Decisive Action

The King sets out on campaign. There will be excellent results. Sever the heads, offer the rebel chiefs in sacrifice. Put them to the question. This is not a mistake. Take aggressive measures. Something harmful has occurred and you must deal with it. Seize what is truly important. If you go on in the old ways now you will be bound, judged and imprisoned. Disperse the bad blood. Do not stay in mourning for the past. A time of abundance is coming. You are coupled with a creative force.

上九, 王用出征, 有嘉折首, 獲匪其醜, 无咎.

The king used him to march forth and chastise. ##### Comments Then it is best to kill the leaders And take captive the followers. No blame. It is not the purpose of chastisement to impose punishment blindly but to create discipline. Evil must be cured at its roots. To eradicate evil in political life, it is best to kill the ringleaders and spare the followers. In educating oneself it is best to root out bad habits and tolerate those that are harmless. For asceticism that is too strict, like sentences of undue severity, fails in its purpose.