兵不血刃

From Xunzi:

故近者親其善，遠方慕其德，兵不血刃，遠邇來服。

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故近者亲其善，远方慕其德，兵不血刃，远迩来服。

From: Xunzi, c. 3^rd century BCE

Gù jìn zhě qīn qí shàn, yuǎnfāng mù qí dé, bīng bù xuè rèn, yuǎn'ěr lái fú.

Thus, people who were nearby were attracted by their goodness, and those who were in remote regions longed for their justice. Although the army did not bloody its swords, from near and far people came to offer submission.

兵不血刃

1. (in a battle) to win without fighting or without much fight

   • 納魯肅於凡品，是其聰也；拔呂蒙於行陳，是其明也；獲于禁而不害，是其仁也；取荊州而兵不血刃，是其智也。
     纳鲁肃于凡品，是其聪也；拔吕蒙于行陈，是其明也；获于禁而不害，是其仁也；取荆州而兵不血刃，是其智也。

     From: Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 3^rd century CE

     Nà Lǔ Sù yú fánpǐn, shì qí cōng yě; bá Lǚ Méng yú hángzhèn, shì qí míng yě; huò Yú Jìn ér bù hài, shì qí rén yě; qǔ Jīngzhōu ér bīngbùxuèrèn, shì qí zhì yě.

     It is his wisdom that made him select Lu Su from the common people. It is his sagacity that made him promote Lü Meng from ordinary armymen. It is his benevolence that made him capture Yu Jin but inflict no harm. It is his intelligence that made him seize Jingzhou without shedding blood.