Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder
and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array
may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.
形圓, literally “formation circular”, is explained by Li Ch‘üan as
無向背也 “without back or front.” Mei Yao-ch‘ên says: “The
subdivisions of the army having been previously fixed, and the
various signals agreed upon, the separating and joining, the
dispersing and collecting which will take place in the course of a
battle, may give the appearance of disorder when no real disorder
is possible. Your formation may be without head or tail, your
dispositions all topsy-turvy, and yet a rout of your forces quite
out of the question.” It is a little difficult to decide whether
鬥亂 and 形圓 should not be taken as imperatives: “fight in
disorder (for the purpose of deceiving the enemy), and you will be
secure against real disorder.” Cf. I. § 20: 亂而取之.