Name: Military Discipline Establishment
Author: baojie

Military Discipline Establishment (from Sima Rangju and Sun Wu)

Overview

Methods for establishing military authority through strict, impartial enforcement of rules.

Set a clear meeting time (e.g., noon at the camp gate)
Arrive early yourself and set up timing devices
When the appointed person arrives late:
- Ask for explanation
- Reject excuses (even legitimate ones like "seeing off relatives")
- State principle: "On receiving orders, forget family; at camp, forget relatives; in battle, forget self"
Consult military law for the penalty
Execute the penalty publicly
If ruler sends pardon, respond: "When general is in camp, some ruler's orders are not accepted"
Apply penalty to a substitute (e.g., execute the messenger's servant, chariot driver, or horse)

Methods for establishing military authority through strict, impartial enforcement of rules.

Set a clear meeting time (e.g., noon at the camp gate)
Arrive early yourself and set up timing devices
When the appointed person arrives late:
- Ask for explanation
- Reject excuses (even legitimate ones like "seeing off relatives")
- State principle: "On receiving orders, forget family; at camp, forget relatives; in battle, forget self"
Consult military law for the penalty
Execute the penalty publicly
If ruler sends pardon, respond: "When general is in camp, some ruler's orders are not accepted"
Apply penalty to a substitute (e.g., execute the messenger's servant, chariot driver, or horse)