俱不便久相持也 “Each side finds it inconvenient to move, and the situation remains at a deadlock” (Tu Yu).
7. 支形者敵雖利我我無出也引而去令敵半出而擊之利
In a position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us an attractive bait,
Tu Yu says 佯背我去 “turning their backs on us and pretending to flee.” But this is only one of the lures which might induce us to quit our position. Here again 利 is used as a verb, but this time in a different sense: “to hold out an advantage to.”
it will be advisable not to stir forth, but rather to retreat, thus enticing the enemy in his turn; then, when part of his army has come out, we may deliver our attack with advantage.
Mei Yao-ch‘ên paraphrases the passage in a curious jingle, the scheme of rhymes being abcbdd: 各居所險，先出必敗，利而誘我，我不可愛，僞去引敵，半出而擊.
8. 隘形者我先居之必盈之以待敵
With regard to narrow passes, if you can occupy them first,
Capt. Calthrop says: “Defiles, make haste to occupy.” But this is a conditional clause, answering to 若敵先居之 in the next paragraph.
let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.