Page:Sun Tzu on The art of war.djvu/158

Rh 4. Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called entangling.
 * 1) 

5. From a position of this sort, if the enemy is unprepared, you may sally forth and defeat him. But if the enemy is prepared for your coming, and you fail to defeat him, then, return being impossible, disaster will ensue.

6. When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the first move, it is called temporising ground.

7. In a position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us an attractive bait,

it will be advisable not to stir forth, but rather to retreat, thus enticing the enemy in his turn; then, when part of his army has come out, we may deliver our attack with advantage.