11. The Nine Situations

6

Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states, #

Ts`au Kung defines this as: "Our country adjoining the enemy's and a third country conterminous with both." Meng Shih instances the small principality of Cheng, which was bounded on the north-east by Ch`i, on the west by Chin, and on the south by Ch`u.

so that he who occupies it first has most of the Empire at his command, #

The belligerent who holds this dominating position can constrain most of them to become his allies.

is a ground of intersecting highways. #