After the army is defeated people feel defeated.
They are terrified and have no way out.
People are taking action without knowing they are doing so.
Since only through non-action are people free from fear.
other readings further drafts from the same generation
deeper strata where the meaning thins
the original
1. The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to)
frighten them with death? If the people were always in awe of death,
and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death,
who would dare to do wrong?
2. There is always One who presides over the infliction of death. He who
would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it may be
described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter. Seldom is it
that he who undertakes the hewing, instead of the great carpenter,
does not cut his own hands!