Let us listen, then, to the wisdom of the ancient sages regarding the subtle workings of kingship and the art of governance. There are hidden faults that undermine the very heart of counsel—pride, negligence, desire, and speaking in sleep. These unseen flaws are as destructive as women intent solely on pleasure, for they quietly erode judgment and purpose. In contrast, the ideal messenger of a king is one who is bold and courageous, blessed with a sharp memory, eloquent in speech, and skilled in both the scriptures and the arts of weaponry. Such a person, diligent and never neglectful in duty, is truly fit to serve as the king’s envoy. Messengers themselves are of three kinds, their value determined by their capacity and the presence or absence of certain qualities. But let none venture into an enemy’s city without careful reconnaissance, nor approach informers recklessly. Every mission must be timed with care, and departure should only be undertaken with proper permission. A wise messenger must learn the enemy’s weaknesses, the state of their treasury, their allies, and the strength of their forces. By observing the eyes, gestures, and movements of others, he discerns their attachments and aversions. He should prepare four distinct kinds of reports, considering both his own side and the enemy’s, and dwell among trustworthy ascetics who display the proper signs of reliability. Spies serve in both overt and covert roles. The covert spy is of two types, and may take the guise of a merchant, farmer, laborer, ascetic, beggar, or others, blending seamlessly into the world. When messengers fail and the enemy is afflicted by misfortune, it is then that the spy should act, having first observed the nature of the calamity. Destruction arises from misfortune—by fire, water, disease, famine, or plague. These five calamities are recognized as either divine or human in origin. Divine calamities may be pacified through human effort and the right appeasement, while human misfortunes are removed through wise policy and decisive action. Counsel, the attainment of its fruits, and the proper execution of tasks are all essential in these matters. The remedies for misfortune, and the means of protecting both the kingdom and the king, are found in the wise management of revenue and expenditure, the fair administration of justice, and the restraining of enemies and rivals. Thus are the duties of a minister described, even when calamities threaten. He must possess gold, grain, garments, vehicles, and offspring, for these are the supports of his station. Yet, all accumulations of wealth are threatened by calamities. The protection of subjects in distress depends upon the treasury and the wise use of punishment. In times of hardship, citizens and others assist by providing shelter, but silent warfare, the protection of the people, and the discernment of friends and enemies are always necessary. If a frontier chief commits an offense, he is destroyed by that very calamity. Maintaining loyal servants, giving gifts, and discerning true friends among the people are essential arts of rule. The distinctions of righteousness, desire, and the like, and the fortification of strongholds—all these are lost if the treasury is depleted, for the king’s power is rooted in his wealth. The means of dealing with friends and enemies, the accumulation of wealth, the destruction of foes, and the ability to accomplish even distant tasks swiftly are all lost when punishment is misapplied. Proper use of punishment strengthens friends and destroys enemies, but the benefit of wealth and other resources is lost when calamity strikes one’s allies. A king afflicted by calamity undermines his own undertakings. Harshness in speech or punishment, and the corruption of wealth, follow in the wake of such distress. Drinking, women, hunting, and gambling are the king’s great vices; so too are laziness, stubbornness, arrogance, recklessness, and sowing division. What has been described before is known as the minister’s vice, while drought and oppression are the calamities of the kingdom. A fortress is beset by calamity when its machinery, walls, and moats are broken, when it lacks weapons, and its army is depleted. The treasury suffers calamity when it is spent, besieged, unconquered, not replenished, plundered, or held by enemies. The army is afflicted when it is blockaded, surrounded, not honored by allies, insulted, non-existent, diseased, exhausted, coming from afar, or newly arrived. Its strength is diminished when it is repulsed, its vanguard struck, overwhelmed by despair, filled with hopelessness, or falsely reported. Women and children may scatter its ranks, internal quarrels and disputes may divide it, and it may lose its very foundation. When the army lacks a master, is disunited, has broken ranks, is unruly, or is seized for another’s purpose, these are all calamities of the army. A friend, too, may be afflicted—seized by the enemy’s power, overcome by desire or anger, or discouraged by adversaries. The corruption of wealth arises from anger, harsh words, or excessive punishment; hunting and gambling are born of desire, while drinking and women are vices that undermine virtue. Harsh speech brings only distress and is fruitless; punishment that is unjust or without due process brings ruin upon the king. A king who is harsh in punishment unsettles all beings, and when the people are disturbed, they seek refuge with the king’s enemies. As enemies grow strong, they bring about destruction; thus, abandoning the corrupt for the sake of the great is wise. The wise, knowing the principles of policy, recognize the corruption of wealth as a vice. Drinking leads to loss of judgment, hunting to deviation from duty. To relieve his fatigue, the king may hunt in the forest, but gambling brings loss of righteousness, wealth, life, and leads to quarrels. Addiction to women causes delay and harm to righteousness and wealth, while drinking leads to loss of life and confusion between right and wrong. One skilled in arranging camps and interpreting omens should defeat the enemy. The king’s residence, along with the treasury, should be placed at the center of the camp. The main force—guildsmen, friends, enemies, and forest-dwellers—should be stationed in proper order, surrounding the royal palace. A section of the army, fully armed and led by the commander, should circle the crossroads at night in formation, guarding the perimeter. Finally, the king must learn his own intelligence reports from those who move along the borders, and all who go out and come in must be carefully observed, for such vigilance is the heart of wise rule. Thus is the ancient counsel on the duties of kings and ministers, the dangers of vice and calamity, and the arts of protection and governance, spoken for the welfare of the kingdom and its people.