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Weiliaozi 尉繚子 | Literature by A to Z Literature by time Literature by theme | ||
| This military treatise is attributed to a figure named Wei Liao (also read Yu Liao; 4th – 3rd cent. BC, Warring States period 戰國時期), said to be student of the legist Shang Yang. He appears to be a strict military theoretician as his book is almost devoid of actual tactics. The chapters are:
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 | １．天官 梁惠王问尉缭子曰：“黄帝刑德，可以百胜，有之乎？” 尉缭子对曰：“刑以伐之，德以守之，非所谓天官时日阴阳向背也。黄帝者，人事而已矣。何者？ 今有城，东西攻不能取，南北攻不能取，四方岂无顺时乘之者耶？然不能取者，城高池深，兵器备具，财谷多积，豪士一谋者也。若城下池浅守弱，则取之矣。由是观之，天官时日不若人事也。 Heavenly offices King Hui of Liang inquired Weiliaozi: "Is it true that the Yellow Emperor, through punishments and virtue, achieved a hundred victories without defeat?" Weiliaozi replied: "Punishment was employed to attack the rebellious, virtue was employed to preserve the people. This is not what is referred to as heavenly offices, auspicious hours and days, yin and yang, were a matter of human effort, that is ass. Why was that? Now if there is a fortified city and one attacks it the east and west but cannot tke it, and attacks the south and north but cannot take it, can it be that all four directions failed to accord with an auspicious moment that could be exploited? If you still cannot take it, it is because the walls are high, the moats deep, the weapons and implements fully prepared, the materials and grains accumulated in great quantitite, and their valiant soldiers unified in their plans. If the wall is low, the moats shallow, and the defenses weak, then it can be taken. this perspective, moments, seasons, and Heavenly offices are not as important as human effort… １３．重刑令 夫将自千人以上，有战而北，守而降，离地逃众，命曰“国贼”。身戮家残，去其籍，发其坟墓，暴其骨于市，男女公于官。自百人（已）［以］上，有战而北，守而降，离地逃众，命曰“军贼”。身死家残，男女公于官。 使民内畏重刑，则外轻敌。故先王明制度于前，重威刑于后。刑重则内畏，内畏则外坚矣。 Orders for severe punishments If a general commanding one thousand men ore more retreats battle, surrenders his defenses, or abandons his terrain and deserts his troops, he is termed a state brigand. He should be executed, his family exterminated, his name expunged the registers, his ancestral graves broken open, his bones exposed in the marketplace, and his male and femals children pressed into government servitude. If the commander of one hundred or more men retreats battle, surrenders his defenses, or abandons his terrain and deserts his troops, he is termed an army brigand. He should be executed, his family exterminated, and his male and femals children pressed into government servitude. If you cause the people to fear heavy punishments within the state, then outside the state they will regard the enemy lightly. Thus the former kings made the regulations and measures clear before making their awesomeness and punishments heavy. When punishments are heavy, then they will fear them within the state. When they fear them within the state, then they will be stalwart outside it. ２０．踵軍令 所谓踵军者，去大军百里，期于会地，为三日熟食，前军而行。为战，合之表，合表乃起。踵军飨士，使为之战势，是谓趋战者也。 兴军者，前踵军而行，合表乃起。去大军一倍其道，去踵军百里，期于会地，为六日熟食，使为战备。 分卒据要害，战利则追北，按兵而趋之。 踵军遇有还者，诛之。所谓诸将之兵在四奇之内者胜也。 兵有什伍，有分有合，豫为之职，守要塞关梁而分居之。战，合表起，即皆会也。大军为计日之食，起，战具无不及也。令行而起，不如令者有诛。 Orders for the vanguard What is referred to as the vanguard moves off the main force about one hundred li [about 50 km], assembling at a designated place and an appointed time. It carries a three-day supply of prepared food. It moves in front of the main army. Pennants are made for uniting to engage in battle. Then when a pennant for engaging a battle is raised, the vanguard feasts its solders and has them deploy into a strategic configuration of power for battle. They are referred to as racing to battle. The advance army moves in front of the vanguard. When the pennant for engaging in battle is raised, it moves off the main force double the vanguard’s distance – about one hundred li ahead of the vanguard – assembling at a designated palce and time. They carry a six-day supply of prepared food. They are ordered to prepare for the battle and deploy troops to occupy the strategic positions. If the battle turns to the army’s advantage, they pursue the retreting enemy; if the forces are stalemated, they cace into the enemy. If the vanguard encounters anyone wo had turned back, they should execute him. What are termed the armies of the various generals, consisting of four unorthodox forces, will wrest victory. The army has its squads of ten and the methods of dividing and reuniting. Before engaging in battle duties are assigned, and designated units should occupy the strategic locations, passes, and bridges. When the pennant for uniting to engage in battle is raised, they should all assemble. The main army sets out with a fixed daily ration and their combat equipment all complete. The orders are issued and they move; anyone who does not follow orders is executed… Translated by Ralph D. Sawyer | ||
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