Volume 3

This section outlines a strict three-month timeline for moving households and essential resources into the newly constructed defenses.

Upon entering the site, after two months have passed, every family must possess a single residence. Once the residence is completed, the straw and fodder original: "芻藁" (chú gǎo); essential for fuel and livestock feed during a siege. must be moved inside. After three months have passed, the people shall establish wells. Once the wells are completed, the women and children shall move in. If the construction is not completed by this deadline, it is a punishable offense; if the construction is completed but the family does not move in, it is also a punishable offense.

After a full year, if there are any building materials, straw, or grain stores remaining in the open fields or in abandoned forts, they shall be confiscated by the government. In this way, the labor of the superiors will gradually succeed in completing the total relocation of the populace.

The Third Agreement: Fortification Regulations

The difficulty regarding fortification systems is not a lack of regulations, but rather the difficulty of implementing those regulations in their entirety. Those who are skilled in defense rely on the resources of Heaven and take advantage of the benefits of the Earth. Therefore, when the enemy does not attack, the defenders remain hidden beneath the "Nine Earths" A reference to Sun Tzu’s Art of War; "hiding beneath the nine earths" refers to being so well-concealed and fortified that the enemy cannot even find a target..

The ancients said: "Gather the five completions and distance yourself from the five failures" Refers to traditional military geomancy regarding favorable and unfavorable terrain features like water access, soil stability, and visibility.. They also said: "The width [of the base] should be double the top, and the height should be double the base" original: "闢與上倍高與下倍"; this describes the trapezoidal stability of a defensive wall.. How could the common people’s forts of today know such things? Therefore, the items of the Third Agreement regarding Fortification Regulations are as follows: