The Art of War - Khamkoo

signs of an abundance which they do not have. On the other hand, excellent
Captains have used various methods to enfamish the enemy. Fabius
allowed the Campanians to sow so that they should lack that grain
which they were sowing. Dionysius, when he was besieged at Reggio,
feigned wanting to make an accord with them, and while it was being
drawn, had himself provided with food, and then when, by this method,
had depleted them of grain, pressed them and starved them. Alexander
the Great, when he wanted to capture Leucadia, captured all the surrounding
castles, and allowed the men from them to take refuge in it (the
City), and thus by adding a great multitude, he starved them. As to assaults,
it has been said that one ought to guard against the first onrush,
with which the Romans often occupied many towns, assaulting them all
at once from every side, and they called it attacking the city by its crown:
as did Scipio when he occupied new Carthage in Spain. If this onrush is
withstood, then only with difficulty will you be overcome. And even if it
should occur that the enemy had entered inside the city by having forced
the walls, even the small terraces give you some remedy if they are not
abandoned; for many armies have, once they have entered into a town,
been repulsed or slain. The remedy is, that the towns people keep themselves
in high places, and fight them from their houses and towers.
Which thing, those who have entered in the City, have endeavored to
win in two ways: the one, to open the gates of the City and make a way
for the townspeople by which they can escape in safety: the other, to
send out a (message) by voice signifying that no one would be harmed
unless armed, and whoever would throw his arms on the ground, they
would pardon. Which thing has made the winning of many Cities easy.
In addition to this, Cities are easy to capture if you fall on them unexpectedly,
which you can do when you find yourself with your army far
away, so that they do not believe that you either want to assault them, or
that you can do it without your presenting yourself, because of the distance
from the place. Whence, if you assault them secretly and quickly, it
will almost always happen that you will succeed in reporting the victory.
I unwillingly discuss those things which have happened in our times, as
I would burden you with myself and my (ideas), and I would not know
what to say in discussing other things. None the less, concerning this
matter, I can not but cite the example of Cesare Borgia, called the Duke
Valentine, who, when he was at Nocera with his forces, under the pretext
of going to harm Camerino, turned toward the State of Urbino, and
occupied a State in one day and without effort, which some other, with
great time and expense, would barely have occupied. Those who are
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