military-campaign-protocol

# 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