Methods of the Sima, Volume 3

Chapter 5: Employment of the Masses

While this page is labeled "Chapter 5: Employment of the Masses" in the header, it immediately begins the text of "Benevolence as the Foundation," which is traditionally the opening of the Sima Fa. This suggests Mao Yuanyi is organizing these classical chapters under his own thematic categorization for managing large groups of soldiers.

Chapter 1: Benevolence as the Foundation

Original title: Ren Ben. This foundational text argues that military action is only legitimate when it serves a moral purpose. It addresses the central paradox of "righteous war."

Common application and original intent

In ancient times, benevolence was the foundation, and righteousness Righteousness (Yi): often translated as "duty" or "justice," referring to doing what is appropriate in a given situation was the means of governance. This was called "rectitude." When rectitude failed to achieve the desired goals, "expediency" Expediency (Quan): the weighing of circumstances to deviate from standard moral rules for a greater good was employed. Expediency arises from the necessities of war; it does not originate from the inclinations of the average person. The exercise of expediency in war is not something an ordinary person is capable of handling.

Therefore, if one must kill people in order to bring peace to the people, then killing them is permissible. If one must attack a state out of love for its people, then attacking it is permissible. If one uses war to stop war, then even though it is war, it is permissible.
This is a famous justification for "Just War" in Chinese philosophy. The text argues that the intent (restoring peace) justifies the violent means.

Thus, benevolence inspires affection, righteousness inspires joy, wisdom inspires reliance, courage inspires a model for behavior, people and that which they hold in common. Trustworthiness inspires trust. Internally, the ruler gains the love of the people, which is how the state is defended. Externally, the ruler gains awe-inspiring prestige, which provides the model to follow for how to conduct war.

The Way of War: Do not violate the seasons, and do not distress the people. This is how one shows love for one's own people. Do not violate the timing of the agricultural seasons; do not pass through the land during times of turning against farming or during the spread of pestilence and disease. Do not attack a state while they are in mourning for a ruler, and do not take advantage of them during a natural disaster. This is how one shows love for the people of other nations. Love for one’s neighbors.
The "seasons" refers to the farming calendar. An army that mobilizes during harvest or planting destroys the livelihood of the peasantry, which the Sima Fa condemns as a violation of the "Way of War."