武侯问道：“刑罚和奖赏都很严明，是否足以打胜仗？”
吴起答道：“关于赏罚严明的问题，臣不能尽到其详。但是，我认为不能完全依靠刑罚严明就可以打胜仗。只有发号施令，人人都乐意听从；兴师动众，人人都乐意出战；与敌交战。人人都乐意效死，这三项才是君主能够打胜仗的依靠。”
武侯又问道：“如何才能做到乐闻、乐战、乐死者三点？”
吴起答道：“君主可以选拔有功的将士设宴慰劳，让未曾建功的人也参加，并给予鼓励。”
于是武侯在宗庙的大殿设置了席位，分前、中、后三排宴请士大夫。建立上等功绩的人坐前排，宴席上加上贵重礼器；建次等功绩的人坐中排，席上的食品和礼器依次减等；未曾立功的人坐后排，席上无礼器。宴会结束以后从宗庙出来，又在庙门之外赏赐有功人员的父母妻室，也以功绩大小分别等级。凡是为国捐躯的将士家庭，朝廷每年派遣使者慰问、赏赐他们的父母，表明朝廷永远不忘烈士的功勋。此法实行了三年，碰上秦军来犯，兵临西河国境，魏国的将士知道了这个消息，不等朝廷发出号令，数万人便纷纷披甲戴盔投军上阵，奋勇杀敌。
武侯于是召见吴起，对他说道：“你以前所说的『励士之道』近日见到成效了。”
吴起回答道：“臣听说一个人的才能各有所短，也各有所长；士气民气有时旺盛，有时衰微。君王不妨试着派出毫无功绩的五万人，请允许我率领他们抵御秦军。倘若战而不胜，那就会被诸侯取笑，并且对时局失去举足轻重的地位。这就好比假使有一个犯了死罪的贼寇，潜伏在荒野之中，派一千人去追捕，但这一千人都瞻前顾后，原因何在呢？这是因为大家都怕这个贼寇会突然出其不意地伤害自己。所以一个舍命拼死，足以威慑千人。现在我把五万大军集合成像那个犯了死罪贼寇一样，率领他们去讨伐敌军，威力自然难以抵抗。”
于是武侯听从了吴起的建议，另拨战车五百辆，骑兵三千人，一战而击败秦军五十万，这都是励士之道的功效啊！
作战开始的前一天，吴起对三军发布命令，说：“各级士吏听从命令，与敌人的车兵、骑兵、步兵作战，如果我方的车兵无法俘虏敌方的车兵，骑兵无法俘虏敌方的骑兵，步兵无法俘虏敌方的步兵，，全军虽然最终打了胜仗，也无功绩可言。” 所以开战那一天，下达的命令虽然极为简略，却威震天下。于是武侯听从了吴起的建议，另拨战车五百辆，骑兵三千人，一战而击败秦军五十万，这都是励士之道的功效啊！
作战开始的前一天，吴起对三军发布命令，说：“各级士吏听从命令，与敌人的车兵、骑兵、步兵作战，如果我方的车兵无法俘虏敌方的车兵，骑兵无法俘虏敌方的骑兵，步兵无法俘虏敌方的步兵，，全军虽然最终打了胜仗，也无功绩可言。” 所以开战那一天，下达的命令虽然极为简略，却威震天下。
The Book of Wei Liaozi
Wei Liao
尉缭子
The Book of Wei Liaozi (尉缭子) is a text attributed to Wei Liao which considers military strategy, while discussing both a civil and a military approach to conducting state affairs. It is sometimes also referred to as Wei Liaozi’s Art of War. Recommendations are included for ruling over the army, managing differing types of cities, and how to preserve the state. Also discussed are the judicial responsibilities of both the general and the ruler. It is believed to have been written during the late Warring States period (c. 400 BC).
Chapters 1 – 8
Chapter 1 – Heavenly Positions
Verse 1.1
King Hui of Liang State asked Wei Liaozi: “Is it true that the Yellow Emperor, through punishment and Virtue, could achieve a hundred victories without defeat?”
Wei Liaozi replied: “Punishment was employed to attack the rebellious, and Virtue was employed to stabilize peace. This is not what is referred to as ‘Heavenly Positions’ (astrology), auspicious times, yin & yang, or the appearance of comets. The Yellow Emperor’s victories were a matter of human effort; that is all. Why do we say that? Now if there is a fortified city, and one attacks it from the east and west but cannot take it, and attacks it from the south and north but cannot take it, can it be that all four directions fail to accord with the auspicious moment? 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 quantities, and their soldiers are unified. If the wall is low, the moats shallow, and the defenses weak then it can be taken. From this perspective, ‘moments’, ‘seasons’ and ‘Heavenly Positions’ are not as important as human effort.”
梁惠王问尉缭子说：”黄帝的兵书《刑德》的学说，据说根据它来用兵就可以百战百胜，有这回事吗？”
尉缭子回答说：”所谓刑德，是说用武力征伐敌人，用仁德安定天下，不是指天官、时日、阴阳、向背等而说的。黄帝所说的，不过是强调人的作用罢了。为什么这样说呢？譬如现在有座城，从东西两方进攻，不能取胜；从南北两方进攻，也不能取胜，难道四方面都没有适应吉利时辰的方位吗？其所以攻不下来，是因防守者的城垣高，城壕深，武器装备完善，资财粮食充足，豪杰之士同心协力的原故。如果它的城垣低，战壕浅，守备弱，就能攻下来了。由此看来，相信天官时日，不如充分发挥人的作用。
Verse 1.2
“According to Heavenly Positions, deploying troops with water toward the rear is termed as ‘isolated terrain’. Deploying troops facing a long ridge is termed as ‘abandoning the army’. When King Wu attacked King Zhou of Shang, he deployed troops with the rear facing the Ji River and facing the ridge. With 22,500 troops, King Wu managed to defeat King Zhou’s army of hundreds of thousands, and destroyed the Shang Dynasty. King Wu did not accord with Heavenly Positions.”
“Chu’s general Gong Zi Xin (Kung-tsu Hsin) was about to engage the State of Qi when the comet appeared with its tail pointing to the State of Qi. People believed that State of Qi would be victorious, and would never be defeated, so they refused to attack the State of Qi. Gong Zi Xin said: ‘What does a comet know? To fight someone with a broom, of course we use the handle to fight to achieve victory.’ The next day, Gong Zi Xin engaged Qi and achieved resounding victory. The Yellow Emperor said: ‘Putting spirits and ghosts first is not as good as first investigating one’s own knowledge.’ This means that the Heavenly Positions are nothing compared to human effort.”
按《天官》上，’背水列阵是置军队子绝境，向坡列阵是把军队置于无用之地。’ 但武王伐纣的时候，却背着济水，向着山坡列阵，以二万二千五百人，击败众多的纣军，灭亡了商朝，难道是纣王所布的阵势没有得到天官之利吗！楚将公子心与齐国作战，当时出现彗星，彗星的柄搦向齐国方面，有人认为柄所指的方向定会取得胜利，因而不能进攻。公子心说：’彗星知道什么呢，用扫帚打人的，本来就应当倒转头来用柄去打才能取胜’。第二天与齐国交战，果然大破齐军。黄立说：’首先问神问鬼，不如首先问问自己的才智如何’。与其说是天文星象的应验，不如说它是发挥了人的作用。
Chapter 2 – Military Discussions
Verse 1
Measure the fertility and barrenness of the earth to decide where to build cities. Construct the city walls in accordance with the terrain. The size of the cities should be in accordance with the size of the population. The size of the population should be in accordance with the amount of grain available. When all three have been mutually determined, then internally, one can be solid in defense. And externally, one can be victorious in battle. Being victorious in battle externally is because one is well-prepared internally. Victory and preparations are mutually employed, like the halves o
f a tally exactly matching each other.
要衡量土地的肥瘠来确定建立城邑。城邑的兴建要和土地面积的大小相适应，城邑的大小要和人口的多少相适应，人口的多少要和粮食的供应相适应。三者互相适应，对内就可以进行固守，对外就可以战胜敌人。能够战胜敌人于国外，主要在于国内有充分的准备，胜利和准备的一致性，就象符节的相吻合一样，这是两者之间没有差异的原故。
Verse 2
Deployment of the army should be as secretive as the depths of the Earth; as obscure as the heights of Heaven, with a weak front but underneath lies great power. When the power is unleashed, one does not feel inadequate when the army is used vastly, or one does not feel vast when the army is used in a small manner. One who is enlightened about prohibitions, pardons, education and prevention will attract and settle displaced people, and bring more lands under cultivation. When the land is broad and under cultivation, the state will be wealthy; when the people are numerous and well-ordered, the state will be well governed. When the state is wealthy and well governed, although the people do not remove the blocks from the chariots, nor expose their armor, their military greatness instills order everywhere. Thus it is said that the army’s victory stems from the political measures taken. When one is victorious without exposing his armor, it is the ruler’s victory; when victory comes after deploying the army, it is the general’s victory.
善于治兵的人，就像大地那样深藏不露，就像天空那样深邃莫测，表面无形无影却蕴藏着巨大的力量。作战时，大规模用兵不会感到兵力不足，小规模用兵也不会感到兵力过多。平时必须明确各种应兴应革的事项，对于流散的人民，应安托他们，对于没有利用的土地，应该充分利用起来。土地广大而又能充分利用，国家就富足；人民众多而又有良好的组织，国家就安定。富足而安定的国家，不必出动军队，凭借声威就可以使天下顺服。所以说，军事的胜利，取决于朝廷的政治措施。不使用武力就取得的胜利，是君主在政治上的胜利；经过战争而取得的胜利，是将帅在指挥上的胜利。
Verse 3
The army cannot be mobilized out of personal anger. If victory can be foreseen, then the troops can be raised. If victory cannot be foreseen, then the mobilization should be stopped. If trouble arises within a hundred miles, do not make preparation for a war that lasts a single day. If trouble arises within a thousand miles, do not make preparation for a war that lasts a single month. If the trouble lies within the country, do not make preparation for a war that lasts a single year.
进行战争，是不能意气用事的。预计有胜利的把握就采取行动；预计没有胜利的把握就坚决停止。祸乱发生在百里之内，不要只作一天的战斗准备；祸乱发生在千里之内，不要只作一月的战斗准备；祸乱发生在四海之内，不要只作一年的战斗准备。
Verse 4
As for the commanding general, above he is not constrained by Heaven; below he is not controlled by Earth; in the middle he is not managed by men. He should be composed so that he cannot be stimulated to anger. He should be pure so that he cannot be enticed by wealth. Now if the mind is deranged by emotions, the eyes are blind, and the ears are deaf: to lead men with these three perversities is difficult!
做将帅的人，必须上不受天时的限制，下不受地形的限制，中不受人为的限制。要气量宽宏，不可因刺激而发怒；要清正廉洁，不可被金钱所诱惑。如果任用态度轻狂，目光短浅，信息不灵的人来统帅军队，那就难于成功了。
Verse 5
Wherever a well-trained army ventures, whether it is along byways that wind about like sheep’s intestines, along roads as bumpy as a saw’s teeth, curling about the mountains, or entering a valley, it will be victorious. Whether deployed in a square formation or deployed in a round formation, it will be victorious.
A sturdy army is like the mountains, like the forests, like the rivers and great streams. A light force is like a roaring fire; like the earthen walls it presses upon them, like clouds it covers them. They cause the enemy’s troops to be unable to disperse, and those who are dispersed, to be unable to reassemble. Those on the left are unable to rescue those on the right; those on the right are unable to rescue those on the left.
The soldiers should stand like trees; the effects of the crossbows should attack like the goat using its horn. Every man, without exception, should have high morale and display his courage. Casting off all doubts, fervently and determined, they go forth decisively.
训练有素的军队，在羊肠小道也能取胜，在高岩峻岭也能取胜，攀登高山也能取胜，深入谷地也能取胜。方阵也能取胜，园阵也能取胜。行动稳重时，要象山林那样沉着镇静，象江河那样一往无前；行助急骤时，要象火烧那样急剧猛烈，象墙倒那样有压顶之势，象云层履盖那样无可逃避。使集中的敌人来不及分散，分散的敌人来不及集中，左边的敌人来不及救援右边，右边的敌人来不及救援左边。军队刀枪剑戟如林立，万努齐发如旋风，人人斗志昂扬，英勇果敢，一往无前地去决战决胜。
Chapter 3 – Discussion of Regulations & Systems
Verse 1
As for the military arena, regulations must first be established. When regulations are established first, the soldiers will not be disordered. When the soldiers are not disordered, discipline will be well maintained. If wherever the gongs and drums direct them, 100 men all contend; when moving forward, penetrating the enemy’s ranks and causing chaos among his formations, 1,000 men all strive; and to overturn the enemy’s army and kill his generals, 10,000 men will raise their blades in unison. Thus no one under Heaven will be able to withstand them in battle.
凡是统率军队，必须预先建立各种制度。各种制度建立了，士卒就不会混乱。士卒不混乱，纪律就严明了。这样，命令一经发出，成百的人都尽力战斗。冲锋陷阵时，成千的人都尽力战斗。歼灭敌军时，成万的人都协力作战，这样，天下就没有任何力量能够与它抗衡了。
Verse 2
In antiquity, the soldiers were organized into squads of five and ten, the chariots into companies and rows. When the drums sounded and the pennants flew, it never happened that the first to scale the walls were not outstanding state soldiers of great strength! The first to die were also always outstanding state soldiers of great strength. If the enemy suffers a loss of one man and we lose a hundred, it enriches the enemy and greatly diminishes us! Through the ages, average generals have been unable to prevent this.
When conscripts have been assigned to the army, but they run off to their native places, or flee when they approach a battle, the harm caused by the deserters is great. Through the ages, average generals have been unable to prevent it.
What can kill men beyond a hundred paces are bows and arrows. What can kill a man within fifty paces are spears and halberds. When the general drums the advance but the officers and troops yell at each other, twist their arrows, breaking them, smash their spears, cradle their halberds, and find it advantageous to go to the rear; and when the battle commences and all these occur, it will be internally self-defeating. Through the ages, average generals have been unable to prevent this.
Soldiers breaking away from their squads of five and ten; chariots moving away from their companies and rows; indirect forces abandoning their generals and fleeing; the masses also running off ; these are things which average generals through the ages have been unable to prevent. Now if a general can prevent these four situations, he will be able to traverse high mountains, cross over deep rivers, and assail strong formations. Being unable to prevent these four is like losing your boat and oars and crossing the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. It cannot be done.
古时，士兵有”什伍”的编制，战车有”偏列”的编制。当击鼓挥旗发起进攻时，首先登上敌人城堡的，往往只是那些乐于为日出
力的勇士，首先战死的，也往往是那些为国出力的勇 士。如果只杀伤一个故人而我军却损伤一百人，这就等于大大地加强了敌人而严重地损伤了自己，可是平庸的将领却不能避免。士兵应征入伍后，刚编入部队就逃亡回家，或者刚上战场就自行溃败，这就会出现大量的逃散伤亡，可是平庸的将领却不能制止。敌人在百步之外，就应当用弓箭杀伤他们；在五十步之内，就应当用矛、栽杀伤他们。但是将帅击鼓传令时，士兵们却互相吵闹，把箭、矛折断，把戈戟抛弃，面对敌人而畏缩不前，战斗中出现这些情况，就是自己先溃败了，可是平庸的将领却不能禁止。战斗时士兵脱离了队伍，战车脱离了”偏列”，机动部队抛弃他们的将领自行逃走，其他士兵也随之溃散，可是平庸的将领却不能制止。将帅如能制止这四种情况发生，那么高山可以攀登，深水可以跨越，坚固的阵地也可以摧破。如果不能防止这四种情况发生，要想战胜敌人，就好比没有船只而想渡 过江河一样，是不可能达到目的。
Verse 3
People do not take pleasure in dying, nor do they hate life, but if the commands and orders are clear, and the laws and regulations carefully detailed, you can make them advance. When, before combat, rewards are made clear, and afterwards punishments are made decisive, then when the troops move forth, they will be able to realize an advantage, and when they move, they will be successful.
人们本来并不是好死厌生的。只是由于号令严明，法制周详，才能使他们奋勇向前。既有明确的奖赏鼓励于前，又有坚决的惩罚督促于后，所以出兵就能获胜，行动就能成功。
Military Strategy Classics of Ancient China Page 29
