One Hundred Unorthodox Strategies – 14. Awesomeness (Wei, 威)

Whenever engaging an enemy in battle, if the officers and troops courageously advance rather than risk retreat, it is because they fear their commanders instead of the enemy. But if they risk retreat rather than advance, they fear the enemy instead of their commanders. When generals can force their officers and troops to rush into water and tread on fire without flinching, it is their awesomeness and severity that caused it. A tactical principle from the Book of Documents states: “When awesomeness exceeds love, affairs will be successful.”

(Translation by Ralph D. Sawyer)

Notes:

• The title “Awesomeness” (wei, 威) means “awe-inspiring,“
“authoritarian,“ and “respect-inspiring.“

• The quote from the Book of Documents (Shujing, 書經) is from the Book of Xia (Xiashu, 夏書), chapter 9 “Punitive Expedition on Yin“ (Yin Zheng, 胤征).

Original Text:

凡與敵戰，士卒前進而不敢退後，是畏我而不畏敵也。若敢退而不敢進者，是畏敵而不畏我也。將使士卒赴湯蹈火而不違者，是威嚴使然也。法曰：「威克厥愛允濟。」

Historical Illustration:

Yan Ying, the Prime Minister of Duke Jing of Qi (r. 547-490 BCE), recommended Sima Rangju 司馬穰苴 to the duke to be made a general. He was ordered to restore territory lost to the states of Jin and Yan, and he suggested to the Duke to send someone to oversee his actions. The Duke sent Zhuang Jia 莊賈 as the overseer. The Historical Records state: “When Sima Rangju took his leave, he made an appointment with Zhuang Jia. ‘Let us meet at the gate of the army’s camp midday tomorrow.’ But Zhuang Jia was arrogant and came too late, because at midday he had not arrived. Sima Rangju entered the camp and marshaled the army, drilled the troops, and announced the standing orders. The standing orders having been set, it was dusk when Zhuang Jia arrived.

Sima Rangju asked, ‘Why did you miss the appointed time?’ Zhuang Jia apologized, ‘This unworthy one’s great masters, friends, and relatives saw me off, so I stayed.’ Sima Rangju said, ‘The day a commander receives his appointment, he forgets his household. When he faces the army and sets the standing orders, he forgets his family. When he takes up the drum stick and sounds a tattoo, he forgets himself. Enemy states have invaded deep into our land and there is turmoil within the country. The officers and men suffer on the borders, our lord takes no comfort from lying on his sleeping mat and no pleasure from his food’s flavor. The fate of the families of the hundred surnames lies in your hands. What do you mean they were seeing you off?’ Sima Rangju summoned the Judge Advocate, and asked, ‘What is the military code for those who arrive after the appointed time?’ ‘The sentence is beheading,’ he replied. Sima Rangju beheaded Zhuang Jia as a warning to the army. The soldiers all trembled with shock.”