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.