Sun Wu, a native of the state of Qi, presented his military theories to King Helu of Wu. The king said, "I have read through all thirteen of your chapters. Could you give me a brief demonstration?" Sun Wu replied, "I can." "Could you try it with women?" the king asked. "I can," came the reply. The king consented and ordered out the palace women—about one hundred and eighty of them. Sun Wu divided them into two companies, appointing the king's two favorite concubines as captains of each. He gave each woman a halberd, then instructed them: "Do you understand your front, your left, your right, and your back?" The women answered, "We do." Sun Wu continued, "Forward march—face your front. Left turn—face your left. Right turn—face your right. About face—face your back." The women replied, "Yes." When drums were sounded for the drill, the entire formation dissolved into laughter. Sun Wu said, "If the regulations are unclear and the formations cannot be commanded, the fault lies with the officer." He repeated the regulations three times, then beat the drums to execute the left turn. The two captains then moved as ordered, but the ranks fell into disorder. Sun Wu addressed the assembly: "If the regulations are unclear and the formations cannot be commanded, the fault lies with the officer. But if the regulations are clear and the formations are still not executed, the fault lies with the subordinate officers." He prepared to have the two captains executed. The king, watching from the review platform, sent down an order not to execute his concubines, for he wished to watch the women drill. Sun Wu responded: "I received the king's order to serve as commander. Once the commander has taken command of the army, the general's authority must be absolute and not be subject to the sovereign's wishes." He then executed the two captains as instructed. When the drums were beaten again, the women performed the evolutions flawlessly, with none daring to look sideways or whisper. Sun Wu reported to the king: "The troops are now in good order; the sovereign may descend to observe them. The army will obey any command Your Majesty gives." The king replied: "Return to quarters. I shall not go down." Sun Wu said: "The sovereign has merely heard the theories; he has not yet witnessed the practice." The king then descended the platform and inspected the army. He found it well-organized and responsive to command, and subsequently appointed Sun Wu a general. Within Wu, Sun Wu trained the troops and waited for the opportunity to strike the state of Chu. Within six months, he recaptured the cities of Liao and Cheng and advanced to Ying. King Fuchai of Wu appointed him a high minister. Within five years, Wu launched its eastern campaign against the state of Qi and attacked the state of Jin. Wu and Chu fought repeatedly; Wu repeatedly defeated Chu's forces and entered Ying. The strength of Wu grew and extended throughout the realm. Sun Wu's military achievements were brilliant and illustrious, his fame spreading throughout the realm. Later generations of strategists all esteem Sun Wu's methods. Commentary holds that when Sun Wu's sword was unsheathed before King Helu and he spoke of human affairs until the king could not look away, this alone demonstrated his extraordinary nature. As for his discussion of the regulations, his execution of the two captains to establish authority and teach the army, his discipline was truly fearsome. The saying "to practice battle formations on the heads of pins" captures this. When the two concubines laughed, the regulations could not be carried out. When the regulations could not be carried out, the law could not be established. If the law could not be established, the masses could not be governed. This is not something an enlightened ruler would permit, nor something a worthy minister would overlook. Once the two captains had been appointed and the ranks formed, if execution were not carried out, those appointed as subordinate o…