The Grand Scribe's Records: Sun Tzu and Wu Ch'i, Memoir 5 - chinese, history

Sun Tzu Wu was a native of Ch'i. He was granted an audience by Ho-lu, King of Wu because of his arts of war.

Ho-lu said, "I have read all of your thirteen chapters. Could you give a small demonstration of their use in drilling troops?"

"I could," he replied.

Ho-lu said, "Could you demonstrate them with women?"

"I could," he said.

At this, Ho-lu granted him permission to proceed and had the palace beauties come out, obtaining 180 women. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, made the king's two favorite ladies the company commanders, and had them all hold up halberds. He issued his orders. "Do you know where your front, left, right, and rear is?"

The women said, "We do."

Sun Tzu said, "When you go forward, face to the front. When you go left, face your left hand. When you go right, face your right hand; When you go back, face behind you."

The women said, "Yes, sir."

The standing orders having been proclaimed, he set out axes, then repeated the signals four or five times. After this, he gave the drum beat for a right turn. The women burst out laughing.

Sun Tzu said, "When the standing orders are not clear, and the signals not familiar, it is the commander's fault."

Once more, he repeated the signals four or five times, then gave the drum beat for a left turn. Once more the women burst out laughing.

Sun Tzu said, "When the standing orders are not clear, and the signals not familiar, it is the commander's fault. When they are clear yet are not followed, it is the officers' fault."

He prepared to behead the left and right company commanders.

The King of Wu had been observing from his terrace. When he saw that they were preparing to behead his favorite ladies he was aghast and hastily dispatched a messenger to pass on his orders. "We already know you can command troops, general. Without these two ladies, Our food will be tasteless. We prefer you do not behead them."

Sun Tzu said, "Your servant has already received his appointment as commander. 'When a commander is in his camp, there will be orders from his sovereign he will not accept.' "

He then beheaded the two company commanders as a warning, made the next in line the company commanders, and once more beat the drum. When the women went left, right, forward, back, knelt, and stood, their movements were as if marked out by a carpenter's square, compass, and plumb line. None dared make a sound. After this, Sun Tzu sent a messenger to report to he king: "The troops having been trained, Your Majesty might try coming down to observe them; however Your Majesty would like to employ them, even marching them through fire and water, could all be done."

The King of Wu said, "Enough, general. Retire to your hostel, We do not wish to come down and observe."

Sun Tzu said, "The king only loves the words, he cannot make use of the reality."

After this, Ho-lu knew that Sun Tzu could command troops and in the end appointed him commander. Later when Wu defeated mighty Ch'u to its west and entered its capital Ying, awed Ch'i and Chin to its north and spread its fame among the feudal lords, it was due in part to Sun Tzu.