes are usually not defended by the enemy. If they are able to defended them, their troops will certainly be few. In such situations, you should use the Flying River with winches and also Heaven’s Huang to cross the army over. Our courageous, strong, skilled soldiers should move where we indicate, rushing into the enemy, breaking up his formations, all fighting to the death.

First of all, burn the supply wagons and provision, and clearly inform the men that those who fight courageously will live, while cowards will die. After they have broken out and crossed the bridges, order the rear elements to set a great conflagration visible from afar. The troops moving forth must take advantage of the cover afforded by grass, trees, hillocks and ravines ready to spring an ambush. The enemy’s chariots and cavalry will certainly not dare to pursue them too far. Using the flames as a marker, the first to go out should be ordered to proceed as far as the flame and then stop to reform into ‘Four Martial Assault Formation’. In this way, the army will be fervent and sharp and fight courageously, and no one will be able to withstand us."

King Wu said:"Excellent!"

Modern

武王问太公说：领兵深入敌国境内，敌人从四面合围我军，切断我军退路，断绝我军粮道。敌军既众，粮食又多，占领了险阻地形，守备坚固，我想突围而出，应该怎么办？

太公说：突出敌人包围的方法，兵器器材最为重要，而首先必须奋勇战斗。查明敌人兵力薄弱的地方，以及无人防守的处所，乘虚而击，就可以突出包围。突围的部署，将士们都拿着黑旗，持着器械，口中衔枚，乘夜行动。使勇敢有力、行动轻捷、敢于冒险犯难的将士在前面，攻占某些敌人营垒，为我军打开通路，让有技能而勇敢的武士使用强努，隐伏在后面掩护，老弱士卒和车骑在中间行进。部署完毕后，沉着行动，谨慎从事，不可惊慌，使用武冲大战车在前后护卫，用武翼大橹矛戟 战车在左右掩护。

如果敌人发觉我军突围行动，我先头部队就迅速向前突击，老弱士卒和车时限在后面，材士使用强努隐蔽地埋伏起来。当敌来追我时，我伏兵就迅速攻击它的后尾，并多用火光、鼓声乱敌耳目，使其感到我军好象是从地而出，从天而降，全军奋勇战斗，敌人就不能阻截我军的突围了。

武王说：假如面前遇到大河、宽沟、深坑，我军要想渡过，而没有准备船只，敌人屯兵筑垒，阻止我军前进，堵塞我军归路，其斥候又戒备很严，险要地形都在敌人手中，敌人的战车、骑兵又在前面拦阻，勇士又在后面袭击，对此怎么办？

太公说：凡是大河、宽沟、深坑，敌人一般是不设防的，即使防守，兵力也必定很少。这样，就可以用浮桥、折叠桥和船只渡过我军，以勇力材士按照指定方向，冲锋陷阵，拼死战斗。先焚烧我的辎重，烧掉我的粮食，再明确告诉将士，勇斗的就有生路，怯战的就是死亡。已经脱出危险的就令我军后卫部队设置烟火信号，派出远方斥候，占领丛林、坟基和险阻的地形，准备阻击敌人。这样，敌人的战车骑兵必然不敢长驱远追了。其所以用火作为信号，是令先突围的到达有火的地方，就编成“四武冲阵”。这样，我三军将士都精锐而勇斗，敌人就无法阻止我军了。

武王说：好啊！

Original

武王问太公曰：引兵深入诸侯之地，敌人四而围我，断我归道，绝我粮食。敌人既众，粮食甚多，阻又固，我欲必出，为之奈何?

太公曰：必出之道，器械为宝，勇斗为首。审知敌人空虚之地，无人之处，可以必出。将士人持玄旗，操器械，设衔枚，夜出。勇力、飞足、冒将之士居前，平垒为军开道、材士强弩为伏兵居后，弱卒车骑居中。阵毕徐行，慎无惊骇。以武冲扶胥前后拒守，武翼大橹以备左右。敌人若惊，勇力、冒将之士疾击而前，弱卒车骑以 属其后，材士强弩隐伏而处。审候敌人追我，伏兵疾击其后，多其火鼓，若从地出，若从天下，三军勇斗，莫我能御。

武王曰：前有大水、广堑、深坑，我欲踰渡，无舟楫之备，敌人屯垒，限我军前，塞我归道，斥候常戒，险塞尽中，车骑要我前，勇士击我后，为之奈何?

太公曰：大水、广堑、深坑，敌人所不守，或能守之，其卒必寡。若此者，以飞江、转关与天演以济吾军，勇力材士从我所指，冲敌绝阵，皆致其死。先燔吾辎重， 烧吾粮食，明告吏士，勇斗则生，不勇则死。已出者，令我踵军设云火远候，必依草木、丘墓、险阻，敌人车骑必不敢远追长驱。因以火为记，先出者令至火而止； 为四武冲阵。此，则吾三军皆精锐勇斗，莫我能止。

武王曰：善哉！

[Back to Jiang Tai Gong Six Teachings - Tiger Teaching]