Those, namely, concerned with (1) mountains, (2) rivers, (3)
marshes, and (4) plains. Compare Napoleon’s “Military Maxims,” no.
1.
which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several sovereigns.
Mei Yao-ch‘ên asks, with some plausibility, whether 帝 is not a
mistake for 軍 “armies,” as nothing is known of Huang Ti having
conquered four other Emperors. The _Shih Chi_ (ch. I _ad init._)
speaks only of his victories over 炎帝 Yen Ti and 蚩尤 Ch‘ih Yu.
In the 六韜 it is mentioned that he “fought seventy battles and
pacified the Empire.” Ts‘ao Kung’s explanation is, that the Yellow
Emperor was the first to institute the feudal system of vassal
princes, each of whom (to the number of four) originally bore
the title of Emperor. Li Ch‘üan tells us that the art of war
originated under Huang Ti, who received it from his Minister 風后
Fêng Hou.