墨子 MOZI

Qin Zi questioned [Master Mo], saying: ‘Suppose enemies are many and brave, recklessly flaunting their courage to intimidate our leader? Suppose they raise up brushwood and earth together to build a yangqin (high mound), piling up earth to make a high [structure] in order to approach [our] people. Suppose they cover it with shields at the front and bring it adjacent to the wall, positioning swordsmen and archers on top of it. What is to be done then?’

Master Mo replied: ‘Are you asking about defence against the yangqin? Attack by yangqin is a clumsy form of attack. It is enough to tire out the soldiers but not enough to harm the city wall. In dealing with an attack by yangqin, if it is distant, then oppose it at a distance. If it is near, then oppose it near so the danger does not reach the city wall. Shoot arrows and hurl stones at it from both sides incessantly. Follow these with large stones, thus demonstrating the resolve [of the defenders]. Send out crack troops who are not likely to retreat and who will ruthlessly strike so the attackers will readily flee. Cultivate a spirit of courage and the people’s hearts will be strengthened a hundredfold. If those of your soldiers who seize many of the enemy are well rewarded, they will maintain their resolve.’

If it is impossible to prevent the enemy piling up earth to a great height and the earth pile has come near to the wall, respond to this by using the method of resisting cloud ladders. In general, when expecting [attack by] the filling in of moats, battering rams, cloud ladders or lin (approachers), there must be the choice of an appropriate method of withstanding them. If the piled-up stones are inadequate, use wooden planks. To the left for 100 bu and to the right for 100 bu, throw down arrows, stones, sand and burning charcoal as thick as rain, and also pour down burning firewood and boiling water. Choose fierce and valiant soldiers, being careful not to send those who harbour doubts. Examine rewards and carry out punishments, taking calmness as the basis. And if the advance must be swift, do not let the men waver. Cultivate a spirit of courage and the hearts of the people will be strengthened a hundredfold. If those of your soldiers who seize many of the enemy are well rewarded, they will maintain their resolve. [If the enemy uses] battering rams, lin or cloud ladders, all these can be opposed by striking them with battering rams.

Large qu (shields) should be 1 zhang 5 chi long with a buried part of 3 chi. Their poles should be 1 zhang 2 chi long. The width of the large qu should be 1 zhang 6 chi. Their ‘ladders’ should be 1 zhang 2 chi [long] and the large qu should hang down 4 cun. In setting up the large qu, the distance from the parapet should not exceed 5 cun, with one ‘ladder’ every 7 chi. Overall, the number of large qu and screens should be 258 per li, there being 129 of each.

All outside roads should have fortifications built to create difficulty for the enemy. On those that offer the greatest danger, build three ting (posts) in a triangular arrangement with one post at each corner like the ‘spinning damsel’, so they are able to come to each other’s aid. All large hills, mountains and forests, ditches and watercourses, hillocks and mounds, paths and fields, outer gates, and lanes and streets can have obstructions set up, as well as identification signs, so it is possible to trace and know the number of those coming and going, and also the places where they might conceal themselves.

In protecting the people, first consider the size of the government offices, people’s houses and the various different dwelling places, then assign the ordinary people temporary quarters. If some of those being protected wish to go along with older and younger brothers, or with their friends, let them do so. All the grain, domestic animals and materials from houses lying outside the city that can be of assistance are sent into the city. When matters are pressing, these things should be piled up within the gates. When the people contribute grain, cloth and silk, gold and money, oxen and horses, and domestic animals, a fair price is set in all cases and there is a contract with the leader which documents it.

If you get each person to do what they are good at, the affairs of the world will be as they should be. If you equate their appointments with their responsibilities, the affairs of the world will be accomplished. If all people do what they like doing, the affairs of the world will come to completion. If the strong and the weak have their destiny, the affairs of the world are set out.

In making beacon towers, they should be round and of a height greater than 3 zhang. They should be narrow at the top and broad at the base. Make ladders with arms, the two arms being 3 zhang in length. The connecting planks should be 3 chi (apart), making use of rope to bind them [to the arms]. Over a twice-encircling moat make a suspended bridge. There should be a portable furnace and one drum in every beacon tower. [There are three situations in which a beacon fire is used:] when the enemy invades, when there is an emergency and when there is disorder. In transmitting these fires, respond in the proper sequence. When the message reaches the leader of the country, stop. When there are urgent conditions, drag a well-sweep causing it to raise and disperse smoke [as a signal]. When a beacon fire is already lit, immediately strike the drum five times and also use fire with this to tell where the enemy is coming from and how great its numbers are. Don’t be slow. Cause the messages to come and go continuously without stopping the lighting of fires. When the enemy is seen, light one beacon fire. When the enemy enters the region, light two beacon fires. When the enemy rapidly advances to a crucial point, light three beacon fires and strike the drum three times. When the enemy enters the outer wall, light four beacon fires and strike the drum four times. When the enemy advances close to the wall, light five beacon fires and strike the drum five times. In lighting fires at night, use the same numbers. Beacon fires in defence are a pressing matter.

[The number of] scouts (spies) should not exceed fifty. When the enemy reaches the parapet (outer wall), the scouts should withdraw immediately. Send them at night and order them all to have identification. Their orders are to look for the tracks [of the enemy] in all parts of the hills, mountains and forests where there can be tracks. At daybreak, they should look for tracks; there should be not be fewer than three men every li. Each one sets up a signal flag to inform those on the wall who, when they see the signal flag, set up a signal flag in response. When the scouts go beyond the signal flags in the fields, the advance defenders take up positions inside and outside the outer wall and set up flags and pennons. The advance guard must keep one half [of their number] inside the outer wall, so [the enemy] has no way of knowing their number. If an urgent situation arises, [the scouts] raise an outside signal flag. If the enemy is seen, they set up a second signal flag. On the wall, a flag is used to indicate the direction of the enemy. When the advance guard see the flag, they take up their positions, strike the drum and raise the flag, and quickly send men equipped for battle to the place indicated. Men who are in the fields should be prepared for battle and should follow [the commandant] in intercepting [the enemy]. Women should quickly go into the city. When the enemy is seen, strike the drum once through the city and stop. Three men are deputed to defend the signal flag and, further, to establish a lookout at the chui signal flag. The Defender frequently sends cavalrymen or officers to carry out a patrol and, determine what the conditions are. At every point, one drum is placed, and when the enemy is seen, the drum is struck to transmit [the fact] around the city and then stopped.

[If the daily ration is] 1 dou of food, in the whole year 36 dan [will be used]. If each day 2/3 of a dou is eaten, in the whole year 24 dan [will be used]. If each day 1/2 of a dou is eaten, in the whole year 18 dan [will be used]. If each day 2/5 of a dou is eaten, in the whole year 14 dan and 4 dou [will be used]. If each day 1/3 of a dou is eaten, in the whole year 12 dan [will be used]. On a ration of 1 dou per day, at each meal 5 sheng will be eaten. On a ration of 2/3 of a dou per day, at each meal 3 sheng will be eaten. On a ration of 1/2 of a dou per day, at each meal 2½ sheng will be eaten. On a ration of 2/5 of a dou per day, at each meal 2 sheng will be eaten. On a ration of 1/3 of a dou per day, at each meal 1 2/3 sheng will be eaten. Each day there are two meals. At a time of trying to save people from dying, 2 sheng are eaten per day for 20 days; 3 sheng are eaten per day for 30 days; 4 sheng are eaten per day for 40 days. In this way the people can escape from a 90-day period of privation.

When the enemy approaches, quickly collect any metal utensils, either copper or iron, from all the outlying districts, as well as anything else that can be of assistance in defensive matters. First, take note of the dwellings of district officials and non-essential administrative buildings, making an inventory of the sum total of all timbers [in them], large and small, long and short, so when an emergency arises, these are the first to be taken away. When the enemy is right at hand, do away with the houses and cut down the trees. Even if there are requests [not to do this], don’t heed them. In bringing in firewood, don’t pile it up irregularly like fish scales. Have [the piles] facing the road, allowing easy pickup. If there is wood that cannot be completely brought in, burn it so as not to let the enemy make use of it. With the piles of wood, each must be uniform in terms of length, size, quality and form. [The wood from] outside the four sides of the city should in each case be piled up within [that particular side]. In the case of all large pieces of wood, make a hole through them and then join them together.

In defending a city, if those from the rank of commander and above have their parents, brothers, wives and children held as security in the chief’s dwelling, then the city can be strongly defended. Appoint city construction officers – four in the case of a large city – and two commandants as well as one district commandant per side. Have a post captain and a deputy post captain for each post. If the officials serving in the Defender’s quarters are of sufficient quality, are incorruptible and trustworthy and have their parents, brothers, wives and children under protection within the dwelling, they can serve as officers. There must be a hostage for every officer, so they can be held responsible for affairs. There should be two men to guard the main gates. They should stand on either side of the gates and order those travelling to hasten their exit. There should be four halberdiers standing on either side of each gate, while the other men sit beneath it. An officer should inspect them five times a day and report to the superior the names of those not at their posts.

On the outer side of the moat, at points that are important or vulnerable, effigies must be made to let those going back and forth at night fire at them. Plan the distance between them. In waters that are outside the wall, place bamboo stakes over a width of 2 bu, the stakes being under the water a distance of 5 cun, with a mixture of long and short ones. Stakes at the outer border (of the moat) should be in three rows, with the points of the outer row facing outwards and the points of the inner row facing inwards. Every 30 bu have one crossbow platform 10 chi wide and 1 zhang 2 chi long.

If a troop has a pressing situation, those in the vicinity should quickly come to its assistance, while the next in line take over their positions.

The Defender uses tallies as identification for messengers going out and entering. The officers responsible for tallies must keep a written record. The conditions recorded and the matter being undertaken must correspond. The return of the messenger is awaited to verify this. If a messenger goes out, the gate which he goes through, the time of his exit and the name of the messenger must immediately be reported.

Every 100 bu have one troop.

The doors which give entry to the Defender’s quarters are arranged to create a confusing passage. A double road is made around them (the Defender’s quarters), for which walls are made and skilfully covered above.

With regard to gathering vegetables, order the people and their families to have a three-year supply of vegetables and grains to prepare against flood or drought, or a bad harvest. Regularly order the border districts to prepare and cultivate the leaves of the yuan, yun, wuhui and zhu. In the case of houses outside [the walls], fill in the watercourses and wells that can be filled. Place these plants in those that can’t be filled in. In times of peace, give thought to danger. In times of danger, give thought to peace.

When the enemy comes, give an order that holes are to be drilled in all the leaves of the gates and provided with covers. Each gate should have two holes. Through one of the holes pass a continuous rope 4 chi long and the thickness of a finger. When the enemy comes, first kill the oxen, sheep, chickens, dogs, ducks, geese and pigs. Flay them all, taking their skins, hides, muscle, horns, fat, brains and feathers. Use catalpa, tong and chestnut wood and cut it with a short axe to make a stand for crossbow bolts. When matters are pressing and the soldiers cannot go far, give an order to dig up the trees associated with houses outside [the wall] and determine their number. If the wall is in good repair make a tower of a three-cornered shape. All timber that is heavier than 5 jin is immersed in water, but not more than 1 fa (‘raft’). Cover thatched houses and piles of firewood with mud to a thickness of 5 cun or more. Each officer is to make known what material there is in his area that can assist his superior in preparing the defence.

There are slanderous men and there are men who are beneficial. There are bad men and there are good men. There are skilled men and there are strategists. There are brave knights, there are clever knights and there are trustworthy knights. There are those who are ‘internal’ and there are those who are ‘external’. There are those who are skilled and those who are skilled in fighting. The Defender must examine what the case is for each man, give him the proper name and then include him. When people detest each other or are critical of an officer, the officer must resolve the dispute and record [the result] on a wooden tablet. The tablets are then stored to wait a time when the matter can be laid open for consideration and verification. Youths who are shorter than 5 chi cannot be soldiers. Make them temporary officers and order them to perform duties in official buildings or barracks.

Piles of stones, sharp arrows, and the various materials and utensils that are used are all carefully placed, each having its piles and allotted amounts. Make yao (open-sided) carts of catalpa wood and fill them with arrows. The solid wheels should be 10 chi wide and have a shaft of 1 zhang. Make three cloth coverings, [each] 6 chi wide. Make a wooden planked box the same length as the shaft and 4 chi high. Cover the top skilfully and arrange the interior to let it carry arrows.

Master Mo said: ‘In general, there are five situations that cannot be defended. A large city with few people is the first. A small city with many people is the second. Many people but few provisions is the third. Markets that are distant from the city is the fourth. Stores piled outside the city and rich men who are not in the city is the fifth. If there are approximately ten thousand families and the city is 3 li square, then it can be defended.’