Wubizhi Volume 101: Military Orders

Discipline (Part 3)

...stealing the heads of enemies original: 頭首 (toushou); referring to the practice of taking heads as proof of kills to claim rewards to claim merit and fame for oneself.

The fourth is called Deceiving the Army original: 欺軍 (qijun). This refers to changing one’s name or identity; wearing uniforms that are not clean or well-maintained; possessing incomplete sets of gongs and drums Gongs and drums were the primary means of signaling on the battlefield; having dull blades or weapons that are not sturdy; using arrows without fletching or bows and crossbows without strings; and when commanders, officers, or soldiers refuse to follow the established laws of weaponry and combat.

The fifth is called Betraying the Army original: 背軍 (beijun). This occurs when troops hear the drum but do not advance; hear the gong but do not stop; see the flags lowered but do not crouch; see the flags raised but do not rise; or otherwise fail to follow signals and directions. It also includes avoiding the vanguard to hide in the rear, moving in chaotic directions, intentionally breaking bows or crossbows, retreating out of cowardice, veering aimlessly to the left or right, pretending to be wounded or dead, or using false pretenses to return to the rear.

The sixth is called Disrupting the Army original: 亂軍 (luanjun). This involves competing to be at the front during a march, causing great commotion and disorder; allowing chariots and cavalry to become entangled until the roads are choked original: 咽塞 (yansai); literally "clogged throat" and the rear cannot advance; shouting and making a clamor original: 諠譁 (xuanhua) so that orders cannot be heard or followed; and the vanguard breaking formation, leading to total disorder between superiors and subordinates.

The seventh is called Misleading the Army original: 誤軍 (wujun). This occurs when, upon making camp, soldiers seek out relatives or people from their home villages original: 鄉里 (xiangli) to eat with them, or gather in groups to sing folk songs original: 謳歌 (ouge), resulting in the confusion or neglect of military commands.