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[Ch'en Hao, quoting from the Tso Chuan, says: "If bees and

scorpions carry poison, how much more will a hostile state! Even

a puny opponent, then, should not be treated with contempt."]

42. If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to

you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then

will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become

attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be

useless.

43. Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with

humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline.

[Yen Tzŭ [B.C. 493] said of Ssu-ma Jang-chu: "His civil virtues

endeared him to the people; his martial prowess kept his enemies

in awe." Cf. Wu Tzŭ, ch. 4 init.: "The ideal commander unites

culture with a warlike temper; the profession of arms requires a

combination of hardness and tenderness."]

This is a certain road to victory.