Kautilya's Arthashastra 12.3.19

12.3.19

mitrāṇi vāsya brūyāt "ahaṃ vaḥ setuḥ, mayi vibhinne sarvān eṣa vo rājā plāvayiṣyati, sambhūya vāsya yātrāṃ vihanāma" iti //

Or having seduced wild tribes with rewards of wealth and honour, they may be incited to devastate the enemy's country. Or the enemy's rear-enemy may be told: "I am, as it were, a bridge to you all; if I am broken like a rafter, this king will drown you all; let us, therefore, combine and thwart the enemy in his march." Accordingly, a message may be sent to individual or combined states to the effect: "After having done with me, this king will do his work of you: beware of it. I am the best man to be relied upon."