TREATISE ON STRATEGY

EXAMINATION OF MILITARY STRATEGY

JIN PART 2

The main army followed behind to resist [Yao] Xing; they soundly defeated [Yao] Ping at Fei. Ping fled to Chaibi, where he fortified the city and held his ground firmly; the Wei army then surrounded him. [Yao] Xing led forty thousand troops to rescue Ping, intending to occupy Tiandu A strategic pass or crossing to transport grain and supply Ping's forces.

The Wei Erudite Boshi: A scholar-official who served as a technical and historical advisor to the Emperor Li Xian said: "According to the art of war, those who occupy high ground are 'perched upon' by the enemy ○ ○, and those in deep places are 'imprisoned' by the enemy. Now the [Later] Qin forces are committing both of these errors. We should first dispatch a surprise force to occupy Tiandu; Chaibi cannot be taken through direct combat alone."

[Tuoba] Gui The founding Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei ordered the reinforcement of the siege lines—the inner ring to prevent Ping from breaking out, and the outer ring to resist Xing from entering.

The general An Tong said: "East of the Fen River lies Mengruan, stretching over three hundred li A traditional Chinese unit of distance; 300 li is roughly 125 kilometers from east to west, where the paths are impassable. If Xing comes, he must approach Chaibi from the west of the Fen. If he does so, the enemy's momentum and communications will be linked. Even if our siege lines are firm, we will not be able to control them ○ ○ ○ ○. It would be better to construct a floating bridge to cross to the west of the Fen River and build fortifications there to resist him ○ ○. When the enemy arrives, they will have no way to apply their strategy or strength."

[Tuoba] Gui followed this advice and led thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to intercept Xing at Meng...