Kautilya's Arthashastra 7.5.12

7.5.12

kṣīṇalubdhaprakṛtim apacaritaprakṛtiṃ veti kṣīṇalubdhaprakṛtiṃ yāyāt, kṣīṇalubdhā hi prakṛtayaḥ sukhenopajāpaṃ pīḍāṃ vopagacchanti, nāpacaritāḥ pradhānāvagrahasādhyāḥ" ity ācāryāḥ //

Which is to be marched against--an enemy whose subjects are impoverished and greedy or an enemy whose subjects are being oppressed?

My teacher says that the conqueror should march against that enemy whose subjects are impoverished and greedy, for impoverished and greedy subjects suffer themselves to be won over to the other side by intrigue, and are easily excited. But not so the oppressed subjects whose wrath can be pacified by punishing the chief men (of the State).