The Art of War - Sun Zi IX. 3.

Sun Zi

– The Art of War

Chinese strategy explained : know yourself and the ennemy, use deception, spies, and "win with ease". Tr. Giles (en, annotated) and Amiot (fr).

Sunzi IX. 3.

In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over them quickly, without any delay.1

If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass near you, and get your back to a clump of trees.2 So much for operations in salt-marches.

1. Because of the lack of fresh water, the poor quality of the herbage, and last but not least, because they are low, flat, and exposed to attack.

2. Li Ch`uan remarks that the ground is less likely to be treacherous where there are trees, while Tu Mu says that they will serve to protect the rear.

Giles IX.7,8.

III. Si vous êtes dans des lieux glissants, humides, marécageux et malsains, sortez-en le plus vite que vous pourrez ; vous ne sauriez vous y arrêter sans être exposé aux plus grands inconvénients ; la disette des vivres et les maladies viendraient bientôt vous y assiéger. Si vous êtes contraint d'y rester, tâchez d'en occuper les bords ; gardez-vous bien d'aller trop avant. S'il y a des forêts aux environs, laissez-les derrière vous.

Amiot