Gongs and Drums-Six Teachings
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Gongs and Drums (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Tiger Teaching Chapter 8)
本篇论述警戒、防御反击以及追击时防止被伏击的方法。
English
King Wu asked Tai Gong:"Suppose we have led the army deep into the territory of the feudal lords where we are confronting the enemy. The weather has been either extremely hot or very cold, and it has been raining incessantly day and night for ten days. The ditches and ramparts are all collapsing; defiles and barricades are unguarded; our patrols have become negligent; and the officers and men are not alert. Suppose the enemy comes at night, and our army is unprepared while the upper and lower ranks are confused and disordered. What should we do?"
Tai Gong said:"In general, for the army, alertness makes for solidity, laziness results in defeat. Order our guards on the ramparts to unceasingly challenge everyone. Have all those bearing the signal flags, both inside and outside encampment, watch each other, responding to each other’s order with countersigns, but do not allow them to make any noise. All efforts should be externally oriented.
Three thousand men should comprise a detachment. Instruct and constrain them with warning, requiring each of them to exercise vigilance at his post. If the enemy approaches, when they see our state of readiness and alertness, they will certainly turn around. As a result, their strength will become exhausted and their spirits dejected. At that moment, send forth our elite troops to follow and attack them."
King Wu asked:"The enemy, knowing we are following him, conceals elite troops in ambush while pretending to continue to retreat. When we reach the ambush, their troops turn back and attack us, some attacking our front, others our rear, whiles some press towards our fortifications. Our army are terrified, and in confusion fall out of formation and leave their assigned positions. What should we do?"
Tai Gong said:"Divide into three forces, then follow and pursue them, but do not cross beyond their ambush. When all three forces have arrived, some should attack the front and rear, while others should penetrate the two flanks. Make your command clear. Fervently attack, advancing forward, and the enemy will certainly be defeated."
Modern
武王问太公说：领兵深入敌国境内，敌我兵力相当，适值严寒或酷暑，或又日夜大丙，旬日不止，因而壕全全部损毁，险隘关塞不能守备，斥候麻痹懈怠，士卒疏于戒备，这时，敌人乘夜来袭，三军皆无准备，上下又疑虑混乱，对此怎么办?
太公说：凡军队，有戒备就能巩固，若松懈就要失败。在我军营垒上口令呼应之声不绝，哨兵手持旗帜，与营垒内外联络，相互传送号令，金鼓之声不可断绝，对外 表示已做好战斗准备，以三千人为一屯，谆谆告诫，严加约束，使各自慎重守备。若敌人来犯，发现我军戒备森严，即使迫近我军阵前，也必退去，这时，我应乘敌 力尽气衰之际，派遣精锐部队紧随敌后猛击敌人。
武王说：敌人知道我要跟踪追击，于是埋伏了精锐士卒，然后假装退却不止，当我军进刮伏兵地区时，敌人就回头配合其伏兵向我反击，有的攻我前队，有的击我后队，有的迫近我营垒，因而我军大为恐慌，行列陷于混乱，各自擅离在阵中的位置，对此怎么办?
太公说：在这种情况下应把我军分为三队，分向敌人跟踪追击，不要进入伏击圈，在到达敌伏击圈前就要三队同时追到敌人，有的攻击敌人前后，有的攻击敌人两侧，并须严明号令，使士卒疾速进击，敌人必被打败。
Original
武王问太公曰：引兵深入诸侯之地，与敌相当，当而天大寒甚暑，日夜霖雨，旬日不止，沟垒悉坏，隘塞不守，斥候懈怠，士卒不成，敌人夜来，三军无备，上下惑乱，为之奈何?
太公曰：凡三军，以戒为固，以怠为败。令我垒上，谁何不绝，人执旌旗，外内相望，以号相命，勿令乏音，而皆外向，三千人为一屯，诫而约之，各慎其处。敌人若来，视我军之警戒，至而必还，力尽气怠，发我锐士，随而击之。
武王曰：敌人知我随之，而伏其锐士，佯北不止，过伏而还，或击我前，或击我后，或薄我垒，吾三军大恐，扰乱失次，离其处所，为之奈何?
太公曰：分为三队，随而追之，勿越其伏，三队俱至，或击其前后，或陷其两旁，明号审令，疾击而前，敌人必败。
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