Records of Armament and Military Preparation, Volume 170

Recorded Divinations

Divination 23

Taiyi Temple Calculation, Part II

It is argued that those who serve as generals must clearly understand the arts of surprise troopsoriginal: "qibing" (奇兵). These are unconventional forces used for flanking or unexpected maneuvers, as opposed to the "zheng" (正) or standard frontal forces. and ambush troops. The Classics state: "One who can recognize surprise and ambush can turn calamity into fortune." Whenever employing surprise troops, the "Rule of Three" is used as the standard: from a force of one thousand men, select three hundred; from a force of one million men, select three thousand. To deploy them, one must take the positions of the Host Eyeoriginal: "zhumu" (主目). In Taiyi divination, this represents the defender or the established party., the Wenchangoriginal: "wenchang" (文昌). While often associated with literature, in this context, it refers to a specific celestial coordinate or "star" used to calculate favorable positions for the commander., and the Great Killeroriginal: "dashao" (大殺). An aggressive or malevolent coordinate in military astrology used to determine where lethal force is most effective., or the positions of the Guest Eyeoriginal: "kemu" (客目). This represents the attacker or the moving party., the Initial Strikeoriginal: "shiji" (始擊). A coordinate used to determine the timing and direction of the first offensive move., and the Great Killer.