Selecting Warriors-Six Teachings

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Selecting Warriors (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Hound Teaching Chapter 3)

本篇论述根据士卒特点，挑选和编组士卒的方法。

English

King Wu asked Tai Gong:” What is the way to select warriors?”

Tai Gong replied:”Within the army, there will be men with great courage and strength who are willing to die and may even take pleasure in suffering wounds. They should be assembled together and called ‘Warriors who Risks the Blade’.

Those who have very fierce disposition, who are robust and courageous, strong and explosive, should be assembled together and called ’Warriors who Penetrate the Lines’.

Those who are extraordinary in appearance, bear long swords and advance with measured tread in good order should be assembled together and called ‘Courageous Elite Warriors’.

Those who can straighten iron hooks, have great strength, and can go into enemy’s line and smash gongs and drums and destroy flags and pennants, should be assembled together and called ‘Warriors of Courage and Strength’.

Those who can scale heights and cover great distances, who are light-footed and excel at running should be assembled together and called ‘Invading Warriors’.

Those who, while serving the ruler, lost their authority and want to gain merit again, should be assembled together and called ‘Warriors who Fight to Death’.

Those who are relatives of slain generals, the sons or brothers of generals, who want to avenge their deaths, should be assembled together and called ‘Warriors who See Death Lightly’.

Adopted sons, slaves or former prisoners-of-war, who want to cover up their pasts and achieve fame, should be assembled together and called the ‘Incited Dispirited’.

Those who are lowly, poor and angry, who want to satisfy their desires, should be assembled together and called ‘Warriors Committed to Death’.

Those who have been imprisoned and then spared corporal punishment, who want to escape from their shame, should be assembled together and called ‘Warriors Fortunate to be Used’.

Those who combine skill and technique, who can bear heavy responsibilities, should be assembled together and called ‘Warriors Awaiting Orders’.

These are the army’s selected warriors and one should pay great attention to the selection process.”

Modern

武王问太公说：选编士卒的方法怎样?

太公说：“军队中有勇气大、不怕死、不怕伤的，把他们编为一队，叫做“冒刃之士”，有锐气旺盛、年壮勇猛、强横凶暴的，把他们编为一队，叫做“陷阵之士”；有姿态奇异各用长剑，步伐稳健能在行列中整齐行动的，把他们编为一队，叫做“勇锐之士”：有臂力过人能伸直铁钓、强壮有力能冲入敌阵摧破敌人金鼓、撕破敌人旗帜的，把他们编为一队，叫做“勇力之士”；有能越高城，行远路，轻足善走的，把他们编为一队，叫做“寇兵之士”，有因王公大臣失势，而要重立功劳的，把他们编为一队，叫做“死斗之士”，有阵亡将帅的子弟，要为其父兄报仇的，把他们编为一队叫做“敢死之士”，有曾被招赘、被俘虏，要求扬名遮丑的，把他们编为一队，做“励钝之士”；有因贫穷而愤怒，要求立功受赏的，把他们编为一队，叫做“必死之士”；有刑徒免罪，要掩盖其耻辱的，把他们编为一队，叫 做“幸用之士”，有才技胜人，能任重致远的，把他们编为一队，叫做“待命之士”。这是军队中选士的方法，不可不详加考虑啊！

Original

武王问太公曰：练士之道奈何?

太公曰：军中有大勇、敢死、乐伤者，聚为一卒，名曰“冒刃之士”；有锐气壮勇强暴者，聚为一卒，名曰“陷陈之士”；有奇亲长剑、接武齐列者，聚为一卒，名曰“勇锐之士”；有拔距伸钩、强梁多力、溃破金鼓、绝灭旌旗者，聚为一卒，名曰“勇力之士”；有踰高绝远，轻足善走者，聚为一卒，名曰“寇兵之士”；有王臣失势，欲复见功者，聚为一卒，名曰“死斗之士”；有死将之人子弟欲与其将报仇者，聚为一卒，名曰“敢死之士”；有赘婿人虏，欲掩迹扬名者，聚为一卒，名 曰“励钝之士”；有贫穷愤怒，欲快其心者，聚为一卒，名曰“必死之士”；有胥靡免罪之人，欲逃其耻者，聚为一卒，名曰“幸用之士”；有材技兼人，能负重致远者，聚为一卒，名曰“待命之土”。此军之练士，不可不察也。

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