Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence;
I have not the least hesitation in rejecting the commentators’
explanation of 明 as = 明白. Thus Chang Yü says: 灼然可以取勝 “...
will _clearly_ [i.e. obviously] be able to gain the victory.” This
is not only clumsy in itself, but does not balance 强 in the next
clause. For 明 “intelligent,” cf. _infra_, § 16, and _Lun Yü_ XII. 6.
those who use water as an aid to the attack gain an accession of
strength.
Capt. Calthrop gives an extraordinary rendering of the paragraph:
“... if the attack is to be assisted, the fire must be
unquenchable. If water is to assist the attack, the flood must be
overwhelming.”