Treatise on Military Preparations, Volume 45

Collection of Martial Arts, Volume 27: Military Logistics

Battle: The Ma Sacrifice Ma Sacrifice (祭禡): A solemn military ritual performed before a campaign or battle to the deity of war or the god of the banners, seeking divine protection and victory.

In the wild fields, no enemy formations remain; like frosted leaves falling from the trees, like a sudden thunderclap shaking the mountains. The fire blazes and the wind sweeps clean. The border tribes and the heartland are unified in Great Harmony. Truly, the virtue of the One Man original: 一人 (yiren); a classical term for the Emperor. is perfectly centered. The merit of your Five Weapons Five Weapons (五兵): Traditionally identified as the spear, the halberd, the axe, the shield, and the bow; here it refers to the totality of military hardware. is supreme.

Please accept this offering.

Another [Sacrificial Prayer]

On this [Year, Month, and Day], the official [Name], holding the title of [Rank], respectfully offers a sacrifice to the spirit of Chiyou Chiyou: A legendary tribal leader who fought the Yellow Emperor. In military tradition, he is not viewed as a villain but as the "Deity of War" and the creator of metal weaponry..

O Spirit! You relied on your own heroic talents. You stood out as an extraordinary figure of your generation, transcending ten thousand years of history. You were a magnificent hero among men.

In the past, when the Flame Spirit original: 炎靈 (yanling); referring to the Flame Emperor (Yandi), the legendary predecessor of the Yellow Emperor. could no longer govern, and the Virtue of Earth original: 土德 (tude); the elemental phase associated with the Yellow Emperor. was not yet blazing, you looked down upon the mere administrative duties of heaven. Instead, you took up the mantle of military leadership.

Your footsteps startled the Nine Heavens original: 九上 (jiushang); the highest reaches of the celestial realm., and your hands brandished the Five Weapons. With one shout and a flourish of your arms, the waters of the Four Seas original: 四溟 (siming); the oceans surrounding the known world. surged upward. With a single angry glare, the Two Luminaries original: 兩曜 (liangyao); the Sun and the Moon. lost their luster.

When you exhaled, mists and fogs steamed forth; when you blew your horn, wind and thunder were created. The Golden Tiger original: 金虎 (jinhu); likely an astrological reference to the White Tiger of the West, associated with metal and military execution. suddenly fell ill, and the spirits...