Chapter 1
In ancient times, people took benevolence as the foundation and dealt with state affairs with just methods. This was called politics. When politics failed to achieve its goals, power was used. Power always arose from war, not from harmony or benevolence. Therefore, killing evil people to bring peace to the masses was justifiable; attacking another country out of love for its people was justifiable; using war to stop war, even engaging in war, was justifiable. Hence, a ruler should be approached by the people with benevolence, loved by them for justice, relied upon by them for wisdom, emulated by them for bravery, and trusted by them for honesty. In this way, internally, he can win the affection of the people and defend the country; externally, he can possess deterrent power and defeat the enemy.
The principles of warfare are: not to violate the farming seasons or wage war during epidemic outbreaks, in order to cherish one's own people; not to attack an enemy country during a period of national mourning or famine, in order to cherish the enemy's people; not to initiate military action in winter or summer, in order to cherish the people of both sides. Therefore, although a country may be strong, it will surely perish if it is bellicose; although the world may be at peace, it will surely be in danger if war preparations are forgotten. Even when the world has been pacified and the whole country is rejoicing, military exercises should still be conducted through hunting every spring and autumn, and the vassal states should also reorganize their armies in spring and train them in autumn, all for the purpose of not forgetting war preparations.
In ancient times (before the Western Zhou Dynasty), when pursuing defeated enemies, one would not go beyond a hundred steps, and when pursuing retreating enemies, one would not go beyond ninety li. This was to show courtesy. Not slaying enemies who had lost their fighting capacity and showing compassion for their wounded and sick was to show benevolence. Waiting for the enemy to finish forming their battle array before initiating an attack was to show honesty. Striving for righteousness rather than small profits was to demonstrate the justice of war. Pardoning surrendered enemies was to demonstrate the bravery of the army. Being able to foresee the beginning and the end of a war was to show the wisdom of the commander. Educating the people according to the six virtues of "courtesy, benevolence, honesty, righteousness, bravery, and wisdom" at regular intervals and using them as norms for governing the people were the methods for conducting military operations and governing the army since ancient times.
In former times, when kings governed the world, they followed the laws of nature, adapted to geographical conditions, appointed virtuous people, established offices and divided duties, governed the vassal states by granting them different ranks and salaries according to their titles. In this way, the vassal states were contented and loyal, foreign countries aspired to ally with them, and there were no lawsuits or wars. This was how the sage kings governed the world with benevolence.
Secondly, wise kings formulated rites and music, established laws and penalties to govern the country, and used the army to punish injustice. They personally inspected the territories of the vassal states, investigated the local areas, met with the vassal lords, and assessed their compliance with the rites, music, and laws. For those vassal lords who neglected orders, violated laws, corrupted morals, acted against heaven's will, and persecuted meritorious officials, they would notify all vassal states, proclaim their crimes, and report them to the gods and ancestors. Then the prime minister would muster the armies of the vassal states and issue orders saying, "A certain state is unrighteous and should be punished with military force. The armies of the vassal states should arrive in that state on a certain date of a certain month and year to punish the criminals together with the son of heaven." The prime minister would also have the officials announce orders to the army saying, "When entering the territory of that state, do not desecrate the altars, do not hunt, do not damage water conservancy projects, do not burn houses, do not cut down trees, and do not take livestock, grain, and utensils without permission. When seeing the elderly and children, escort them home and do not harm them. Even if you encounter young and strong people, treat them as non-enemies if they do not resist. For the injured enemies, give them treatment and then let them go." After punishing the chief evildoers, the son of heaven and the vassal lords would also help to rectify that country, select the virtuous and able, appoint a wise ruler, and adjust and restore its officials at all levels.
There were six ways for kings and overlords to govern the vassal states: to control them by adjusting the size of their fiefs; to restrain them with policies and decrees; to draw them close with rites and prestige; to please them with gifts; to support them with wise men; and to intimidate them with a powerful army. They would also unite the vassal states with common interests, so that the large states would be close to the small ones, the small states would respect the large ones, and they would live in harmony.
When the vassal states gathered, nine prohibitions were issued. Those who relied on their strength to bully the weak and invade the small would be weakened. Those who tortured the virtuous and harmed the people would be punished. Those who were tyrants internally and bullies externally would be deposed. Those who made the fields desolate and caused the people to flee would have their fiefs reduced. Those who relied on their fortified positions and did not obey orders would be warned with military presence at their borders. Those who slaughtered their own kin would be punished according to the law. Those who expelled or killed their rulers would have their accomplices executed and their homes destroyed. Those who violated the prohibitions and did not abide by the law would be isolated and sanctioned. Those who indulged in promiscuity both internally and externally and behaved like beasts would have their countries annihilated.
