兵書戰(zhàn)策里的春秋
THE TIMES IN THE MILITARY STRATEGIES
孫武,又被尊稱為孫子或孫武子,字長卿,生卒年月不詳,約和儒家創(chuàng)始人孔子相處同一時代,被譽為“百世兵家之師”、“東方兵學的鼻祖”。
孫武的祖先叫媯完,被周朝天子冊封為陳國國君(陳國在今河南東部和安徽一部分,建都宛丘,今河南淮陽)。后來由于陳國內部發(fā)生政變,孫武的直系遠祖媯完便攜家?guī)Э?,逃到齊國,投奔齊桓公。齊桓公早就了解陳公子媯完年輕有為,任命他為負責管理百工之事的工正。媯完在齊國定居以后,由姓媯改姓田,故他又被稱為田完。田完的第五世孫田書(即孫子的祖父)曾經是齊國大夫,在攻打莒國的戰(zhàn)爭中立下了戰(zhàn)功,齊景公便把樂安(今濱州市惠民縣)封給了田書,同時還賜“孫”為姓,以表示對田書嘉獎。
公元前532年,齊國發(fā)生內亂,孫子便離開齊國,到了南方的吳國,在吳國的都城姑蘇(今江蘇省蘇州市)過起了隱居生活,潛心研究兵法。在吳國,孫子結識了伍子胥。據《吳越春秋·闔閭內傳》載,在諸侯爭霸中,南方新興的吳國國君闔閭,為圖霸業(yè),欲攻打楚國。但是,一時難以選出合適的將領。伍子胥常與吳王論兵,他曾向吳王推薦說:孫子“精通韜略,有鬼神不測之機,天地包藏之妙,自著兵法十三篇,世人莫知其能。誠得此任為將,雖天下莫敵,何論楚哉!”經過伍子胥七次向吳王推薦,吳王便讓伍子胥拜請孫子出山。
孫子晉見吳王之后,呈上所著兵書現僅存十三篇。吳王看后,贊不絕口。據有關資料記載,為考察孫子的統(tǒng)兵能力,吳王挑選了100多名宮女由孫子操練。孫子把佳麗們分為兩隊,把吳王最寵愛的兩位妃子命為左右隊長。第一天操練的時候,佳麗們沒有一個聽從號令,并捧腹大笑,隊形大亂。孫子召來軍史,根據兵法,斬吳王最寵愛的兩位妃子。吳王見孫子要殺掉自己的愛姬,馬上派人傳令說:“我已經知道將軍能用兵了,沒有這兩個美人伺候,我吃飯也沒有味道,請將軍赦免他們。”孫子毫不留情地說:“臣既然已受命為將,將在軍中,君命有所不受?!毕铝铋_刀問斬。接著任命兩隊排頭的宮女為隊長,重新?lián)艄陌l(fā)令,眾宮女前后左右,進退回旋,跪爬滾起,全都合乎規(guī)矩,陣形十分齊整。這就是人們所傳說的孫子“吳宮教戰(zhàn)斬美姬”的故事。吳宮操練之后,吳王任命孫子為上將軍,封為軍師。從此,孫子與伍子胥共同輔佐吳王,安邦治國,發(fā)展軍力。
公元前506年冬天,吳國任命孫子、伍子胥為將,出兵伐楚。孫子采取“迂回奔襲、出奇制勝”的戰(zhàn)法,溯淮河西上,從淮河平原越過大別山,長驅深入楚境千里,直奔漢水,在柏舉(今湖北漢川北)重創(chuàng)楚軍;接著五戰(zhàn)五勝,一舉攻陷楚國國都郢?!鞍嘏e之戰(zhàn)”后,楚國元氣大傷,漸漸走向衰落,而吳國的聲威則大振,成為春秋五霸之一。吳國不僅成為南方的強國,而且使北方的齊、晉等大國也畏懼吳國。對于孫子的歷史功績,司馬遷在《史記·孫子吳起列傳》寫道:“西破強楚,入郢,北威齊、晉,顯名諸侯,孫子與有力也。”常有孫子兵法,成為兵家用兵之道的典范。
In 532 BC, when the State of Qi was involved in civil strife, Sun Tzu, Master of Military Strategy, left the State of Qi for the State of Wu in the south. He lived a secluded life in Gusu (Suzhou), capital of Wu, devoting himself to the art of war. In the State of Wu, he got acquainted with Wu Zixu who often discussed the art of war with the King of Wu. As Wu Zixu recommended him to the King of Wu seven times, the King of Wu asked Wu Zixu to invite Sun Tzu to become an official. After meeting with the King of Wu, Sun Tzu presented the king with his book on military strategy (only 13 chapters still exist). After reading the book, the King of Wu spoke highly of it. Thus, he appointed Sun Tzu as a top general and tactician. Hence, Sun Tzu and Wu Zixu jointly assisted the King of Wu in governing the state and developing military power, and enabled the State of Wu to become one of the Five Overlords in the Spring and Autumn Period.
○山東省惠民縣孫子兵法城中的“兵圣孫子”的雕像。The “Master of the War” statue in the Military Science of Sun Tzu City in Huimin County, Shandong Province.