(3) By employing the officers of his army without discrimination,
That is, he is not careful to use the right man in the right place.
through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to
circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.
I follow Mei Yao-ch‘ên here. The other commentators make 不知 etc.
refer, not to the ruler, as in §§ 13, 14, but to the officers he
employs. Thus Tu Yu says: 將若不知權變不可付以勢位 “If a general is
ignorant of the principle of adaptability, he must not be
entrusted with a position of authority.” Tu Mu quotes 黃石公: “The
skilful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man,
the covetous man, and the stupid man. For the wise man delights in
establishing his merit, the brave man likes to show his courage in
action, the covetous man is quick at seizing advantages, and the
stupid man has no fear of death.” The _T‘ung Tien_ reads 軍覆疑,
which Tu Yu explains as 覆敗 “is utterly defeated.” Capt. Calthrop
gives a very inaccurate rendering: “Ignorant of the situation of
the army, to interfere in its dispositions.”