Duties of a Messenger further mentions that when any one of these arises to go against and attack the weak king, the latter should avert the invasion by making a treaty of peace or by taking recourse to battle of intrigues or by treacherous fight in the battlefields. He may seduce the enemy's men either by conciliation or by giving gifts and should prevent treacherous proceedings within his own men by either sowing seeds of dissensions among them or by punishing them. Spies under concealment may capture the fort of the enemy, country, or camp with the aid of weapons, poisons or camp; he may harass the enemy's rear from all sides and may devastate the enemy's country with the help of wild tribes. The weak king can use all such methods where he can set up a scion of enemy's family and can even imprison the prince to seize the enemy's territories. When all the methods of mischief have been perpetrated then the weak king can send his messenger to the enemy to sue for peace or he may make friendship with the enemy without offending the latter. If the enemy still continues to march then the weak king may also offer him with one fourth of his wealth and land to the invader in order to make peace with him which shall take place in the lapse of day and night. Duties of a Messenger mentions that if the invader is persuaded in making peace with the weak king on return of surrendering of the weak king and his army; he may give the weak king on return the elephants and the cavalry which are uncontrollable; or he may send some of his army which is full of traitors, enemies and wild tribes under the control of trusted officers. The enemy may send his own trusted hereditary army which shall be able to hurt the weak enemy at the time of trouble. Overall the invader shall return only steps of intrigues to the weak king who has surrendered to the invader in order to avoid war. Thus, Duties of a Messenger suggests some methods to the weak king to avoid war within unequal powers and halt to peace as long as possible. Arthashastra suggests that the weak king should make all efforts to take care of his own people who are the real strength of the weak ruler in case of a clash between him and the invader. |