11. The Nine Situations
63
On the day that you take up your command, block the frontier passes, destroy the official tallies, #
These were tablets of bamboo or wood, one half of which was issued as a permit or passport by the official in charge of a gate. Cf. the "border-warden" of LUN YU III. 24, who may have had similar duties. When this half was returned to him, within a fixed period, he was authorized to open the gate and let the traveler through.
and stop the passage of all emissaries. #
Either to or from the enemy's country.