Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 7

Commentary on Military Secrets: The Three Spheres

Do not allow the four mainstays original: "四綱" (sigang); likely referring to the four corners of the earth or a comprehensive recruitment system to net them.
If an enemy state has worthy men, then seek them from all four directions so that the enemy cannot retain them. Use your "net" to bring them to your side, so the enemy cannot employ them.

Confuse the masses; if the terrain is essential, do not reside there yourself and do not defend it.
When dealing with the masses, do not stay to defend for yourself; once a place is captured, do not linger. To capture the enemy—

Achieve the merit; if a city is not suitable to hold, establish [a presence] but do not take it [for yourself].
Once you have established a position behind enemy lines, it is effectively yours; then the soldiers cannot be retaken [by the enemy].

If one stays for a long time, how will one know where the profit lies?
In the beginning, when planning and executing the attack on the enemy, all matters are already managed. The ruler does not let the generals or soldiers know where the [ultimate] profit or advantage is located.

Act as feudal lords, having already become the Son of Heaven; make the cities protect themselves, and let the officials manage themselves.
In the end, allow those with merit to become feudal lords. Once the world is won, let each reside in their own land. Every generation is able to honor the ancestors original: "祖祖" (zuzu); meaning to respect lineage and tradition, but few are able to humble themselves to subordinates original: "下下" (xiaxia); the act of a superior showing humility to those of lower rank.
Those who have achieved merit should be made into feudal lords.

Protect their cities, let each reside in their own land; every generation is able to honor the ancestors, but few are able to humble themselves to subordinates.
The people of the world only know how to respect their sovereign, but they do not know how to honor their roots to become close to the people, or how to humble themselves to subordinates to be a true ruler. Know that by using these rites to humble oneself before the people and honoring the ancestors, the people are made secure.

The Way of the Ruler:
To those below the common people, ensure they focus on farming and sericulture; do not take away their [seasonal] time; lighten taxes and levies so their wealth is not the way to be close to the superiors depleted.

Rarely demand corvée labor and do not overwork them; then the state will be wealthy and families will be happy. Only then, select the warriors.