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military-campaign-protocol

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Use when planning a righteous military campaign against a tyrannical ruler. Covers just-cause verification, alliance building, troop declaration, combat rules of engagement, and post-victory administration based on Tang and Wu Wang's campaigns.

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Military Campaign Protocol (征伐程序)

Procedures for conducting righteous military campaigns, based on Tang's campaign against Xia Jie and Wu Wang's campaign against Zhou.

Pre-Campaign Assessment

  1. Verify Just Cause

    • Target ruler commits atrocities (虐政淫荒)
    • Target has lost Heaven's mandate (天命殛之)
    • People suffer and desire change

  2. Gather Legitimacy Evidence

    • Document crimes against people
    • Record violations of proper governance
    • Note rejection of loyal counsel

Alliance Building

  1. Demonstrate Virtue

    • Practice benevolent governance
    • Show mercy (like Tang's three-sided net)
    • Attract voluntary allies

  2. Wait for Consensus

    • Allow allies to gather naturally
    • Do not force participation
    • Example: 800诸侯 at Mengjin

Campaign Declaration

  1. Address the Troops

    • Declare this is not personal ambition
    • State Heaven's mandate requires action
    • Document target's crimes

  2. Key Declaration Elements:

    • "匪台小子敢行举乱" (Not I who dares create disorder)
    • "予畏上帝，不敢不正" (I fear Heaven, dare not refuse)
    • "天命殛之" (Heaven commands destruction)

Battle Conduct

  1. Formation Protocol

    • Lead from center with symbolic weapons
    • Arrange allied forces properly
    • Maintain discipline

  2. Combat Rules

    • "不过六步七步，乃止齐焉" (Advance only 6-7 steps, then regroup)
    • "不过四伐五伐六伐七伐" (Strike only 4-7 times, then pause)
    • Allow enemy to surrender

Post-Victory Administration

  1. Immediate Actions

    • Bury the dead with honor
    • Release prisoners (like 箕子)
    • Honor loyal martyrs (like 比干)

  2. Political Settlement

    • Appoint virtuous local rulers
    • Distribute stored wealth to poor
    • Restore proper governance

  3. Symbolic Acts

    • Cease military displays
    • Release war animals
    • Store weapons (偃干戈)

Expected Outcomes

  • Legitimate regime change
  • Popular support maintained
  • Stable post-war governance

Validation

  • Verify that a documented just cause exists with specific crimes and evidence of lost Heaven's mandate (天命殛之)
  • Confirm that allies joined voluntarily and the formal declaration framed the campaign as Heaven's will, not personal ambition
  • Check that post-victory actions include honoring the fallen, releasing prisoners, and distributing wealth to the poor