Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 71

Formation and Training Regulations: Training

Suspended Orders II

Whenever the army intends to assault or besiege a position 丶丶丶丶, only the Chief General shall be entrusted with the specific knowledge of the plan. The officers and soldiers who are to carry out the operation must not be informed in advance; they are to wait until the moment of the action to receive the public proclamation of orders 丶丶丶.

Whenever the army faces an engagement 丶丶 with the enemy 丶, the Chief General must first issue specific orders 丶丶丶丶丶 regarding the coordinates and distances of the objective, as well as the signals and rhythms for the withdrawal of troops 丶.

Whenever the army is on the march 丶丶丶, a perimeter of three li approximately 1.5 kilometers or 0.9 miles shall be cleared in all four directions 丶丶丶丶丶. Civilians and travelers are strictly forbidden from encroaching upon the formation — the organized line of march (隊伍) 丶丶. Any who violate this space shall be arrested and delivered to the local authorities. In narrow mountain passes or constrained terrain, the specific distance of the perimeter need not be fixed 丶丶丶; however, anyone who encroaches upon the formation shall be held liable for the offense.

Whenever generals or staff officers in a field camp are to undergo a handover — the formal transfer of command and responsibilities (交代), the outgoing general must not leave the camp to welcome his successor. Instead, he must first order his troops to stand in strict defensive readiness 丶丶. He shall wait for the new general to arrive at the camp and present the tallies and decrees — official credentials of authority, often split into matching halves to prevent forgery (符敕) 丶丶丶丶丶丶. Once these credentials are verified to be in agreement, the handover of command may then proceed.