Passage 3-11
故君之所以患於軍者三: 不知軍之不可以進, 而謂之進; 不知軍之不可以退, 而謂之退; 是爲縻軍. 不知三軍之事, 而同三軍之政者, 則軍士惑矣. 不知三軍之權, 而同三軍之任, 則軍士疑矣. 三軍旣惑且疑, 則諸侯之難至矣, 是謂亂軍引勝.
There are three ways a ruler brings misfortune upon his army: 1. Ordering advance when advance is impossible, or retreat when retreat is inadvisable—this hobbles the army 2. Governing the army without understanding its affairs—this creates confusion 3. Directing the army without understanding its authority—this breeds doubt When the army is both confused and doubtful, neighboring rulers will exploit this—this is called “creating chaos in the army and inviting defeat.”
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