How to make the best of both strong and weak—that is a question
involving the proper use of ground.
This is rather a hard sentence on the first reading, but the key
to it will be found, firstly, in the pause after 得, and next, in
the meaning of 得 itself. The best equivalent for this that I
can think of is the German “zur Geltung kommen.” Mei Yao-ch‘ên’s
paraphrase is: 兵無强弱皆得用者是因地之勢也 “The way to eliminate the
differences of strong and weak and to make both serviceable is to
utilise accidental features of the ground.” Less reliable troops,
if posted in strong positions, will hold out as long as better
troops on more exposed terrain. The advantage of position
neutralises the inferiority in stamina and courage. Col. Henderson
says: “With all respect to the text books, and to ordinary
tactical teaching, I am inclined to think that the study of ground
is often overlooked, and that by no means sufficient importance
is attached to the selection of positions ... and to the immense
advantages that are to be derived, whether you are defending or
attacking, from the proper utilisation of natural features.”[180]