"The_Art_of_War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tzu Sun)

----------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION

Sun Wu and his Book -------------------

Ssu-ma Ch`ien gives the following biography of Sun Tzu: [1] --

Sun Tzu Wu was a native of the Ch`i State. His ART OF WAR brought him to the notice of Ho Lu, [2] King
of Wu. Ho Lu said to him: "I have carefully perused your 13 chapters. May I submit your theory of managing
soldiers to a slight test?" Sun Tzu replied: "You may." Ho Lu asked: "May the test be applied to women?" The
answer was again in the affirmative, so arrangements were made to bring 180 ladies out of the Palace. Sun
Tzu divided them into two companies, and placed one of the King's favorite concubines at the head of each.
He then bade them all take spears in their hands, and addressed them thus: "I presume you know the
difference between front and back, right hand and left hand?" The girls replied: Yes. Sun Tzu went on: "When
I say "Eyes front," you must look straight ahead. When I say "Left turn," you must face towards your left
hand. When I say "Right turn," you must face towards your right hand. When I say "About turn," you must
face right round towards your back." Again the girls assented. The words of command having been thus
explained, he set up the halberds and battle-axes in order to begin the drill. Then, to the sound of drums, he
gave the order "Right turn." But the girls only burst out laughing. Sun Tzu said: "If words of command are not
clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame." So he started drilling
them again, and this time gave the order "Left turn," whereupon the girls once more burst into fits of laughter.
Sun Tzu: "If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general
is to blame. But if his orders ARE clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their
officers." So saying, he ordered the leaders of the two companies to be beheaded. Now the king of Wu was
watching the scene from the top of a raised pavilion; and when he saw that his favorite concubines were about
to be executed, he was greatly alarmed and hurriedly sent down the following message: "We are now quite
satisfied as to our general's ability to handle troops. If We are bereft of these two concubines, our meat and
drink will lose their savor. It is our wish that they shall not be beheaded." Sun Tzu replied: "Having once
received His Majesty's commission to be the general of his forces, there are certain commands of His Majesty
which, acting in that capacity, I am unable to accept." Accordingly, he had the two leaders beheaded, and
straightway installed the pair next in order as leaders in their place. When this had been done, the drum was
sounded for the drill once more; and the girls went through all the evolutions, turning to the right or to the left,
marching ahead or wheeling back, kneeling or standing, with perfect accuracy and precision, not venturing to
utter a sound. Then Sun Tzu sent a messenger to the King saying: "Your soldiers, Sire, are now properly
drilled and disciplined, and ready for your majesty's inspection. They can be put to any use that their
sovereign may desire; bid them go through fire and water, and they will not disobey." But the King replied:
"Let our general cease drilling and return to camp. As for us, We have no wish to come down and inspect the
troops." Thereupon Sun Tzu said: "The King is only fond of words, and cannot translate them into deeds."
After that, Ho Lu saw that Sun Tzu was one who knew how to handle an army, and finally appointed him
general. In the west, he defeated the Ch`u State and forced his way into Ying, the capital; to the north he put
fear into the States of Ch`i and Chin, and spread his fame abroad amongst the feudal princes. And Sun Tzu
shared in the might of the King.
The Art of War, by Sun Tzu 4
About Sun Tzu himself this is all that Ssu-ma Ch`ien has to tell us in this chapter. But he proceeds to give a
biography of his descendant, Sun Pin, born about a hundred years after his famous ancestor's death, and also
the outstanding military genius of his time. The historian speaks of him too as Sun Tzu, and in his preface we
read: "Sun Tzu had his feet cut off and yet continued to discuss the art of war." [3] It seems likely, then, that
"Pin" was a nickname bestowed on him after his mutilation, unless the story was invented in order to account
for the name. The crowning incident of his career, the crushing defeat of his treacherous rival P`ang Chuan,
will be found briefly related in