TREATISE ON ARMAMENT TECHNOLOGY VOL. 30

EXAMINATION OF MILITARY STRATEGY

JIN PART 2

After being defeated, the Wei army retreated and stationed themselves at Xincheng literally "New City". [Murong] Qing and others requested to pursue and attack them. Han Zhun, the Administrative Assistant, said: "The ancients calculated their chances first and only then went to war. There are four reasons why the Wei army cannot be attacked:
First, they are an expeditionary force from afar; their advantage lies in open-field battles.
Second, they have penetrated deep into the capital region and are stationed on 'death ground'. Death ground (sǐ dì): A tactical position from Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' where a cornered army will fight with desperate ferocity because there is no way to retreat
Third, although their vanguard was defeated, their rear formations are still solid.
Fourth, they are many while we are few; we are no match.

If our army fights on its own groundA deep understanding of the 'Eight Grounds' Referring to the classifications of terrain and strategic positioning in classical military theory—this ground, if we move and, do, not, win, the hearts, of the, masses, will be, difficult, to keep, firm. The city walls and moats have not yet been repaired, and we are unprepared for the enemy’s arrival. It is better to strengthen our ramparts and consolidate the army to wear them out."

[Murong] De followed his advice. When [Murong] Qing returned, the Yi referring to the opposing force's momentum were indeed exhausted and defeated.

Lü Guang, the King of Liang, because Qianyui Qifu Gangui, the ruler of Western Qin, had repeatedly defected and rebelled, raised an army to attack him. The various officials of Western Qin requested to flee east to Chengji. Qianyui said: "Victory or defeat in war depends on skill or clumsiness, original: 巧拙 (qiǎo zhuō); a classic military term comparing tactical ingenuity against brute force not on numbers. Guang’s soldiers are numerous but lack discipline. His brother [Lü] Yan is brave but lacks strategy; they are not to be feared. Furthermore..."