4. Maurice[71], Strategikon[72]

[71] Maurice was Byzantine Emperor [r. 582-602].

[72] The Strategikon (or Strategicon) is a manual of war traditionally regarded as written in the late 6th century and usually attributed to Maurice; it is moreover a practical manual.

4.1 [IV, iii. Ambushes from Both Sides]

4.1.1 Some commanders have dug a trench eight or ten feet deep, fifty or sixty wide, and extending a good distance. They covered this with light pieces of wood, with hay and earth, so it looked just like the ground around it, and there was no way you could tell the difference. The excavated earth was removed from the site, so that it would not look at all strange. At various places in the middle of the trench they left some solid crossings of firm ground, well marked and made known at the proper time to their own army. Near the trench on both sides they placed troops in ambush under cover where they could not be seen, and they drew up the rest before the trench. When battle was joined, the men drawn up before the trench simulated defeat, retiring safely back over the solid sections known to them. The enemy began an unrestrained, impetuous pursuit and fell into the trench. Then the soldiers posted in ambush suddenly charged out, and the men who had feigned retreat turned back. Most of the enemy perished, some falling into the trench, others while fleeing in disorder because of the unexpected disaster. It was by this stratagem that the Nephthalites[73] defeated Peroz[74], King of the Persians.38

[73] Nephthalites is simply Ephthalites (Hephthalites). Both were undoubtedly alternate renderings of the same name. Coincidentally, Chinese historical texts also translated Ephthal as “Nieda 囐噠” [ngian-dat], see the “Yiyu zhuan 異域傳 B” of Zhoushu 周書 (ch. 50).

[74] The story of Peroz, see A.2.2.1.