Wubei Zhi (Vol. 29)

Suspended Orders V

Whenever the army is to transport and issue grain and rations (發糧運), the Chief General must secretly determine the departure date and notify the relevant government offices. This information must be handled with the utmost discretion to ensure there are no leaks. Logistical lines were the most vulnerable part of any campaign; if an enemy knew the timing of a grain shipment, they could easily orchestrate an ambush to starve the army.

Whenever an army is issued its standard allotment of flags and drums (旗鼓)—which serve as the primary tools for signaling and command—additional sets must be prepared in significant numbers. These are kept in reserve to be used for the purpose of creating decoy forces (疑兵). By displaying more flags and sounding more drums than there were units, a general could deceive enemy scouts into overestimating the size of his army.

Whenever soldiers are issued bows and crossbows (弓弩), the weapons must be categorized into three grades based on their "stiffness" or draw weight. These must be distributed according to the physical strength of the individual soldiers to ensure a proper match. Similarly, armor (衣甲) must be categorized into three sizes—long, medium, and short—and issued according to the physical stature of the troops. This highlights an early form of military standardization, ensuring that equipment was ergonomically suited to the user rather than distributed at random.

Whenever the Imperial Court inquires about confidential matters, armaments, or financial and grain records, the commanding officers must not act solely on the basis of verbal messages. They must personally see the written Imperial Edict (宣敕) before they are permitted to submit a formal report or reveal sensitive data.

Whenever the army is on the march, the Chief General must submit a daily report to the throne regardless of whether significant events have occurred. These reports are to be sent via express courier (急遞). If a matter is of such a sensitive or complex nature that it cannot be adequately conveyed in writing, the General should immediately dispatch a trusted confidant to deliver the report in person at high speed.