Thus, without waiting to be marshalled, the soldiers will be
constantly on the _qui vive_;
Tu Mu says: 不待修整而自戒懼. Capt. Calthrop wrongly translates 不修
“without warnings.”
without waiting to be asked, they will do your will;
Literally, “without asking, you will get.” Chang Yü’s paraphrase
is: 不求索而得情意.
without restrictions, they will be faithful;
Chang Yü says: 不約束而親上.
without giving orders, they can be trusted.
This last clause is very similar in sense to the one preceding,
except that 親 indicates the soldiers’ attachment to their leader,
and 信 the leader’s attitude towards them. I rather doubt if
信 can mean “they will have confidence in their leader,” as the
commentary seems to indicate. That way, the sense is not nearly
so good. On the other hand, it is just possible that here, as in
VIII. § 8 and _infra_, § 55, 信 may = 申: “without orders, they
will carry out [their leader’s plans].” The whole of this
paragraph, of course, has reference to “desperate ground.”