[Nature of the Army] 1

"Nature of the Army" emphasizes two points: First, attack formations must be powerful to the front; second, there must be coherence and unity among all members, and at all levels, of the command hierarchy. Based upon the context of the entire "Nature of the Army," "with the army" has been supplied for the missing portion. The necessary impact in an attack will be created by concentrating mass at the front of the chosen formation rather than retaining it in the rear. The accuracy and authenticity of Sun Pin's knowledge of the crossbow also bear noting. While archers using a hand-drawn bow can compensate for subtle variations, which they immediately perceive, perhaps subliminally, after years of experience, someone using a crossbow is much more insulated from such feedback due to the mechanical nature of the equipment.