A Betrayal?

Context: the year is 1136, Song dynasty, and I’m asked to write a management article.

君之志，以人志为本；军之志，以战胜为主。
君尚可调军，以国为先；军尚可叛君，以法为天。

Translation:
A ruler’s ambition is based on his people’s; an army’s ambition prioritises winning battles.
The ruler can (overwrite his generals) and move the armies based on the country’s interests; armies can betray their sovereigns, only if such movements are based on strict military tactics.

Modern management application:
A leader must see what his people are after, and set the goal according to the team (of course, while balancing business objectives). Employees’ priorities are never strategy, but always getting the job done.

The leader can plan directions as he sees fit for efficiency (i.e. achieveing the goal), but employees must be allowed flexibility to go against these orders at times, if they see a way that can be better done.

This last part is usually also epitomised by the saying – 将在外可不受君命 (the general out in the field can reject a ruler’s orders)