Forty-eighth: Border Tribes Invade the Borders

支干尊卑分內外，日刑辰上我贏夷。支克干頭強虜逆，日生辰死自亡歸。更將刑德推強弱，初外中吾剋制夷。干尊支卑，故以中國為主，外夷為支，此一定不易之理。若日上神刑辰上神，我贏夷之兆；辰上神刑日上神，強虜橫逆不順。即日克辰上，與克辰中國勝；辰剋日上與剋日，外軫猖獗。若上得相生旺相之神，辰上得死囚空亡之神，夷眾逃散，不敵而歸。

The day stem and day branch have distinctions of rank, used to differentiate internal and external forces. If the god above the day stem is in conflict with the god above the day branch, it indicates that our side defeats the outer tribes. If the day branch overcomes the god above the day stem, it signifies that the strong enemy rebels against us. If the day stem is supported and the day branch is in a weak or dead state, the outer tribes will retreat on their own. In addition, we should use the concepts of conflict and virtue to determine strength and weakness, and use the first transmission as external and the middle transmission as internal to see if we can control the barbarians. The day stem is considered superior, and the day branch is inferior, so taking the Central Plains as the day stem and the outer tribes as the day branch is an unchangeable principle. If the god above the day stem conflicts with the god above the day branch, it is a sign that our side defeats the barbarians. If the god above the day branch conflicts with the god above the day stem, it indicates that the strong enemy rebels and is not obedient. If the day stem overcomes the god above the day branch or overcomes the day branch, the Central Plains wins; if the day branch overcomes the god above the day stem or overcomes the day stem, the outer tribes become rampant. If the day stem is supported by a god that is mutually generating and prosperous, while the day branch is supported by a god that is dead or in captivity, then the barbarian forces will disperse and retreat without fighting.

此自日辰尊卑之分論也，惟《靈匣經》及《兵機捷徑》等又以刑德分中外（刑，日刑也；德，日德也），德克刑中國勝，刑剋德外夷勝。又詳德刑之地盤生克何如，若俱受刑亦不妙。

The above discussion is based on the hierarchy between the day stem and the day branch. Only the books "Ling Xia Jing" and "Bing Ji Jie Jing" use the concepts of "Xing" and "De" to distinguish between the Central Plains and the outer tribes: "Xing" refers to the day's Xing, and "De" refers to the day's De. If De overcomes Xing, the Central Plains prevail; if Xing overcomes De, the outer tribes prevail. Additionally, one must carefully examine the generation and overcoming relationships between the Xing and De as they fall on the Earth Plate. If both are affected by Xing, it is not favorable.

然則三傳可以不用乎？初傳為外末為內，若初中旺相生末，內有奸人與相連。中末旺克初，寇至境邊自回。如無氣末往生之，宜退謹守，怕有穿窬竊財，將神俱以制刑制支為吉。

Then can the three transmissions be dispensed with? Not really. The first transmission represents the outside, and the final transmission represents the interior. If the first and second transmissions are prosperous and strong and generate the final transmission, it indicates there are traitors within who collude with external enemies. If the second and final transmissions are prosperous and strong and overcome the first transmission, the enemy will reach the border but then retreat on their own. If the final transmission lacks strength and instead generates the first transmission, one should retreat and be cautious, fearing incidents such as theft through walls or looting property. As for the heavenly general and heavenly spirits, those capable of controlling the transmission and overcoming the day branch are considered auspicious.

然而夷性不測，方土亦異，則當以發用神將決。如發用亥子，知為北狄；巳午發用，知為南蠻；申酉發用，知為西戎；寅卯發用，知為東虜；四季發用，知為五方雜集之苗。

However, the nature of foreign tribes is hard to predict, and the customs of different regions vary. Therefore, one should use the deity indicated by the first transmission and initiating transmission to determine. If the initiating transmission is亥 or 子, it indicates the northern狄 people; if it is巳 or 午, it indicates the southern蛮 people; if it is申 or 酉, it indicates the western戎 people; if it is寅 or 卯, it indicates the eastern enemy; if it is辰, 戌, 丑, or 未, the four seasons, it indicates the Miaoren people who are mixed from the five directions.

若論其性，見子為貪狼，亥卯為陰賊，寅午為勇猛，丑戌為公正，巳酉為寬大，辰未為奸邪獲擄。螣蛇為凶惡，朱雀天空為欺詐虛滑，勾陳好殺，太陰為後，陰私懦弱，故曰：“方從子午分南北，性看天神一定之。”夫知其性知其方，則預有以備之，蕩平亦何難之有？

If we discuss their nature: encountering Zi indicates greed like a wolf, encountering Hai and Mao indicates secret theft, encountering Yin and Wu indicates bravery and fighting, encountering Chou and Xu indicates fairness and integrity, encountering Si and You indicates generosity and magnanimity, and encountering Chen and Wei indicates cunning and a tendency for plunder. Regarding the Heavenly Generals, 'Teng Snake' signifies malevolence, 'Vermilion Bird' and 'Heavenly Void' indicate deceit and trickery, 'Gou Chen' signifies a love for killing, and 'Tai Yin' and 'Heavenly Empress' indicate secrecy and weakness. Therefore, it is said: 'The directions are divided into north and south along the line of Zi and Wu, and their nature can be determined by the heavenly spirits.' Once their nature and directions are known, one can take precautions in advance, so how difficult is it to eliminate border troubles?

若逢群寇定輸贏，勝負初傳大將評。德或制刑刑生德，貴乘太歲制玄神。本神行年能制虎，勾陳賊上震下辰。遇此敵降天滅寇，行師傳助建功勳。

When encountering a group of bandits to determine victory or defeat, the outcome depends on the first transmission and the main general's future judgment. If the day's virtue is restrained by the day's punishment, or if the punishment generates the virtue; if the nobleman rides the year's sovereign to restrain the black tortoise; if the main general's birth year can restrain the white tiger; if the hook chariot is positioned on the enemy's position and restrains the spirits below through intimidation—encountering these situations indicates the enemy will surrender and heaven will destroy the bandits. With the three transmissions assisting, military success is certain.

平寇之課，以發用天將核之，吉將勝，凶將否。若德克刑，刑又來生德，主不戰而服。貴乘太歲立旺方是天子合位，平一海內之象。玄武為賊，太歲又制之，中華勝虜之兆。若本將行年又能制虎，勾陳臨賊方位，又克上神，則寇自降滅，定成大勳也（勾陳立賊方共有三說：一說制勾陳神，一說天乙克勾下神，今又是勾自克下神。凡天乙制勾陳，六辛、壬、癸日有之）。

The divination lesson for quelling bandits uses the Heavenly General of the first transmission to determine the outcome: a favorable general will prevail, while an unfavorable one will not. If the day's virtue overcomes the day's crime, and the crime in turn generates the virtue, the enemy will surrender without fighting. If the Nobleman is riding the Sovereign Year and is positioned in the direction of its strength, this signifies the Son of Heaven being properly seated, indicating the pacification of the entire realm and unification of the world. The Black Tortoise represents bandits, and if the Sovereign Year controls it, this is a sign of victory by the central plains over foreign invaders. If the general's year also controls the White Tiger, and the Gou Chen is positioned in the direction where the enemy resides and overcomes the superior deity there, then the bandits will naturally submit and be eliminated, and great achievements will certainly be made. Regarding the phrase 'Gou Chen stands in the direction of the enemy,' there are three interpretations: one says that a deity must control Gou Chen, another says that the Nobleman must overcome the deity beneath Gou Chen, and here it refers to Gou Chen itself overcoming the deity beneath it. Whenever the Nobleman can control Gou Chen, it only occurs on the days of Ji Xin and Ren, Gui.

得勝還朝斷眾心，歲生年命聖歡欣。歲陰旺相生主將，後宮暗助有親臣。歲神年後扶年命，宰輔出力助將軍。月建生日公侯力，日上休囚反禍臨。歲神月建來刑剋，譽贊與誰宜得人？日辰旺相及有氣，三陽三光鑄印逢。月將龍德生年日，鐘鼎銘勳寵渥隆。

The victory return to the court requires judging the inclinations of the court officials. If the Tai Su (Year God) generates the general's natal year, the emperor will surely be pleased. If the Tai Su and Tai Yin are prosperous and strong, they will support the general's natal year, indicating secret assistance from the palace and close ministers. If the gods after the Tai Su support the natal year, it means the prime ministers are helping the general. If the month builder is born on the day stem, it indicates the marquises are supporting. However, if the day stem is weak and confined, misfortune may come. If the Tai Su and month builder also conflict, then who deserves honor and commendation, and whom should be entrusted with important tasks? Only when the day stem and day branch are prosperous and strong, and the divination includes auspicious patterns such as 'Three Yangs', 'Three Lights', and 'Casting the Seal', and the month general and Long De (Dragon Virtue) generate both the natal year and day stem, will there be a situation of great achievements recorded on bronze tripods and abundant royal favor.

邊夷既靖，正班師勒鼎之時，然而朝臣未知其心服否，若得太歲生主將年命，聖天子不勝歡欣。太歲與太陰旺相生大將年命，主後官有皇后妃親臣（上所親信者也）暗助。太歲後之神生扶年命，宰輔亦左右維持。月建生日，公侯亦朝夕贊襄，在朝之眾心可知也。

The troubles in the border regions have already been quelled, and it is now the proper time to return to the capital and inscribe the achievements on bronze vessels. However, whether the ministers in court are convinced or not remains unknown. If the divination shows that the year stem (太岁) generates and supports the main general's personal destiny, then the wise emperor will certainly be very pleased. If the Tai Yin and the year stem are prosperous and strong, it indicates that the empress, concubines, and trusted ministers of the emperor will secretly support the general. If the deities after the year stem generate and support the personal destiny, the prime ministers will also support from the side. When the month builder (月建) coincides with the day stem (日干), the marquises and dukes will also provide continuous assistance. Thus, the inclinations of the court officials can be known.

若日上體囚，反有禍至；歲神月建又來刑，公卿大夫相與阻撓，即亦吝爵不賞矣，又敢望封哉？惟是日辰旺相，又臨有氣之神，課得三陽、三光、鑄印、龍德等吉，月將又來生日，則是寵涯之隆矣。

If the day stem falls into a weak and restrained position, misfortune is likely to come; if the sovereign year and month builder also conflict and restrain it, then ministers and officials will all conspire against it, even reluctant to grant titles and rewards, how could one dare to hope for a marquisate? Only when the day stem and day branch are prosperous and strong, and are situated on a vital position, and the lesson pattern is among the auspicious ones such as 'Three Yangs', 'Three Lights', 'Casting Seal', and 'Dragon Virtue', and the month general is also born to the day stem, then there will be abundant favor and great glory.