Severed Routes-Six Teachings
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Severed Routes (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Tiger Teaching Chapter 9)
本篇主要论述与敌对峙和行军途中防止敌人迂回、包围的方法。
English
King Wu asked Tai Gong:"Suppose we have led the army deep into the territory of the feudal lords where, confronting them, we have each assumed defensive position. The enemy has severed our supply routes and occupied positions cutting across both our front and rear. If I want to engage them in battle, we cannot win; but if I want to maintain our position, we cannot hold out for long. What should we do?"
Tai Gong replied:"In general, when you venture deep beyond the enemy’s borders, you must investigate the configuration and strategic advantages of the terrain and concentrate on seeking out terrain advantages. Rely on mountains, forests, ravines, rivers, streams, woods, and trees to create a secure defense. Carefully guard passes and bridges and moreover be certain you know the advantages of terrain conveyed by the various cities, towns, hills, and funeral mounds. In this way, the army will be solidly entrenched. The enemy will not be able to sever our supply routes, nor be able to occupy positions cutting across our front and rear."
King Wu asked:"Suppose after our army has passed through a large forest or across a broad marsh and are on flat, accessible terrain, due to some miscommunication, our allies are not here and the enemy suddenly falls upon us. If we engage them in battle, we cannot win; if we assume a defensive position, it will not be secure. The enemy has outflanked us on both sides and occupied positions cutting across our front and rear. The army is terrified. What should be done?"
Tai Gong replied:"Now the rule for commanding an army is always to first dispatch scouts forward so that when you are two hundred li from the enemy, you will already know their position. If the terrain is not to our advantage, then use the Large Charging Chariots to serve as a cover and advance. Also establish two rear guard armies to the rear. The distance between the main forces and the rear guard armies can be as far as one hundred li away, or as near as fifty li away. Thus when the alarm sounded or an urgent situation arises, both front and rear will know about it, and the army will always be able to complete their deployment into solid formation, never suffering any destruction or harm."
"Excellent!" said King Wu.
Modern
武王问太公道：领兵深入敌国境内，与敌对峙，这时敌人截断了我军粮道，迂回到我军后方，从前后两方面夹击我军。我想和他作战恐怕不能取胜，我想防守又恐怕不能持久，这该怎么办?
太公说：凡是深入敌国境内，必须观察地理形势，务求控制有利地形。依托山林、险阻、水表、林木以求阵势的巩固，严守关隘桥梁，还应掌握城邑、丘墓于有利地形。这样，我军防守就能坚固，敌人既不能绝我粮道，也不能迂回到我的后方，从两面夹击我军了。
武王说：我军通过大的森林、广阔的沼泽地及平坦地形时，友军队失误未到，突然与敌遭遇，要想进战怕不能取胜，想防守怕巩怕不能巩固，这时敌人包围我军两侧，超越我军远后方，我三军大为恐惧，对此怎么办?
太公说：统军作战的方法，当先向我前进远方派出斥侯，在距离敌人尚有二百里时，就需要确实了解敌军所在的位置。如果地势对我行动不利，就用武冲车在前面掩护行进，并编两支“踵军”在后跟进，踵军和主力的距离远的可达百里，近的可达五十里，一且遇急情况，前后可以互相救援。我三军如能经常保持这种完善而巩固 的部署，也就不至于遭受严重的伤亡和失败了。
武王说：好啊！
Original
武王问太公曰：引兵深入诸侯之地与敌相守，人绝我粮道，又越我前后。吾欲战则不可胜，欲守则不可久，为之奈何?
太公曰：凡深入敌人之地，必察地之形势，务求便利，依山林、险阻、水泉、林木而为之固，谨守关粱，又知城邑、丘墓地形之利。如是，则我军坚固，敌人不能绝我粮道，又不能越我前后。
武王曰：吾三军过大林、广泽、平易之地，吾盟误失，卒与敌人相薄，以战则不胜，以守则不固，敌人翼我两旁，越我前后，三军大恐，为之奈何?
太公曰：凡帅师之法，当先发远候，去敌二百里，审知敌人所在。地势不利则以武冲为垒而前，又置两踵军于后，远者百里，近者五十里，即有警急，前后相救。吾三军常完坚，必无毁伤。
武王曰：善哉！
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