A treatise on military art. Tips for the survival of the state in the era of the fighting kingdoms

The Chinese military treatise, one of the seven classical treatises, is often called by its creator Wei Lao Tzu. Probably, the work was created at the end of the 4th century BC. e., in the era of the fighting kingdoms.
Wei Liao-Tzu, according to one of the testimonies, studied with Shan Yan-the famous theorist of the legism and statesman, who advocated the creation of a strong centralized power that controls people and state resources. According to another version, Wei Liao was the main adviser to the first emperor Qin during a fierce struggle for the unification of China.
Be that as it may, Wei Lao was a magnificent strategist and subtle thinker, who realized that only the unity of the military and civilian can ensure the survival of the state in the vague era of the fighting kingdoms