Arthashastra
मण्डलस्य अभावे शत्रुणा मित्रं मित्रेण वा शत्रुम् उभयतः सम्पीडनेन साधयेत् ॥
In the absence of a Circle of States (to be conquered), he should conquer his friend or his enemy by hemming each between his own force and that of his enemy or that of his friend respectively.
english translation
maNDalasya abhAve zatruNA mitraM mitreNa vA zatrum ubhayataH sampIDanena sAdhayet ॥
hk transliteration by Sanscript