Six Secret Teachings, Dragon Teaching — The King's Wings六韜 王翼
1The general's limbs and wings — seventy-two men
武王問太公曰：「王者帥師，必有股肱羽翼，以成威神，為之奈何？」太公曰：「凡舉兵帥師，以將為命。命在通達，不守一術。因能受職，各取所長，隨時變化，以為綱紀。故將有股肱羽翼七十二人，以應天道。備數如法，審知命理。殊能異技，萬事畢矣。」武王曰：「請問其目？」太公曰：「腹心一人：主贊謀應卒，揆天消變，揔攬計謀，保全民命。謀士五人：主圖安危，慮未萌，論行能，明賞罰，授官位，决嫌疑，定可否。天文三人：主司星曆，候風氣，推時日，考符驗，校災異，知天心去就之機。地利三人：主三軍行止形勢，利害消息，遠近險易，水涸山阻，不失地利。兵法九人：主講論異同，行事成敗，簡練兵器，刺舉非法。通糧四人：主度飲食，蓄積，通糧道，致五糓，令三軍不困乏。奮威四人：主擇材力，論兵革，風馳電掣，不知所由。伏鼓旗三人：主伏鼓旗，明耳目，詭符節，謬號令，闇忽徃來，出入若神。股肱四人：主任重持難，修溝塹，治壁壘，以備守禦。通材三人：主拾遺補過，應偶賔客，論議談語，消患觧結。權士三人：主行奇譎，設殊異，非人所識，行無窮之變。耳目七人：主往來，聽言視變，覽四方之事，軍中之情。爪牙五人：主揚威武，激勵三軍，使冒難攻鈗，無所疑慮。羽翼四人：主揚名譽，震遠方，摇動四境，以弱敵心。遊士八人：主伺姦候變，開闔人情，觀敵之意，以為間諜。術士二人：主為譎詐，依託鬼神，以惑眾心。方士二人：主百藥，以治金瘡，以痊萬病。法筭二人：主計會三軍營壁糧食，財用出入。」
King Wu asked Taigong, "When a king leads an army he must have limbs and wings, so as to make up his awe and his spiritlike power. How is this done?" Taigong said, "Whenever arms are raised and an army is led, the general is its life. That life lies in a penetrating understanding, not in holding to one art alone. Give office according to ability and take from each what he is best at, change with the times and make this the guiding order. So the general has seventy-two men as his limbs and wings, answering to the way of Heaven. Fill out the number by the rule, know closely the charge laid on each man and the reason of it, and with rare abilities and uncommon skills the ten thousand affairs are all accomplished." King Wu said, "May I ask for the list of them?" Taigong said, "One man of the inner heart. He helps in planning and meets sudden affairs, gauges Heaven and makes strange changes pass away, takes charge of the whole of the plans, and keeps the lives of the people whole. Five planners. They plan for safety and danger, weigh what has not yet sprouted, judge conduct and ability, make reward and punishment clear, confer offices and ranks, settle what is doubtful, and decide what may and may not be done. Three men of the heavens. They take charge of the stars and the calendar, watch the winds and the airs, reckon the times and the days, examine the tallies and their proofs, weigh disasters and strange happenings, and know the moment when the mind of Heaven goes or stays. Three men of the ground. They take charge of the lay of the land where the three armies march and halt, of gain and loss as they wax and wane, of far and near, of the steep and the easy, of dried-up waters and blocking hills, so that the advantage of the ground is not lost. Nine men of the art of war. They discuss what is alike and what is different, judge the success and failure of affairs, sort and drill the weapons, and bring to light whatever breaks the law. Four men of supply. They measure food and drink, store it up, keep the grain roads open, and bring in the five grains, so that the three armies are not in want. Four men of stirred might. They choose men of talent and strength, judge the weapons and armor, race like the wind and strike like lightning, so that none knows where they came from. Three men of the hidden drums and flags. They hide the drums and flags, keep ears and eyes clear, counterfeit the tallies and warrants, give out false signals and commands, come and go suddenly in the dark, and pass in and out like spirits. Four strong limbs. They take on the heavy and hold up the hard, dig the ditches and trenches, keep the walls and ramparts in order, and so make the defense ready. Three men of ready talent. They pick up what has been dropped and patch what has gone wrong, meet and match the guests, take part in discussion and talk, do away with troubles and undo knots. Three men of expedients. They carry out the strange and the deceiving and set out what is out of the ordinary, working endless changes that others cannot know. Seven ears and eyes. They go and come, listen to what is said and watch for change, and look over the affairs of the four quarters and the feeling within the army. Five claws and fangs. They raise up the might of arms and rouse the three armies, so that the men brave hardship and strike at the sharpest point without a doubt or a care. Four wings. They spread the army's name and fame, make distant parts tremble, and shake the four borders, so as to weaken the enemy's heart. Eight roving gentlemen. They spy out treachery and watch for change, open and shut the feelings of men, look into the enemy's intent, and serve as spies. Two masters of arts. They work deceptions and lean upon ghosts and spirits, so as to bewilder the hearts of the multitude. Two masters of medicine. They take charge of the hundred drugs, heal wounds from metal, and cure the ten thousand illnesses. Two masters of reckoning. They keep the accounts of the three armies' camps and ramparts, of the grain and food, and of what goes out and comes in of goods and money."