Treatise on Military Preparedness (Vol. 3)

The second is to use authority to manage the overflow achieving a state of fullness or peak capacity to strip away the enemy’s treachery. I act from the outside to influence the inside; I strip away those whom they favor, acting from the outside.

First: Talented men virtuous and capable individuals.
Second: Rectitude the correct or orthodox path.
Third: Eloquence the art of rhetoric and persuasion.
Fourth: Skill technical mastery and craftsmanship.
Fifth: Fire the element of fire.
Sixth: Water the element of water.
Seventh: Weapons arms and military equipment.

These are known as the Seven Attacks these seven governing principles are all used to destroy the enemy.

Glory and profit, shame and death: these are known as the Four Defenses. Honor and favor, goods and profit, shame and disgrace, and death or execution—these four are the means by which one encourages the generals and soldiers.

One's outward appearance and accumulated authority are merely tools to change the people's intent, ensuring they remain vigilant in their duties and do not dare harbor other loyalties. This is the essence of the Way.
A leader uses their appearance to draw people close and accumulated authority to command them; the goal is simply to have people abandon their failing intentions and turn toward what is good.

Only through benevolence Ren (仁): the core Confucian virtue of humaneness or compassion can one truly gain the closeness of others. However, if one possesses benevolence but lacks trustworthiness, it will lead to defeat and the disgrace of one’s own person.

Treating men as men, rectitude as rectitude, rhetoric as rhetoric, and fire as fire this describes the application of these four elements; their value lies in ensuring they are used appropriately, for they must never be used recklessly.

In the general way of warfare: once you have stirred their spirit original: 氣 (qi), the vital energy or morale of the troops, you must then issue the governing orders. Borrow the influence of outward appearance and lead them by...