The Art of War

follow that of Chang Yü (不可以兵阻絕其路). The other is indicated in Tsʽao Kung’s brief note: 相及屬也 “Draw closer together”⁠— i.e., see that a portion of your own army is not cut off. Wang Hsi points out that 交地 is only another name for the 通地 “accessible ground” of  chapter X (“Ground which can be freely traversed⁠ ⁠…”), and says that the advice here given is simply a variation of 利糧道 “keep a sharp eye on the line of supplies,” be careful that your communications are not cut. The Tʽung Tien reads 無相絕.  ↩

Or perhaps, “form alliances with neighbouring states.” Thus Tsʽao Kung has: 結諸侯也.  Capt. Calthrop’s “cultivate intercourse” is much too timid and vague. The original text reads 交合.  ↩


On this, Li Chʽüan has the following delicious note: 深入敵境不可非義失人心如漢高