Kautilya's Arthashastra 5.1.53

5.1.53

dūṣyadaṇḍopanateṣu tu - yuvarājaḥ senāpatir vā kiṃcid apakṛtyāpakrānto vikrameta //

The prince or the commander of the army may confer some benefit upon such inimical persons as have been cowed down by a seditious army, and may declare his displeasure against them afterwards. And then some other persons, who are equally cowed down by another seditious army of the king, may be sent against the former along with an army of inefficient soldiers and fiery spies. Thus all the measures to get rid of seditious persons are of the same type.