Interesting book on the Interpretation of The Analects from the Last Century
Translation：
The Analects: Chapter 15, "Wei Ling Gong" (Duke Ling of Wei)
15.1 (Original Text)
Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about military formations (chén).
Confucius replied: "As for matters of ritual vessels (zǔ dòu), I have heard of them. As for matters of armies and warfare, I have never studied them."
The next day, he departed.
Notes
1. chén (陈): Same as zhèn (阵), meaning the battle formations deployed by an army.
2. zǔ dòu (俎豆): Zǔ and dòu were both ancient ritual vessels used in ceremonies. "Matters of zǔ dòu" refers to ritual and ceremonial affairs.
Translation
Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about the art of military formations. Confucius replied, "Matters of ritual and ceremony, I know something about; matters of war and battle, I have never learned." The next day, Confucius left the state of Wei.
Critical Commentary (from the original text)
"Old Man Confucius" could not farm, work, or fight. He was a lackey of the slave-owning class, preoccupied with restoring the old system. He believed that the fundamental way to maintain and restore slavery was to govern according to the Rites of Zhou. When Duke Ling of Wei asked about battle formations instead of how to restore ritual propriety, Confucius thought he had missed the point. Confucius put on the airs of a "gentleman" who only spoke of ritual and benevolence, seemingly unwilling to discuss violence like warfare. In reality, he strongly advocated suppressing rebellions by slaves and the rising landlord class with counter-revolutionary violence.
Note: The critical commentary reflects the highly politicized language of the Cultural Revolution era. Terms like "Old Man Confucius" (孔老二) and "lackey of the slave-owning class" are specific to that historical period and not part of traditional academic discourse.