The Rebellion

I thought the following story came from Sun Tzu but I couldn't find the original. This is a highly paraphrased version.
Do Now, Ask Later
The emperor sent his army west to put down a rebellion in one of the distant provinces. As the army began to march, the general stayed behind to finish consultations and intelligence gathering. The army made its first camp next to a river, giving them protection on one side. They pitched tents, dug trenches and threw up protective earthworks. When they had at last finished, in the middle of the night, they posted watch and the rest the army went to sleep. Shortly after this, the general arrived and told his lieutenants, "Wake the men and move this camp to a spot about one mile north of here. The scouts will show you the position I have chosen." The lieutenants clamored thus, "But the men are very tired. Sun Tzu says that an army must be well rested. The northern site, while on a hilltop, is not as defensible as this site. Can we not wait until morning to move and select a more suitable camp in daylight?" The general glowered at his lieutenants and ordered that they comply immediately.

Before noon the next day, the lieutenants gathered and proposed that they confront the general about his decision. They found him well rested and having breakfast. "General," they complained, "we have moved to a site that is less protected and the men are now exhausted. Should we be attacked, things will not go well. Why did you order the camp moved?" The general did not speak but allowed the lieutenants to stand silently and at attention while he finished his breakfast. When he was finished, he mounted his horse and bid the lieutenants to follow. He led them back to the previous campsite. They stared in surprise at the lake that had formed; the only indication of their camp being the very top of the earthworks just barely visible above the water. "Had you not ordered the camp moved, we would surely have been decimated by this flood. How did you know that this would happen? By what kind of sorcery?" the lieutenants asked.

The general stared at them all and answered angrily, "I am the general, I have information and intelligence that you do not possess. Because I am the general, not an army, I travel by different roads to arrive at the same place. It is not important how I came to possess the knowledge that this camp would be inundated by the river. What is important that when I give an order, I expect it to be obeyed. For mine is not to answer questions of ignorant lieutenants but to command an army. Tomorrow, in battle, do you wish to pause while I explain my tactics to your full understanding? Do you think our enemies will oblige? Or will you obey without question, living long enough to learn my reasoning, strategy and tactics by observation?"

Wisely, his lieutenants did not reply but rode back to the camp in silence.

My children have heard this story many times and from a very early age (4). The moral has been explained and they understand. Over time, explaining what is expected, then holding them to consequences when expectations are not met, teaches them that you are wise and they should be responsible for their own actions. When my kids are running directly toward eminent danger, all that is required to bring them to a skidding halt is for me to shout "Stop!" By long training and observation, they have learned the consequences of disregarding my sage advice. Sometimes I supply the consequences (i.e. low grades equals no time to spare for internet activities so Dadman takes away bandwidth). Sometimes the consequences supply themselves. Last weekend both boys went to an amusement park. I offered a strap for retaining spectacles to both. Water Dog put his on immediately. Hilltopper left his on the dining room table. It is not Icy that is paying for the lost gla$$es.