Order on Disciplining the Troops

尉缭子Bashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

3.8

Word count: 476 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Le means to restrain or command. Lezu means to command and direct troops. This chapter describes the functions and methods of use of command tools such as gongs, drums, bells, and clan banners; the steps and methods of troop training; and the firmness, planning, and flexibility of military command.

Editor's review

"Lezu Ling" (Orders for Commanding Troops) is the chapter of the Weiliaozi that focuses on commanding and directing troops; Bashu Shushe here presents it as a standalone edition so readers can study it closely. The "le" in the title means to restrain or command. The chapter discusses the functions and methods of use of command tools such as gongs, drums, bells, and clan banners, explaining how sound and flag signals unified soldiers' actions on the ancient battlefield; it also describes the steps and methods of troop training and stresses the firmness, planning, and flexibility of command. Its value lies in grounding "how to lead troops" in concrete tools and procedures, combining institutional restraint with thinking about adapting on the battlefield, which helps in understanding the organizational management thought in pre-Qin military studies. The text is concise and the items clear; it suits readers as an entry point for thematic reading of military texts, and also suits reading alongside other chapters of the Weiliaozi to appreciate the overall structure of its troop-management ideas. As you read, note the correspondence between command tools and training procedures, and how "firmness" and "flexibility" coexist within the same command system.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in pre-Qin military texts and ancient military institutions
University students who need to study individual chapters of the Weiliaozi
Those engaged in research on ancient Chinese management thought and organization
Readers who enjoy close reading of short classical texts and value annotations and textual detail

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting modern management cases and popular stories
Beginners lacking a classical Chinese foundation who are unwilling to consult annotations
Military enthusiasts who want only war stories and battle descriptions

Reading tips

Read the whole chapter first and mark the passages where command tools such as gongs, drums, bells, and clan banners appear, then match each to its function.
Take brief notes dividing training steps and command methods into two parts, then see how the two connect.
Read it alongside other chapters of the Weiliaozi and note how troop-management ideas echo across chapters.
After reading, retell the command process in your own words to test whether you truly understand the original logic.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
勒卒令第十八

FAQ

How should the two characters "lezu" be understood?

"Le" means to restrain or command, and "zu" refers to soldiers; "lezu" means to command and direct troops. The title points to the chapter's core: how to organize soldiers and unify their actions through tools, training, and command procedures, rather than discussing victory or defeat in general.

What roles do the gongs, drums, bells, and clan banners mentioned in this chapter play?

These are command tools of the ancient army, conveying orders such as advance, retreat, assembly, and alert through sound and visual signals. The chapter describes their functions and methods of use, focusing on enabling soldiers to act according to unified signals on the battlefield and avoid command confusion.

Do I need to read the whole Weiliaozi first?

Not necessarily. This chapter can be read independently, but understanding the Weiliaozi's overall framework of troop management first makes it easier to grasp the place of its training and command content. If time is limited, read this chapter first and then go back to related chapters.

What is there for non-military readers in this chapter?

One can see how ancient organizations achieved unified command through tools and procedures, and the relationship between daily training and battlefield adaptation. Readers concerned with institutional design, execution, and organizational communication may also find angles worth considering.

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About the author

尉缭子 Author

Wei Liaozi is an important figure in ancient Chinese military thought, and his name is closely tied to the work bearing that title. Because of the great distance in time, public information about his life is limited, and his nationality, birth year, and death year cannot be reliably determined. The library holds four related works, including Zhan Wei, Wei Liaozi, and Le Zu Ling, all centered on military and political-military subjects. These texts address army governance, the conduct of war, rewards and punishments, and orders and commands, with rigorous argumentation and a practical emphasis that reflects the pre-Qin military tradition's stress on institutions and effectiveness. The book Wei Liaozi was later included in the corpus of military classics and transmitted alongside works such as Sunzi and Wuzi, exerting a degree of influence on ancient military thought and theories of army governance. Owing to limited historical sources, his personal experience and intellectual origins require further study, and readers may consult the original texts to understand his ideas.