The Six Preservations of Men

If a ruler doesn’t select men around him who doesn’t’ have six preservations then he will lose his power. The six preservations are: Benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, trust (good faith), courage, and last planning.

Here’s how to select men with these qualities:

Make men rich and observe whether they do not commit offenses. Give them rank and observe whether they do not become arrogant. Entrust them with responsibilities and see whether they will not change. Employ them and see whether they will not conceal anything. Endanger them and see whether they are not afraid. Give them the management of affairs and see whether they are not perplexed. 

If you make them rich but they do not commit offenses, they are benevolent. If you give them rank and they do not grow arrogant, they are righteous. If you entrust them with office and they do not change, they are loyal. If you employ them and they do not conceal anything, they are trustworthy. If you put them in danger and they are not afraid, they are courageous. If you give them management of affairs and they are not perplexed, they are capable of making plans.

Source: The Six Secret Teaching on the Way of Strategy. A Manual from Ancient China in the Tradition of The Art of War (1993) translated by Ralph D. Sawyer.

In the same chapter, The T’ai Kung talks about the “three treasures” rulers should never loan to other men otherwise the ruler will lose his awesomeness as Kung puts. The treasures are great agriculture, great industry, and great commerce.