It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy;
upright and just, and thus maintain order.
靜 seems to combine the meanings “noiseless” and “imperturbable,”
both of which attributes would of course conduce to secrecy. Tu Mu
explains 幽 as 幽深難測 “deep and inscrutable,” and 正 as 平正無偏
“fair and unbiassed.” Mei Yao-ch‘ên alone among the commentators
takes 治 in the sense of 自治 “self-controlled.” 幽 and 治 are
causally connected with 靜 and 正 respectively. This is not brought
out at all in Capt. Calthrop’s rendering: “The general should be
calm, inscrutable, just and prudent.” The last adjective,
moreover, can in no sense be said to represent 治.