Tao Te Ching

Chapter 70
[Original text]

There is a saying in using soldiers: "I dare not be the master [1], but a guest [2]; I dare not advance an inch, but retreat a foot." ] Invincible, holding no soldiers [3].

There is nothing worse than underestimating the enemy, and underestimating the enemy almost loses my treasure [7].

Therefore, the anti-army is similar to [8], and those who mourn [9] win.

【Note】

[1] Lord: Take the initiative to attack the enemy.

[2] Guest: Passive defense, against the enemy as a last resort.

[3] Row: marching troops into formation.

[4] Arm: Fen arm, rise up.

[5] Still: facing, facing.

[6] Soldiers: Weapons.

[7] Bao: Refers to the "love, frugality, and not daring to be the first" mentioned in the previous article.

[8] The anti-military forces are similar: the strength of the two armies in the confrontation is equal.

[9] Ai: Sorrow, here refers to grief and indignation.

【Analysis】

The person in charge of the army said: "I dare not take the initiative to attack others, but I am willing to take the defensive position, and only fight the enemy when it is necessary; I am not willing to invade an inch of land, but I am willing to retreat more places in exchange for peace." That is to say, although you are marching to fight, you do not have the battle formation; although you are excited, you do not wave your arms to fight; although you are facing the enemy, you do not go forward to fight; fighting.

There is no greater disaster than underestimating the enemy, which almost made me lose the magic weapon in my hand.

Therefore, when the strength of the two armies is equal, the side that is invaded and grieved must be able to win.

【Explanation by Famous Artists】

Mr. He Shang:
Chen Yongbing's way.Laozi used soldiers when he was ill, so he entrusted himself with righteousness.Lord, first also.I dare not raise my troops first.As a guest, be harmonious but not advocate.Use soldiers to take over the sky and then move.Invading people's borders and benefiting people's wealth is to advance; to guard the city behind closed doors is to retreat.Then he stopped, he was a thief in the world, and although he wanted to punish him, he couldn't join the ranks.Although you want to be furious, if you have no arms to fight.Although you want to still attract it, if you are invincible, you can still do it.Even if you want to hold it, if you don't have a weapon to hold it.who?The people who hurt the enemy are punished by the sky, and the king who suffers from injustice suffers from the pain of mourning.

The harm of a husband's disaster is nothing greater than bullying and underestimating the enemy's family, invading endlessly, lightly fighting and greedy for money.A few, near also.Treasure, body also.Bullying and underestimating the enemy's family is close to death.

When two enemies fight each other, those who mourn are benevolent, and the soldiers are not far from death.

(End of this chapter)