Six Secret Teachings, Martial Teaching — The Civil Offensive六韜 文伐

King Wen asked Taigong, "What is the method of the civil offensive (文伐)?" Taigong said, "The civil offensive has twelve measures. First, go along with what he likes and fall in with his wishes. He will grow proud and will surely take up crooked business, and if you can truly go along with it you will surely be able to remove him. Second, draw close to those he loves, and so divide his authority. When one man has two hearts, what is within him must wane. When there are no loyal ministers at court, the altars of the state are surely in danger. Third, bribe those about him in secret and win their feelings deeply. Their bodies are within and their feelings without, and harm will come to that state. Fourth, help along his wanton pleasures and widen his ambitions, send him pearls and jade in plenty and delight him with beautiful women, speak humbly and do as he says, obey his commands and fall in with him. Once he no longer contends, the crooked measure is set. Fifth, treat his loyal ministers with respect but send them only meager gifts, hold up his envoys and do not attend to their business. Be quick to set up men in their place, entrust them with sincere affairs, be close to them and trust them, and their ruler will take them back to his side. If you can truly treat the loyal ones with respect, the state can be plotted against. Sixth, win over those inside and set those outside at odds with him. When an able minister helps from outside while an enemy state invades within, few such states fail to fall. Seventh, to shut up his heart you must bribe him richly. Win over the loyal and beloved men about him, show them profit in secret, make them think little of their own work, and their stores will run empty. Eighth, bribe him with heavy treasures and through them lay plans with him. Plan with him and profit him, and profiting him he will surely trust you. This is called double closeness. Let double closeness pile up and he will surely be of use to me. He holds a state, yet he faces outward, and his land must come to ruin. Ninth, honor him with a great name and put nothing hard upon his person, show him a grand prospect so that in following you he will surely trust you, bring him to high honor and glorify him first. Dress him up a little as a sage, and his state will grow greatly slack. Tenth, put yourself below him so that he trusts you, and so get at his true feelings. Take up his intentions and meet his affairs as though you had been born with him. Once you have him, gather him in little by little. When the time comes, it will be as if Heaven itself had cast him away. Eleventh, block him off by means of the Way. Among the ministers of men there is none who does not hold rank and wealth heavy and hate danger and blame. Show great honor in secret and send heavy treasures a little at a time, and gather in his bold men. Pile up riches within and yet make a show of want without. Bring in wise gentlemen in secret and let them plot his plans, take in brave men and let them raise his spirit. When rank and wealth are more than enough and keep on increasing, your own faction is complete, and this is what is called blocking him off. He holds a state and yet is blocked off. How can he keep a state? Twelfth, feed the ministers who make disorder and so lead him astray, bring in beautiful women and wanton music and so bewilder him, send fine dogs and horses and so wear him out, give him a grand prospect now and then and so lure him on, and look above and plot together with all under Heaven. When the twelve measures are complete, the work of arms can be carried through. This is what is meant by looking up to examine Heaven and looking down to examine Earth. When the signs have appeared, then strike."