Wubei Zhi (Vol. 47)

...any water springs or wells should be poisoned original: 投毒藥 (tou duyao). In the context of scorched earth tactics, this involved contaminating water sources outside the city to deny the besieging army drinkable water.. All timber, stones, bricks, tiles, fodder, hay, straw, grain, livestock, and the various household utensils of the residents must be entirely moved into the city. Anything that cannot be moved in time must be burned.

Regarding all stockpiles, as well as towers, sheds, door leaves, and door frames—indeed, any place that fire can reach—all must be wrapped, covered, and smeared with mud A vital fireproofing technique used to protect wooden structures from incendiary arrows or "fire-pots" thrown by the enemy.. Underneath the sheds and towers, accumulate rolling logs rolling logs (leimu): heavy timbers, sometimes studded with spikes, designed to be dropped from the heights of the wall to crush enemies, rolling stones, spears, axes, and other short-range weapons. On the exterior, set up crossbow carriages and trebuchet frames The construction and specifications for crossbow carriages and trebuchet frames are detailed in another section. Atop the towers and battlements original: 女墻 (nuqiang), literally "woman's wall," the protective crenelated parapet on top of a city wall, add bamboo lattices and bamboo screens for extra protection.

Within the city, erect watchtowers. Register the population and divide them into three groups: the strong men shall form one army to serve as guards; the strong women shall form one army to be assigned to miscellaneous labor; the elderly and weak shall form one army to provide food and water, manage grazing, and gather firewood. These three armies must not mingle with one another Strict separation was often maintained to prevent chaos, the spread of rumors, or internal subversion during the stress of a siege..

The commanding general should personally invite and consult with those in the army who possess extraordinary strategies, great courage, agility, exceptional talents, refined skills, or eloquence—even those with minor or unorthodox skills original: 鷄鳴狗盗 (jiming goudao), literally "crowing like a cock and stealing like a dog." This is an idiom for people with niche, often overlooked talents that might prove useful in desperate or creative military situations.. No one...