"In War, Victory should be swift. If victory is slow, Men tire, Morale sags. Sieges Exhaust Strength; Protracted campaigns Strain the public treasury. If men are tired, Morale low, Strength exhausted, Treasure spent; Then the feudal lords Will exploit the disarray And attack. This even the wisest Will be powerless To mend. I have heard that in war Haste can be Folly But have never seen Delay that was Wise. No nation has ever benefitted from a protracted war... Supplying an army At a distance Drains the public coffers And impoverishes The common people. Where an army is close at hand, Prices rise; When prices rise, The common people Spend all they have; When they spend all, They feel the pinch of Taxes and Levies. Strength is depleted On the battlefeild; Families at home Are destitute. The Common people Lose seven-tenths Of their wealth. Six-tenths of the public coffers Are spent On broken chariots. Worn-out horses, Armour and helmets, Crossbows and arrows, Spears and bucklers, Lances and Shields, Draft animals, Heavy Wagons."
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 20:20:55 +0000
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