Laudable officers and meritorious soldiers
Are regarded by the whole world as good,
But their goodness however is not sufficient
To keep their persons alive. I do not know
Whether the goodness ascribed to them
Is really good or really not good. Hence,
A good strategist prefers to deal with
Little-known generals who have however
Made less miscalculations to display then
The forced heroism of facing off
On the battlefield for many people die.
If indeed it is to be considered good,
It is not sufficient to preserve them alive;
But if it is deemed not good, it is sufficient
To preserve other men, their rivals, living.
For this reason, when the faithful advisers
Are not listened to, they should sit still,
Letting their superior take his course
And not strive with him. Otherwise,
When such a wiser strives with his supervisor,
He thus brings on himself the mutilation
Of his person, in direct or indirect way.
On the other hand, if he is not so striven,
He hardly acquires his fame of the truth pursuer.
Is such goodness really good or is it not?
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Now that we have a mercenary army, most just exchange money for their service, not their total loyalty to whatever cause the superiors determine.
Ron