Records of Stopping Boats: Volume 114

If there is a fear that our pedestrian banks are too easy to ascend, we should then set up Crouching Oxen funiu original: 伏牛; heavy, low-profile obstacles shaped like kneeling cattle, placed at the water's edge and Crossed Horses jiaoma original: 交馬; X-shaped wooden trestles or "sawhorses" used as barriers. These will ensure that when the enemy’s ships approach the shore, they cannot unload their troops or cargo.

If there is a fear that our moats and trenches are too easy to pass, we should then drive in Hidden Pilings anzhuang original: 暗樁. These cause the enemy’s ships to snag and drag along the bottom original: 曳蔕; "dragging the stem," referring to the hull catching on underwater obstructions, making it impossible for them to follow the current smoothly.

If there is a fear that enemy ships will advance by taking advantage of the wind, we then have Wind-Snaggers and Water-Pressers liaofeng tashui original: 撩風榻水; specialized mechanical traps or weighted lines designed to catch sails and destabilize the vessel's balance. These are used to sever the utility of their sails, rendering them unusable.

If there is a fear that enemy ships will arrive by being towed along the banks, we then have Obstructing Poles aigan and Hollow Timbers xumu original: 虛木; likely decoy logs or floating barriers designed to look more substantial than they are. These are used to block the towing cables original: 緯索; the ropes used by trackers on the shore to pull a boat against the current so they cannot pass.

When the upstream current is high and the downstream is low, we should occupy the upstream position and construct Weirs and Dams yanba original: 堰拔 to suddenly release the water and inundate their army.

If their position is broad while our position is narrow, we should take advantage of the terrain and pile up Sandbags shanang original: 沙囊 to submerge and drown their soldiers.

If the enemy presses close to the bank, we then set up Four-Cable Revolving Wheels sisuo fanche original: 四索番車; a heavy mechanical device operated by four winch cables, likely used to drop heavy stones or beams to shatter their ships.

If the enemy soldiers manage to reach the shore, we then set up Single-Faced Hidden Clubs dumian anpeng original: 獨面暗捧; concealed, spring-loaded or gravity-fed beams that swing out from a single direction to strike attackers to ambush and strike their troops. These are the ways in which we gain the advantage.