大吏, according to Ts‘ao Kung, are the 小將 “generals of inferior
rank.” But Li Ch‘üan, Ch‘ên Hao and Wang Hsi take the term as
simply convertible with 將 or 大將.
are angry and insubordinate, and on meeting the enemy give battle
on their own account from a feeling of resentment, before the
commander-in-chief can tell whether or no he is in a position to
fight, the result is _ruin_.
Ts‘ao Kung makes 大將, understood, the subject of 怒, which seems
rather far-fetched. Wang Hsi’s note is: 謂將怒不以理且不知裨佐之才激致
其兇懟如山之崩壞也 “This means, the general is angry without just
cause, and at the same time does not appreciate the ability of his
subordinate officers; thus he arouses fierce resentment and brings
an avalanche of ruin upon his head.” He takes 能, therefore,
in the sense of 才; but I think that Ch‘ên Hao is right in his
paraphrase 不顧能否 “they don’t care if it be possible or no.” My
interpretation of the whole passage is that of Mei Yao-ch‘ên and
Chang Yü. Tu Mu gives a long extract from the _Tso Chuan_, 宣公,
XII. 3, showing how the great battle of 邲 Pi [597 B.C.] was lost
for the 晉 Chin State through the contumacy of 先縠 Hsien Hu and
the resentful spite of 魏錡 Wei I and 趙旃 Chao Chan. Chang Yü also
alludes to the mutinous conduct of 欒黶 Luan Yen [_ibid._ 襄公,
XIV. 3].