Appointing General-Six Teachings
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Appointing General (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Dragon Teaching Chapter 4)
本篇二节。论述君主任命将早的仪式和兵权专一的重要性。
English
King Wu asked Tai Gong: What is the process of appointing the commanding general?
Tai Gong said:"When the state encounters danger, the ruler should avoid the Main Hall, summon the general and charge him as follows: ‘The security or endangerment of the state all lie with the army’s commanding general. At present such-and-such state does not act properly submissive. I would like you to lead the army forth to respond to it.’ "
After the general has received his mandate, command the Grand Scribe to bore the sacred tortoise shell to divine an auspicious day. Thereafter, to prepare for the chosen day, observe a vegetarian regime for three days, and then go to the ancestral temple to hand over the.
After the ruler has entered the gate to the temple, he stands facing the west. The general enters the temple gate and stands facing north. The ruler personally takes the head of Axe of Authority, saying: ‘From this to Heaven above, will be controlled by the General of the Army.’ Then taking the handle of Axe of Authority, he hand it to the general, saying: ‘From this to the depths below, will be controlled by the General of the Army. When you see weaknesses in the enemy, you should advance; when you see that they are strong, you should halt. Do not assume that having the numerical advantage, we can treat the enemy lightly. Do not commit yourself to die just because you have received a heavy responsibility. Do not, because you are honored, regard other men as lowly. Do not be self opinionated and contravene the masses. Do not take verbal facility to be a sign of certainty. When officers have not yet been seated, do not sit. When the officers have not yet eaten, do not eat. You should share hardship with them. If you behave in this way the officers and masses will certainly exhaust their strength in fighting to the death.’
After the general have received his mandate, he bows and responds to the ruler: ‘I have heard that a country cannot follow the commands of another state’s government, while an army in the field cannot follow central government control. A general with two minds cannot properly serve his ruler; general in doubt cannot respond to the enemy. I have already received my mandate and taken sole control of the awesome power of Axe of Authority. I do not dare return alive. I would like to request that you condescend to grant complete and sole command to me. If you do not permit it, I dare not accept the post of the commanding general.’ The king then grants it, and the general formally takes his leaves and departs.
Military matters are not determined by the ruler’s commands; they all proceed from the commanding general. When the commanding general approaches an enemy and decides to engage in battle, he is not of two minds. In this way, there is no Heaven above, no Earth below, no enemy in front and no ruler to the rear. For this reason, the wise make plans for him, the courageous fight for him. Their fighting spirit soars to the sky; they are swift like galloping steeds. Even before the blades clash, the enemy surrenders submissively.
War is won outside the borders of the state, but the general’s merit is established within it. Officials are promoted and receive the highest rewards; the populace rejoices; and the general credited. For this reason, natural systems will run smoothly; the grains will grow abundantly; and the whole state will be secure and peaceful.
King Wu said: Excellent!
Modern
武王问太公说：任命主将的方式如何？
太公说：凡国家遇有危难，国君就避开正殿，在偏殿召见主将命令。他说：“国家安危全靠将军，现在某国背叛，望将军率军征讨。”
主将接受了任命，国君就命太史占卜，斋戒三天，前往太庙，钴龟甲，择吉日，授给斧钺。[到了吉日]国君进入太庙门，面向西站着，主将进太庙门，面向北站着。国君亲自拿着钺的头部，把钺柄交给主将说：“从此，军中上至于天的一切事情全由将军管理。”又亲自拿起斧柄，把斧的刃部交给主将说：“从此军中下至于渊的一切事情全由将军管理。”见敌虚弱就前进，见敌坚强就停止，不要以为我军众多就轻敌，不要以为任务重大就拚命，不要以为身居高位就轻视别人，不要固执己见而违背众意，不要把诡辩游说当成真理。士卒没有坐，你就不要先坐；士卒没有吃，你就不要先吃，冷热都要与士卒同。这样，士卒们必能尽死力作战。
主将接受任命后，再拜并回答说：“据我所知，国事不应受外部的干预，作战不能由君主在朝廷内遥控指挥。臣怀二心就不能忠心耿耿地侍奉君主，将帅受君主的牵制，疑虑重重就不能专心专意地去对付敌人。我既已奉命掌握军事大权，[不获胜利]不敢生还。请你允许我照上面的话去做！你不允许，我就不敢担任主将。” 国君允许了他，主将就辞别君主率军出征。
从此军中一切事务，不听命于国君而听命于主将，临敌决战，意志统一。这样，主将就能上不受天时限制，下不受地形限制，前无敌人敢于抵抗，后无君主从中牵制。就能使有知谋的人都为他策划，有勇力的人都为他战斗，士气昂扬直冲霄汉，行动迅速如快马奔腾，兵未交锋而敌已降服。战争取胜于国外，功名显扬于国内，官吏都得到晋升，士卒都得到奖赏，百姓欢欣鼓舞，将帅没有罪过。从此风调雨顺，五谷丰登，国家安宁。
武王说：好啊！
Original
武王问太公曰：立将之道奈何？
太公曰：凡国有难，君避正殿，召将而诏之曰：“社稷安危，一在将军，今某国不臣，愿将军帅师应之”。
将既受命，乃命太史卜，斋三日，之太庙，钻灵龟，卜吉日，以授斧钺。君入庙门，西面而立，将入庙门，北面而立。君亲操钺持首，授将其柄曰：“从此上至天 者，将军制之”。复操斧持柄，授将其刃曰：“从此下至渊者，将军制之”。见其虑则进，见其实则止，勿以三军为众而轻敌，勿以受命为重而必死，勿以身贵而贱 人，勿以独见而众，勿以辩说为必然。士未坐勿坐，士未食勿食，寒暑必同。如此，士卒必尽其死力。
将已受命，拜而报君曰：臣闻国不可从外治，军不可从中御。二心不可以事君，疑志不可以应敌。臣既受命专斧钺之威，臣不敢生还。愿君亦垂一言之命于臣！君不许臣，臣不敢将。
君许之，乃辞而行。军中之事，不闻君命，皆由将出。临敌决战，无有二心。若此，则无天于上，无地于下，无敌于前，无君于后。是故智者为之谋，勇者为之斗，气厉青云，疾若驰鹜，兵不接刃，而敌降服，战胜于外，功立于内，吏迁士赏，百姓欢悦，将无咎殃。是故风雨时节，五谷丰熟，社稷安宁。
武王曰：善哉!
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