“If you gain the allegiance of all the people so as to bring about the defeat of the unprincipled, then you may be certain of victory before doing battle.
If you use worthy men to attack the unworthy, then you will know without divination that circumstances are auspicious.
If the foe harms people and we benefit them, then we can acquire and use people, even if they are not our men.” “Good!” exclaimed King Wu.
He then summoned the Duke of Zhou52 for consultation and said, “The policy advisors of the realm all regard the ruler of Yin [Shang] as the Son of Heaven and take Zhou to be a vassal state.
Is there a way for the ruler of a vassal state to attack the Son of Heaven and win?” “If the Yin ruler is indeed the Son of Heaven,” the Duke of Zhou replied, “and, if Zhou is indeed a vassal state, then there is no method that can be used to achieve a victory—how can an attack be launched?” “Do you have an explanation for what you have just said?” asked King Wu with anger.
“I have heard,” said the Duke of Zhou, “that those who attack the ones who adhere to ritual are bandits, that those who attack the righteous are ruffians, and that those who lose their hold upon the people are unsupported commoners.
You are attacking one who has lost his people; how can you be said to be attacking the Son of Heaven?” “Well said!” exclaimed King Wu.
He thereupon mobilized the masses, raised an army, waged war with the troops of Yin on the plains of Mu, and utterly defeated them.
On entering the royal courtyard, he saw a piece of jade.
“Whose jade is this?” he asked.