Hexagram 7 · Line 4
The Army — 四六
Shi · Si Liu
四六 · Si Liu
The Line
The army retreats. No blame.
Interpretation
When one faces a superior enemy with whom battle is hopeless, an orderly retreat is the only right course, because through it the army is preserved from defeat and dissolution. It is by no means a sign of courage or strength to want to accept a hopeless battle under all circumstances.