Verse 4-Wei Liao Zi Art of War Chapter 4

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Verse 4-Wei Liao Zi Art of War Chapter 4

English

Thus those who engage in combat must take the lead in person in order to incite the masses and officers, just as the mind controls the four limbs. If the masses and officers are not incited, then they will not die for the country. When they will not die for the country, then the whole army cannot do battle. In order to stimulate the soldiers, the people’s material welfare has to be ample. The ranks of nobility, the degree of comforting for the dead, the materials by which the people chase after must be made evident. One must govern the people in accord with their needs. One must govern the people by giving due credit for achievements. Actually giving people rewards for going into field, feasting done together with relatives and friends, the mutual encouragement from fellow villagers, mutual assistance in times of crisis, marching off to war together – these are what stimulate the people. Ensure that the members of the squads five and ten take care of each other as though they are relatives, the members of the companies and their officers behave like close friends. When they stop they will be like a solid, encircling wall; when they move, they move like the wind and rain. The chariots will not make retreats, the soldiers will not turn about. This is the Way to establish the foundation for combat.

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Modern

将帅指挥作战，必须用自己的表率行为来激励部队，这样才能象头脑指挥四肢一样的灵活自如。战斗意志不加激励，士兵就不会为国家效死，士兵不为国家效死，部队就没有作战能力。激励士气的方法，就是使民众都过富裕的生活。官职的等级，死丧的抚恤，民众所追求的，应该有明确的规定。必须根据民众的生活需要制定保障措施，根据民众的功绩给予表彰奖励，使他们在田地体禄方面得到实惠，起居饮食方面得到照顾，邻里互相鼓励，死生互相帮助，战时携手应征入伍，这就是激励民众的办法。使同什同伍的人，象亲戚那样互相关心，上下级关系象朋友那样亲密无间，军队驻止下来就象铜墙铁壁一样的坚固，行动起来就象急风暴雨一样的迅猛，战车一往直前，士兵绝不后退，这就是战胜敌人的根本原则。

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Original

故战者，必本乎率身以励众士，如心之使四肢也。志不励，则士不死节。士不死节，则众不战。励士之道，民之生不可不厚也。爵列之等，死丧之亲，民之所营，不可不显也。必也，因民所生而制之，因民所荣而显之，田禄之实，饮食之亲，乡里相劝，死生相救，兵役相从，此民之所励也。使什伍如亲戚，卒伯如朋友，止如者墙，动如风雨，车不结辙，士不旋踵，此本战之道也。

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