Six Secret Teachings, Tiger Teaching — Roads Cut Off六韜 絕道

King Wu asked Taigong, "I lead the army deep into the land of the feudal lords and hold my ground against the enemy. The enemy cuts our grain road and also passes beyond our front and rear. If we would fight, we cannot win; if we would hold, we cannot hold long. What is to be done?" Taigong said, "Whenever you go deep into the enemy's country, you must look closely at the form of the land and work to gain what is convenient. Lean on the mountains and forests, on the steep and blocked places, on the waters and springs and stands of trees, and be made firm by them. Guard the passes and the bridges carefully, and know too the advantage of the ground at walled towns, at hills and at graves. Do this, and our army is firm: the enemy cannot cut our grain road, nor can he pass beyond our front and rear." King Wu said, "Our three armies pass through a great forest, a wide marsh, a level and open land, and our scouts err, and all at once we are pressed close by the enemy. If we fight we do not win; if we hold we are not firm. The enemy wings about both our flanks and passes beyond our front and rear, and the three armies are in great fear. What is to be done?" Taigong said, "The way of leading an army is always to send the distant scouts out first, two hundred li from the enemy, and to know closely where the enemy is. When the lay of the land is against us, make a rampart of the assault chariots and go forward, and set two following armies (踵軍) behind, the far one a hundred li off and the near one fifty. Then if there is sudden alarm, front and rear know of it, and our three armies are always whole and firm and surely take no hurt." King Wu said, "Good."