Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 101

The Disposition of the Fortress

The challenge regarding the disposition of a fortress 堡勢 (bǎo shì): The strategic posture, morale, and physical configuration of a fortification that creates an aura of strength. is not that it is difficult to find a position of power, but rather that it is difficult to preserve the integrity of that power.

When a tiger dwells in the mountains, even the wild herbs are left unpicked The tiger’s mere presence acts as a deterrent, protecting the entire mountain.. To resist an insult or attack, one must act like the Shuairan original: "率然" (shuài rán). A mythical snake mentioned in Sun Tzu's Art of War that responds instantly to an attack on any part of its body: if you strike the head, the tail attacks; if you strike the tail, the head attacks., where the head and tail assist one another in close kinship.

In the past, Emperor Wen of the Han Han Wendi (reigned 180–157 BCE), known for his frugal and defensive policies. mandated the establishment of walled cities and towns that consisted of no less than a thousand households. Today, however, when fortresses are constructed, neighborhoods hatch their own private plans, and individuals seek only their own personal profit. Consequently, we see cases where a single village is split into several forts, or a single fort contains only a few families.

In the worst instances, arrogant commoners original: "武斷匹夫" (wǔ duàn pǐ fū), referring to local bullies or self-important men who use force to seize control of a small area. occupy the city walls for themselves, while wealthy, elite clans 膏梁 (gāo liáng): Literally "fat meat and fine grain," a metaphor for the rich who live in luxury. set up empty parapets 陴倪 (pí ní): Low walls or crenelations atop a main wall used for observation and protection. for show.

There is no one to guard the gates, and the halberdiers original: "執戟" (zhí jǐ), a term for guards or soldiers armed with halberds. have all abandoned their duties. When the invaders enter and the defense is lost, these people turn and lay the blame upon the government officials. Is this truly the fault of the fortress itself? No, it is the fault of failing to preserve the collective strength of its position.

Therefore, we next outline the agreements regarding the disposition of the fortress, which consists of four main articles.

I. Uniting Strength

This means accumulating many weak elements to form a single strong whole. Consider a stone of a hundred jun original: "百鈞之石" (bǎi jūn zhī shí). A jun was an ancient unit of weight equal to about 30 catties; 100 jun would be approximately 1,500 kilograms.. If dozens of people try to lift it without coordination, their strength will be insufficient. Yet, if just a few people lift it with perfect timing and unity, they will have strength to spare. The weight of the stone has not increased or decreased; it is simply a matter of whether the strength is united or fragmented. Therefore...