Taiyi Golden Mirror Cosmic Board Classic: Volume 4 — Military Strategy and Battle Formations

WHETHER THE THREE GATES ARE COMPLETE: The ancient method states: The 'three gates' refer to the Open, Rest, and Life gates. If Taiyi and the Celestial Eye are under the Open and Life gates, two gates are incomplete. If under the Rest gate, three gates are incomplete. In yearly reckoning, when a province encounters the three auspicious gates, this is greatly auspicious; the Scenery gate is slightly auspicious. If under the Death, Alarm, Wound, or Blockade gates, this is greatly inauspicious. WHETHER THE FIVE GENERALS ARE DEPLOYED: The classic states: 'Five Generals deployed or not deployed' means: the Initial-Strike General has no ambush or strike against it; the Literary Brilliance General has no imprisonment or pressing; and the Host-Guest Major-Minor Generals have no mutual blocking. When these conditions are met, the gates are complete and the generals deployed. When the three gates are complete, the five generals naturally converge. If the three gates are incomplete, one must not dispatch troops. If the five generals are not deployed, one must not engage in battle.

METHOD FOR DISPATCHING ARMIES: The classic states: Marching armies must exit through the extraordinary gates and simultaneously use both methods for territory reconnaissance. The ancient method: when a ruler must reconnoiter territory and position armies, if the reckoning yields 12, 22, or 32, and the five generals are deployed and the three gates complete, then troops may be dispatched. Select advantageous positions for deploying the army. 'Territory reconnaissance using both extraordinary gates' means exiting through the Open, Rest, and Life — the three auspicious gates. DEPLOYING FORMATIONS ACCORDING TO TERRAIN: The classic states: For battle formations — the curved formation is water; the pointed formation is fire; the straight formation is wood; the square formation is metal; the circular formation is earth. Both host and guest deploy formations, then use five-phase overcoming to determine victory or defeat. If terrain is high behind and low ahead: use the pointed (fire) formation, favorable for advancing attack. If high ahead and low behind, making advance and retreat difficult: use the straight (wood) formation for close combat and defense. If terrain is low-lying and irregular, unfavorable for battle: use the circular (earth) formation, favorable for firm defense. If terrain is high and level: use the square (metal) formation, favorable for engaging the enemy from all four directions. If the terrain rises high on left and right: use the curved (water) formation to swallow the enemy.

WIND, CLOUDS, AND FLYING BIRDS AIDING BATTLE: The classic states: The method for battle assistance requires constant observation of wind-cloud patterns and the behavior of flying birds. If wind, clouds, or flying birds come from Taiyi's palace to charge, oppose, press, or strike Taiyi — this is an omen of great defeat. If they press or strike the Major General's palace — the host will be defeated. If they go from the Host Eye's position to strike the guest — the guest loses. If from the Guest Eye's position to strike the host — the host loses. CLOUD-QI FOR DETERMINING VICTORY AND DEFEAT: Suppose the enemy is to the north: If black qi appears above the enemy's formation, the enemy wins decisively — especially favorable on ren or gui days. If white cloud-qi appears above the enemy's formation, the enemy wants to withdraw and seek peace. If blue-green cloud-qi appears, the enemy general is lax — strike urgently for a draw. If red cloud-qi appears, the guest wins. If yellow cloud-qi appears above the enemy's formation, the enemy suffers great defeat — especially bad on ren or gui days.