military-campaign-protocol

name	military-campaign-protocol
description	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.

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