The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will
conquer:—let such a one be retained in command! The general that
hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:—let
such a one be dismissed!
The form of this paragraph reminds us that Sun Tzŭ’s treatise was
composed expressly for the benefit of his patron 闔閭 Ho Lü, king of
the Wu State. It is not necessary, however, to understand 我 before
留之 (as some commentators do), or to take 將 as “generals under my
command.”