This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 41 traces empty scholarly disputation to rulers’ lack of clarity. It advocates judging speech and deeds by practical utility, with law and commands as standards, rejecting pointless sophistries harmful to farming‑warfare state interests.
Generals earn soldiers’ loyalty by treating them tenderly like kids, making troops willing to face deadly risks. However, blind indulgence without strict discipline spoils soldiers, rendering the army unfit for combat.
Sun Tzu lists six military failures all arising from flawed generalship, including flight, laxity, rout, etc. Uneven troop-officer morale, mutinous officers, loose discipline and poor enemy evaluation all lead to defeat, which commanders must guard against.