But regardless, always make sure to feed your soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines well. Throughout military history, in all cultures and every time period, no good has ever come from depriving your troops of chow.

As I argue in an earlier article, I think we should take seriously the idea that Sun Tzu directed only captured chariot crews be treated well (so they can be used by your side). And Hua Yuan's example may have driven this thought:
thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/201…

Sun Tzu would not have the means to adequately feed a mass of POWs as he maneuvered deep in enemy territory. But if we note the context of where this idea germinates from in the 2nd chapter of the text, it comes directly after an encouragement to capture enemy chariots not troops

But did this story also influence Sun Tzu's thinking on 'treating POWs well'? Many view this as a general statement of Sun Tzu's intent, but I find this problematic. Sun Tzu advocates invading deeply into enemy territory and relying on plunder and foraging to feed his own force.

Keeping track of ancient Chinese historical figures and their familial/power relationships is so complicated, the only way I could keep everything straight is by building a database to track all the information. I don't know how others can do it all in their head, but some do.