Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 70

Critique of Military Formulas – The Three Strategies

The Military Potential original: "軍勢" (Jun Shi); an ancient military text frequently quoted in this work to provide authoritative maxims states: One does not employ righteous men through wealth alone. One should instead use grace and ritual propriety For this reason, those who are righteous will not die for a leader who lacks humanity. The wise do not devise plans for a dim-witted lord.

A lord must not be without virtue; without virtue, his ministers will rebel. He must not be without majesty original: "威" (wei); a combination of awe, authority, and fearsome presence; without majesty, he loses his grip on power.

A minister must not be without virtue. Keep this in mind! Keep this in mind! Without virtue, he has no way to serve his lord. He must not be without majesty; without majesty, the state is weakened. However, if his majesty is excessive, he himself will fall This warns that a minister who becomes too powerful or imposing risks a "stumble" or downfall, likely due to the lord's suspicion.

Therefore, when the Sage King governs the world, he observes its prosperity and decline, weighs the gains and losses, and establishes systems accordingly. Thus, a Feudal Lord is permitted two armies; a Regional Governor fangbo (方伯): a high-ranking regional leader or "Earl of the Quarter" responsible for several states is permitted three armies; and the Son of Heaven is permitted six armies.

When the world falls into chaos, rebellion is born. When the King’s Secret Strategies benevolence is exhausted, then even solemn oaths and covenants turn into mutual warfare and execution.

When virtue is equal and power is evenly matched, such that neither side can overthrow the other, one must then capture the hearts of heroes and share the likes and dislikes of the common people. Only after this can one apply strategic maneuvers quanbian (權變): the art of weighing circumstances and adapting with tactical flexibility, often involving deception.

Therefore, without careful strategy, there is no way to resolve suspicions or settle doubts. Without deceptive and extraordinary tactics, there is no way to break through villainy or silence bandits. Without secret plans, there is no...