Secret Tallies-Six Teachings

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Secret Tallies (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Dragon Teaching Chapter 7)

阴符，古代秘密通信方法的一种。

English

King Wu asked Tai Gong:"If we lead the army deep into the territory of the feudal lords and the army suddenly suffer some delay or require urgent action – perhaps a situation to our advantage or one to our disadvantage – and I want to communicate between those nearby and those afar, respond to the situation from the central government, in order to meet the needs of the army – how should we do it?"

Tai Gong said:"The ruler and his generals have a system of secret tallies, altogether consisting of eight types."

"There is a tally signifying a great victory over the enemy, one foot long.

There is a tally for destroying the enemy’s army and killing their general, nine inches long.

There is a tally for capturing enemy’s cities, eight inches long.

There is a tally for driving the enemy back and reporting deep penetration, seven inches long.

There is a tally to alert the army to prepare for stalwart defensive measures, six inches long.

There is a tally that request for supplies and additional soldiers, five inches long.

There is a tally signifying the army’s defeat and the general’s death, four inches long.

There is a tally signifying the army’s defeat and injuries to the army, three inches long."

"For those who bring in the information late, or if the information from the tally should leak out, execute all those who heard and told about it. These eight tallies which only the ruler and general should secretly know, provide a technique for covert communication that will not allow outsiders to know the true situation. Thus, even though the enemy has the sagacious wisdom of a Sage, no one will comprehend their significance."

King Wu said:"Excellent!"

Modern

武王问太公道：率领军队深人敌国境内，全军突然遭遇紧急情况，或者有利，或者有害。我想从近处通知远方，从国内策应外地，以满足三军需要，应该怎么办？

太公说：“君主与将帅间有预定的秘密通信工具叫阴符，概分八类：有我军大胜，全歼敌人的，其长一尺；击破敌军，斩杀敌将的，其长九寸；占领城市、夺取城邑的，其长八寸，击退敌人，报告远方的，其长七寸；警告军民必须坚守的，其长六寸；请领粮食，增加兵力的，其长五寸；军队失败，将领伤亡的，其长四寸：战斗不利，士卒伤亡的，其长三寸。凡是奉命传递阴符的人，如有延误时限、泄震机密的，传播的人和听传播的人，都一律处死。上述八类阴符是君主与将帅秘密掌握，用来暗通信息的。这种对内对外都严守秘密的通信方法，即使敌方有绝顶聪明的人也不能识破这种秘密。

武王说：好啊!

Original

武王问太公曰：引兵深入诸侯之地，三军卒有缓急，或利或害。吾将以近通远，从中应外，以给三军之用，为之奈何?

太公曰：主与将有阴符凡八等：有大胜克敌之符，长一尺；破军擒将之符，长九寸；降城得邑之符，长八寸；却敌报远之符，长七寸；警众坚守之符，长六寸；请粮益兵之符，长五寸；败军亡将之符，长四寸；失利亡士之符，长三寸。诸奉使行符，稽留者，若符事泄，闻者、告者皆诛之。八符者，主将秘闻。所以阴通言语不泄中外相知之术，敌虽圣智，莫之能识。

武王曰：善哉!

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