Wu Tao: Launching the Campaig

King Wen asked Tai Gong:
"Alas! King Zhou of Shang has reached the pinnacle of tyranny, wantonly slaughtering the innocent. I implore you to aid me in saving the people of the world. What should be done?"

Tai Gong replied:
"A ruler must cultivate virtue, honor the worthy, bestow kindness upon the people, and observe the auspices of Heaven’s will. When Heaven’s signs show no calamity, do not hasten to call for war. When human affairs show no chaos, do not hasten to plan campaigns. Only when Heaven’s disasters and human turmoil converge may you strategize conquest. Observe both his public deeds and private intrigues to discern his true mind; study his outward acts and inner thoughts to grasp his true intent; note whom he distances and whom he embraces to understand his true heart.

"Practice the path of delivering the oppressed and punishing the wicked, and your political ideals will be realized. Follow the righteous way, and the unification of the realm will be achieved. Establish proper institutions, and success will surely follow. Secure overwhelming superiority, and you will overcome even the mightiest foe. To attain total victory without battle, to subdue enemies without bloodshed—this is the divine art of warfare. Subtle! How subtle!

"Share hardships to rescue one another, share emotions to preserve one another, share hatreds to aid one another, share desires to pursue common goals. Thus, you may triumph without armies, attack without siege engines, and defend without walls. True wisdom hides its brilliance; true strategy conceals its design; true courage masks its valor; true benefit obscures its gain. Those who work for the benefit of all under Heaven are welcomed by all; those who harm all under Heaven are opposed by all. The world belongs not to one man, but to all. Seizing the world is like hunting a beast—all desire a share of the meat. It is like crossing a river in one boat: success benefits all; failure dooms all. Act thus, and none will oppose you.

"Take nothing from the people, yet gain their support—this is the people granting you profit. Take nothing from other states, yet gain their allegiance—this is the states granting you profit. Take nothing from the world, yet gain the world’s devotion—this is Heaven granting you profit. Thus, such methods leave no trace, such deeds leave no sound, such victories leave no mark. Subtle! How subtle!

"When a hawk strikes, it first folds its wings; when a beast attacks, it first lowers its ears; when a sage acts, he first feigns foolishness. Now, the Shang dynasty drowns in rumors and chaos, yet King Zhou wallows in excess—a sign of its impending ruin. I see weeds overrunning their fields, corrupt ministers outnumbering the loyal, and officials trampling laws with cruelty. Still, their court remains blind. The hour of their fall has come.

"When the sun rises, all things bask in its light; when justice prevails, all things reap its bounty; when the righteous army marches, all things rally to its cause. How magnificent! The sage’s virtue and vision—unmatched and all-embracing—bring the greatest joy!"