Art of War Chapter – 13.3

Among all in the army, none are more trusted than spies; none receive greater rewards; and no work is more confidential.
Only the wise can employ spies; only the benevolent can send them forth; only the subtle can uncover true intelligence from them.

How profound and delicate! Spies are useful everywhere.

If a spy’s mission is leaked in advance, both the spy and those who learned the secret shall be put to death.

Note

Spies gain the utmost trust and highest rewards with absolute secrecy. Only wise, humane and astute commanders can effectively deploy spies. Anyone leaking spy plans faces execution together with the spy.

Sun Tzu (Sun Wu)

A great military strategist and thinker in ancient China, who lived in the late Spring and Autumn Period. He authored The Art of War, the world’s earliest and most influential military classic. His strategic thoughts have been widely applied in military, politics and management worldwide.

Trust and reward

Basic treatment for spies to ensure loyalty.

Confidentiality

The top rule for all spy work.

Severe punishment

Strict military law to prevent information leakage.

故三軍之事，親莫親于間，賞莫厚于間，事莫密于間，非聖智不能用間，非仁義不能使間，非微妙不能得間之實。微哉，微哉，無所不用間也。間事未發而先聞者，間與所告者皆死。