Liber III, Pars III — Quibus cautelis debet uti dux belli, ne suus exercitus laedatur in via. Cap. XI.

Liber III, Pars III — Quibus cautelis debet uti dux belli, ne suus exercitus laedatur in via. Cap. XI.

Death is the most terrible thing and the end of all terrors, as it is said. Ethicor. Wherever the death of the people is at stake, and where enemies lie in wait for the death of citizens, every precaution must be taken to keep the army safe and to preserve the lives of the citizens. Therefore, it is not enough to consider those things that need to be considered in public warfare unless the precautions for removing obstacles on the roads are known, so that the army is not endangered by the enemies' ambushes. However, as far as the present is concerned, we can enumerate eight precautions that the commander of the army should keep in mind to preserve the lives of the soldiers under him. The first is to know the routes of the regions through which the army must march, as well as the distances between locations, the qualities of the roads, shortcuts and diversions, and the mountains and rivers that exist along that route, which should be recorded. Indeed, if the commander of the army had the roads, the paths, and the rivers depicted, as if he could see them with his own eyes, he could lead his army more safely. Similarly, sailors do the same; seeing the dangers of the sea, they have charted a map of the sea where the ports, hazards, and other such things are proportionately described, so that sailors, observing it, immediately understand how they should proceed, in what location they are, and from whom they should guard themselves. Therefore, because of the ambushes of the enemy, the army should not be exposed to so many dangers on the road as sailors are at sea; the army must not proceed along any path where it might suffer ambushes unless the leader has documented the qualities of the roads, the mountains, the rivers, and other findings along that route. The second precaution is that the leader of the army should lead some trustworthy guides who know the roads well, along with the documented qualities of those roads. For seeing something documented and illustrated is not as clear as if we see it ourselves with our own eyes. For the knowledge of a thing is more valuable when it is known in itself than when it is known through a picture or some similar representation. To prevent the guides from plotting any deceit, the leader of the army should place good guards around them so they cannot escape. He should also threaten them with death if they act deceitfully in any way, and promise rewards if they act faithfully. The third precaution is to have with him several wise and faithful advisors experienced in warfare, from whose counsel he should act on whatever he sees fit. For when danger is so imminent, no one should rely solely on their own judgment, nor should they trust themselves alone. The fourth precaution is that the routes the army will take should be unknown to the enemies. For the less public the leader's plans are, the less likely they are to be obstructed, and they can be completed more quickly. Therefore, once it has been decided which routes the army should take, and those routes are documented and depicted, and there are trustworthy guides available, the less public this information is and the more concealed it is from the enemies, the more securely the army can proceed. The fifth precaution is to have some of the most trustworthy and vigorous cavalry in any fortification or battle line, with fast and strong horses; they should patrol in front, behind, and on both sides, scouting for ambushes so that no hidden enemies can attack the army from any direction. For even if the leader's plan is not known to anyone, the very fact that the army begins its journey through certain routes allows for speculation about which directions it might take, and it is likely that there will always be some scouts present, so the leader of the army should consider that this could reach the ears of the enemies. Thus, when the visible dangers are less harmful, the fastest cavalry should uncover any ambushes, so that the army does not suffer unexpected troubles from any direction. The sixth precaution is that the best and most battle-ready soldiers should always be stationed on the side of the army where the greatest danger is believed to be imminent; if there is doubt about danger from any direction, remedies should be applied from all sides. The seventh precaution is that the army should not move about in a scattered manner. For an interrupted battle line is more easily defeated. At any hour, the army should be prepared as if enemies were present, so that they couldn't cause harm. Hence, it is proverbially said that one who is fortified is not easily mocked. Therefore, the commander of the army, to whom such a great life is entrusted, must always be attentive and vigilant, so that enemies cannot invade him as if he were negligent or asleep. The commander of the army should also always instruct the centurions, the sergeants, and others who are in charge of military operations to keep the infantry ready for battle, so that if a sudden invasion occurs, they can resist the attackers. For by saying this, if a sudden attack were to happen, it would be as if they were prepared, and it would cause less harm. The eighth precaution is to consider in which area the army is stronger, whether it has more infantry or cavalry. For cavalry defend themselves better in open fields. Infantry, however, is better suited for wooded and mountainous areas. Therefore, depending on whether the commander sees that his forces are stronger in cavalry or infantry, he can choose wide, open paths for battle or narrow, wooded, and hilly routes, and other options as he deems necessary.