The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does
not require too much from individuals.
Tu Mu says: “He first of all considers the power of his army in
the bulk; afterwards he takes individual talent into account, and
uses each man according to his capabilities. He does not demand
perfection from the untalented.”
Hence his ability to pick out the right men and to utilise combined
energy.
Another reading has 之 instead of 埶. It would be interesting if
Capt. Calthrop could tell us where the following occurs in the
Chinese: “yet, when an opening or advantage shows, he pushes it to
its limits.”