Study of Strategies: Jin, Part II

Page Eleven

During a council of war, Gongsun Wulou A high-ranking official and favorite of the Southern Yan emperor said: "The Wu troops original: Wu bing (吳兵); a term used by Northerners to refer to the Southern armies of the Eastern Jin are light and daring; their advantage lies in a quick battle. We should occupy the Daxian Pass A strategic mountain pass in modern-day Shandong, essential for controlling access to the heart of the Southern Yan state to ensure they cannot enter. By dragging out the conflict and delaying them, we can blunt their sharp momentum. Then, we should slowly select elite cavalry to travel by sea and head south to cut off their supply routes. We should further command Duan Hui to lead the forces of Yanzhou along the mountains and descend from the east. By attacking them from both the front and the rear, we employ the superior strategy.

Alternatively, we could order each local governor and magistrate to defend their positions based on the local terrain, calculating their essential stores and burning all remaining crops term: jianbi qingye (堅壁清野) — "fortifying the walls and clearing the fields," a scorched-earth policy so the enemy can gain nothing. Within a month, we could control them without even moving. This is the middle strategy.

To let the rebels enter the pass and then leave the city to engage them in battle—this is the inferior strategy."

Murong Chao The last emperor of Southern Yan, known for his arrogance and poor judgment replied: "Currently, the Year Star original: Suixing (歲星); the planet Jupiter, used in ancient astrology to determine the fate of kingdoms resides in the station of Qi The region where Southern Yan was located. If we deduce our path by the Way of Heaven, we shall conquer without even fighting. If we speak of human affairs, the roles of guest and host invader and defender are quite different. Since they have traveled far, they are exhausted; their momentum cannot possibly last. Why should we cut down our own crops and forcibly move our people, weakening ourselves before the fight has even begun? It is better to let them enter the pass, and then trample them with our elite cavalry. Why should we worry about not being victorious?"