Strona 184 z 266

without restrictions, they will be faithful; without giving

orders, they can be trusted.

26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious

doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be

feared.

[The superstitious, "bound in to saucy doubts and fears,"

degenerate into cowards and "die many times before their deaths."

Tu Mu quotes Huang Shih-kung: "'Spells and incantations should be

strictly forbidden, and no officer allowed to inquire by

divination into the fortunes of an army, for fear the soldiers'

minds should be seriously perturbed.' The meaning is," he

continues, "that if all doubts and scruples are discarded, your

men will never falter in their resolution until they die."]

27. If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not

because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not

unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.