Kautilya's Arthashastra 7.5.14

7.5.14

kṣīṇalubdhā hi prakṛtayo bhartari snigdhā bhartṛhite tiṣṭhanti, upajāpaṃ vā visaṃvādayanti, anurāge sārvaguṇyam iti //

Not so, says Kautilya: for though impoverished and greedy, they are loyal to their master and are ready to stand for his cause and to defeat any intrigue against him; for it is in loyalty that all other good qualities have their strength. Hence the conqueror should march against the enemy whose subjects are oppressed.