Asked to demonstrate his skill as a military leader, Sun Wu agreed to train the ruler’s harem of concubine as soldiers, and divided the 180 women into two battalions, appointing the two favorites as commanders. But when his orders produced giggles instead of strict compliance, Sun Wu ordered the execution of the concubine-commanders. Although the warlord protested and suddenly lost interest in this war game, the rest of the harem began to follow Sun Wu’s orders without question.18 (Daoists are certainly not all pacifists.)
