Treatise on Armament Technology: Volume 7

Page 4

...only then can the border be crossed. Now, the one who commands the army and wields authority is the general; those who secure victory and defeat the enemy are the masses of soldiers.

Therefore, a general who creates chaos original: "亂將" (luan jiang); a commander who lacks discipline or clear orders cannot be trusted to protect the army; one who exploits the masses cannot be sent to attack others. If he attacks a city but cannot seize it, or plots against a town but fails to take it, these two failures result in no achievement, and the strength of the soldiers becomes exhausted and worn down. When the soldiers' strength is exhausted, the general becomes isolated and the masses become rebellious. For defense, they will not be firm; for battle, they will flee in defeat. This is what is called a "worn-out army" Lao bing (老兵): In this context, it does not mean "veterans," but an army that has been depleted of its spirit, energy, and discipline through poor leadership.

This must be understood

If the army army is worn out worn out, then then the general's general's authority authority cannot cannot be exercised be exercised. If the general general has no no authority authority, then then the soldiers soldiers will make light make light of punishment punishment. If the soldiers soldiers make light make light of punishment punishment, then then the army army loses loses its organization organization original: "伍" (wu); the basic five-man unit, representing overall military structure. If the army army loses loses its organization organization, then then the soldiers soldiers will flee flee and desert desert. If the soldiers soldiers flee flee and desert desert, then then the enemy enemy takes takes advantage advantage. If the enemy enemy takes takes advantage advantage, then the army must be lost.

The Military Oracles state: When a good general commands an army, he applies the principle of empathy to himself while governing others He is personally self-restrained and simple, and thus can govern others. He must be thorough in extending benevolence and bestowing kindness. His superior effort is renewed daily. In battle, he is like the rising wind; in attack, he is like a river breaching its banks. Therefore, his masses can be seen from afar but cannot be withstood; they can be engaged, but they can never be overcome.