Verse 12-Wei Liao Zi Art of War Chapter 24

From World's Chinese Wiki

Verse 12-Wei Liao Zi Art of War Chapter 24

English

I have heard that in antiquity, those who excelled in employing the army could motivate half of their officers and soldiers to fight to death in war. The next could motivate a third of their officers and soldiers to fight to death in war. And the next could motivate a tenth of their officers and soldiers to fight to death in war. One who could motivate half his troops to fight till death have his awesomeness spread throughout the land. One who could motivate one third of his troops to fight till death is equivalent to the strength of the warlord. One who could motivate a tenth of his troops to fight till death can thoroughly execute orders given to him.

Thus I say that a mass of a millions that does not follow orders is not as good as ten thousand men who fight. Ten thousand men who fight are not as good as one hundred men who are truly aroused. Thus rewards should be as clear as the sun and moon, credibility should be given accurately like the cycle of the four seasons, orders are should be like the axe of authority that commands with authority, and regulations are as sharp and clear as the famous sword Gan Chiang. Only when such conditions are met, officers and troops will follow orders.

Modern

我听说古代善于用兵的人，能使半数士卒甘愿战死，其次能使十分之三的士卒甘愿战死，其下能使十分之一的士卒甘愿战死。能使半数士卒甘愿战死的，威势可以驾凌天下。能使十分之三的士卒甘愿战死的，武力可以驾凌诸侯。能使十分之一的士卒甘愿战死的，号令可使士卒贯彻执行。

所以说，百万之众如不贯彻执行命令，还抵不上一万人齐心协力去战斗。用万人进行战斗，如果不贯彻执行命令，还抵不上百人齐心战斗。因此，奖赏要象日月当空那样光明，守信要象四时交替那样准确，号令要象斧钺那样威严，决断要象干将那样锐利。这样，士兵不服从命令的，就不会有了。

Original

臣闻古之善用兵者，能杀卒之半，其次杀其十三，其下杀其十一。能杀其半者，威加海内。杀十三者，力加诸侯。杀十一者，令行士卒。

故曰，百万之众不用命，不如万人之斗也。万人之斗不用命，不如百人之奋也。赏如日月，信如四时，令如斧钺，制如干将，士卒不用命者，未之有也。

Applications

From: Wei Liao Zi Art of War Chapter 24