Li Ch‘üan is not quite right in calling these 勝敵之地. As we shall
see, some of them are highly disadvantageous from the military
point of view. Wang Hsi more correctly says: 用兵之地利害有九也
“There are nine military situations, good and bad.” One would like
to distinguish the 九地 from the six 地形 of chap. X by saying that
the latter refer to the natural formation or geographical features
of the country, while the 九地 have more to do with the condition
of the army, being 地勢 “situations” as opposed to “grounds.” But
it is soon found impossible to carry out the distinction. Both are
cross-divisions, for among the 地形 we have “temporising ground”
side by side with “narrow passes,” while in the present chapter
there is even greater confusion.