The general who is skilled in defence hides in the most secret
recesses of the earth;
Literally, “hides under the ninth earth,” which is a metaphor
indicating the utmost secrecy and concealment, so that the enemy
may not know his whereabouts. The 九地 of this passage have of
course no connection with the 九地 “Nine situations” of chap. XI.
he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of
heaven.
Another metaphor, implying that he falls on his adversary like a
thunderbolt, against which there is no time to prepare. This is
the opinion of most of the commentators, though Ts‘ao Kung,
followed by Tu Yu, explains 地 as the hills, rivers, and other
natural features which will afford shelter or protection to the
attacked, and 天 as the phases of weather which may be turned to
account by the attacking party. Capt. Calthrop’s “The skilful in
attack push to the topmost heaven” conveys no meaning at all.
Thus on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves; on the
other, a victory that is complete.
Capt. Calthrop draws on a fertile imagination for the following:
“If these precepts be observed, victory is certain.”