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