The Regulation of Ranks

In all military operations, establish ranks and titles for officers and men, make clear the standards for merit and guilt, recruit wandering and unattached men of ability, issue orders and proclamations, seek the opinions of the many, discover men of special skill, consider matters from many sides, ascertain all circumstances, dissolve estrangements and remove doubts, accumulate strength, seek ingenious stratagems, and act in accordance with the direction of people’s hearts. In all military operations, steady the morale of the army, weigh advantages and disadvantages, clarify confusion, ensure that advance and halt follow law and measure, instill a sense of shame, simplify laws, and reduce punishments. Small faults must be checked in time; if small faults are left unchecked, great crimes will follow. To comply with Heaven’s seasons, enrich supplies, win the morale of the army, exploit terrain, and value weapons—these five are called the five considerations. To comply with Heaven’s seasons means to observe the seasons. To enrich supplies means to take supplies from......