Translation setting:
[None] [English]Post-Han ->
Sui-Tang ->
群書治要 ->
Volume 37 ->
Yueliaozi
-> Discussions on Military Affairs
| | 兵談: |
王者民望之如日月，歸之如父母，歸之如流水，故曰明乎禁舍開塞，其取天下若化。故曰：國貧者能富之，地不任者任之，四時不應者能應之，故夫土廣而任，則其國不得無富，民衆而制，則其國不得無治，且富治之國，兵不發刃，甲不出暴，而威服天下矣。故曰：兵勝於朝廷，勝於喪絕，勝於土功，勝於市井，暴甲而勝，將勝也。戰而勝，臣勝也。戰再勝當一敗，十萬之師出，費日千金，故百戰百勝，非善之善者也。不戰而勝，善之善者也。 |
| | A wise ruler is looked up to by the people as they look upon the sun and moon; they return to him as children do to their parents, as water flows naturally. Therefore it is said that one who understands when to prohibit or permit, when to open or close, will gain the world as if by transformation. Therefore it is said: A poor country can be made rich, a land that cannot bear burdens can be put to use, and the seasons that do not respond can be brought into harmony. Thus, when a nation has vast territory and proper governance, its wealth cannot help but increase; when a population is large and well-regulated, order in the state cannot help but prevail. Moreover, in a wealthy and orderly country, weapons need not be drawn, armor need not be displayed, yet its authority will subdue all under heaven. Therefore it is said: Victory achieved in the court, victory over calamity and loss , victory through land projects, victory among merchants and commoners—victory by force alone indicates a general's triumph. Victory in battle is the triumph of the ministers. Two victories on the battlefield are equivalent to one defeat; when an army of a hundred thousand departs, it costs a thousand gold per day. Therefore, winning a hundred battles is not the most skillful way. To achieve victory without fighting is the highest level of skillfulness.
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