plain book

Chapter 13 Interpretation of Plain Books (11)
The extreme of "disagreement under the group" is the betrayal of relatives. If you become a leader to this extent, there will be no salvation.In the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhou Yu, the son of the Wei State, had some strength and liked to fight.Seeing that his elder brother Duke Huan was an honest man, he killed Duke Huan of Wei and became the king of the state of Wei himself.He also knew that the throne was not justified, and he was afraid that others would oppose him, so he started wars everywhere, and the people of Wei hated him to the core.Duke Yin, the ruler of Lu, heard about this, and asked Zhong Zhong, a senior official, "Can Zhou Yu do this for a long time?" Shi Vine, an old minister of the state, killed Zhou Xu with the help of Chen Guo.

[Original Code] Those who use it but don't do it are sparse.

The note said: "If you use the virtuous and don't take the post, you will lose the morale of the scholar. This is what Guan Zhong said: 'It is also harmful to the tyrant.'"

Wang said: "Employing people to assist the country's administration must be rewarded, punished, and authoritative. If you have a position but no power, you cannot perform meritorious service or administer it. If you use it without appointment, it is difficult to grasp the law and implement it. Things cannot be done, and words cannot be advanced. Naturally, the upper and lower levels are alienated. "

【Interpretation】For people with real talent and learning, there are many worries. It is a pity not to use it, and there are some psychological barriers to use it.Some leaders have adopted a compromise solution-"use but not appoint", that is, appoint without delegating power, and give one or two trips to support the horse, and some even go too far, having to use people as a last resort, and setting up many limit.The end result of such leadership is to be alone and alienated by those who use it.

Confucius in the Spring and Autumn Period was a relatively unlucky person. No matter where he went, he was respected by others.Many talented people in history have had the experience of being "hidden in the snow".why?Because the leaders have two bad psychology towards talented people: one is jealousy and the other is fear.

Zhou Yu in the Three Kingdoms period was a very jealous person. Zhuge Liang went to Jiangdong to discuss the Sun-Wu alliance and resisted Cao Cao's 80 troops.Zhou Yu was very jealous of Zhuge Liang's talent, but he had to use Zhuge Liang's tricks, so he was in a dilemma while using it, leaving a wonderful scene for future generations.

In the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Biao was completely afraid of Liu Bei.Liu Bei defected to Liu Biao and was treated as a guest of honor, so the enthusiasm is beyond words.But Liu Biao was very afraid of Liu Bei psychologically, so he gave him some soldiers and horses, and asked him to station in Xinye, far away.When Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao's attack and became famous, and the heroes from all over the world joined him, Liu Biao's fear became more serious, and he never listened to Liu Bei's advice.

【Original】Those who are stingy with rewards are discouraged.

The note said: "Sex is stingy, and those who have meritorious deeds are discouraged. Xiang Yu's seal is also true."

Wang said: "Excellent words of beauty, caress their labor; high fame and honor, encourage and reward their merits. During the rewarding process, the mouth has ignorant words, and the face is full of strange hatred. However, if you give more honor, there will be no joy in the end. Heart, will have the ambition to resent and leave."

[Interpretation] One should be generous, especially a leader. When rewarding meritorious deeds, one must not be petty and stingy, otherwise it will hurt everyone's enthusiasm.

The size of temperament is sometimes innate, and some people are born stingy. There is such a story in "The Dynasty and the Wild": Wei Zhuang is a man who reads a lot and has some talents, but he is extremely stingy. He cooks with rice every day and weighs it as firewood.If a piece of cooked meat is missing, he can detect it immediately.When his eight-year-old son died, his wife wanted to bury him in his usual clothes, but Wei Zhuang was reluctant and took off the clothes when he was done.He was also reluctant to buy a coffin, so he wrapped his son in an old mat.When it was time to bury him, he was reluctant to part with the mat, so he took the mat out from under his son.When it was over, he walked back with the mat under his arm, crying as he walked.

Xiang Yu is such a stingy person. His generals followed him to fight everywhere and made many achievements in battle, but he held the engraved seal in his hand and turned it around until the horns of the mausoleum disappeared. .Later, many of his subordinates ran to vote for Liu Bang, and he ended up committing suicide in Wujiang.

Some leaders are reluctant to give their subordinates a good look or a gloomy look when they are rewarded for their merits, because they are so heartbroken.In the spring and Autumn period, Goujian of Yue State used Fan Li and Wenzhong's tactics to destroy Wu State.But Gou Jian always had a gloomy face during the banquet.After the banquet, Fan Li said: "The king of Yue does not want to attribute the credit for destroying Wu to his subordinates. It seems that the king of Yue is suspicious." The next day, Fan Li bid farewell to Goujian, drove a small boat, and floated away.

【Original】Many, many, and few complain to those who complain.

The note said: "Lost its original hope."

Wang said: "If one's heart is not honest, one has no sense of respect and trust; if one's words are false, one will inevitably attract hatred and resentment. During the period of joy, many people's wealth is regretted for being stingy; but with little deeds, one will attract hatred; Words, people don't listen."

【Interpretation】Bad checks are flying all over the sky, but they just don't cash them, or they promise more and give less.This kind of leadership is making fun of its own prestige.

In a food store, customers often like to line up to buy food from one salesperson, while the other salesmen have nothing to do.One day, the leader asked the popular salesperson what trick he had.He replied: "It's very simple. When other salesmen weigh things, they always fill them full first and then take them out; but I am on the contrary. I fill a little less first, add some when weighing, and just say it. One sentence: 'Give you a little more, welcome to come again next time', this is my trick."

In fact, every salesperson sells the same things to customers in terms of weight.However, if you pack too much and then take it out, the customer will think that taking it out in his bag will easily lead to suspicions that he is short of catties; Have a sense of trust in the salesperson, and think that you have taken advantage of it.

This is the famous "Aronson effect", which means that people like those people or things whose rewards and praises are increasing, and dislike those people or things that seem to be decreasing.

"More and less" is just the opposite. Once the promise has not been fulfilled, but in people's psychology, it is already something they have obtained. If it is not fulfilled, or the fulfillment is not equal, people will feel that they have suffered a loss.

[Original] Those who welcome but refuse are good
The note said: "Liu Zhang welcomes Liu Bei but rejects it."

【Interpretation】Invite people to dinner, the guests have all arrived at the door, and then find an excuse to drive the guests away, such a person is the most hated.They do everything possible to poach talents, but because they are full of suspicion, they cannot be reused. Such leaders are also hated.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Zhang in Yizhou was unable to fight against Zhang Lu's pressure, so he asked Liu Bei to fight against Zhang Lu.This made Liu Bei very happy. He had just borrowed a small residence in Jingzhou, but Sun Quan always wanted to take it back, which made him very upset.Now that's all right, someone actually invited him to enter Shu.When he arrived in Fucheng, Liu Zhang went out to meet him in person, and gave Liu Bei [-] soldiers and a huge sum of money.But not long after the good times, Liu Zhang became suspicious and refused Liu Bei's request many times.In a rage, Liu Bei besieged Chengdu and Liu Zhang surrendered.

Pang Juan, a native of Wei in the Warring States Period, once worshiped Guiguzi as his teacher to learn the art of war with Sun Bin. It can be said that they are brothers.It seems that Pang Juan graduated first and returned to the state of Wei as a general. He was trusted by King Hui of Wei.So he recommended his younger brother Sun Bin to King Wei Hui, but when Sun Bin came, he committed the problem of jealousy again, and finally punished Sun Bin and made him disabled.Sun Bin escaped to the state of Qi by design, became a general, and led the Qi army to ambush Pang Juan.

【Original Code】Those who do little and have high hopes will not be rewarded.

The note said: "The world is not benevolent, and treats everything as a straw dog; the sage is not benevolent, and treats the people as a straw dog. To cover it, carry it, contain it, and cultivate it, how can it be blamed for retribution."

Wang said: "Graces are not settled in people's hearts, and wealth is not scattered among the people. Although some gifts are given, they are small and frivolous. They cannot be generous and deeply beneficial, and people have no heart to repay them."

【Interpretation】It is a wrong idea to do a little favor and give people a little benefit, and expect others to repay you a lot.They don't understand that it's normal to know kindness and not repay it, and it's unreasonable to give too much hope.

During the Warring States period, Lord Xinling stole amulets to rescue Zhao, and King Zhao hosted a banquet to comfort the three armies. Lord Xinling was very proud of himself at the banquet.At this time, his guest Zhu Hai said: "There are virtues that can be forgotten, and there are those who cannot be forgotten; people have virtues to me, and they must not be forgotten; I have virtues to others, so they must not be forgotten." Immediately forget, but some virtues need to be remembered for a lifetime.If others have kindness to me, I must not forget; if I have kindness to others, it is best to forget it immediately.

Nowadays, many people resent the indifference of human relations in society, their good intentions are not rewarded, and they even become enemies after doing good deeds. For example, when they lend money to others, they often get the money back and lose their friendship.In fact, the fault is not in "not repaying one's kindness", because this is normal.People are wrong in the mentality of "repaying favors", always thinking about being repaid, but instead make themselves miserable and full of resentment.If you think about things and regard helping others as a way to make yourself happy, you will have fewer worries and fewer grievances.

In fact, people's hearts are fleshy. As long as you treat others with sincerity, even if you don't want to reciprocate, others will repay you with sincerity.During the Warring States period, there was a man named Yu Rang in the State of Jin, who was at first a retainer for the Fan family and then the Zhongxing family, but they were all unknown.It was not until he became Zhibo's retainer that he was reused, and the relationship between the masters was very close, and Zhibo respected him very much.In 453 BC, the Zhao, Han, and Wei families divided into the Jin Dynasty to destroy the Zhi family.

Yu Rang determined to avenge Zhibo, assassinated Zhao Xiangzi, and did not hesitate to smear paint on his body, which made his skin rotten like sores, swallowed charcoal fire to make his voice hoarse, and disguised himself so that his appearance could not be recognized. Begging, even his wife doesn't know him anymore.But the assassination was unsuccessful.

Zhao Xiangzi asked Yu Rang: "Didn't you serve the Fan family and the Zhongxing family? Zhibo wiped them all out, but instead of avenging them, you entrusted yourself as Zhibo's retainer. Zhibo is dead, you Why are you so eager to avenge him?" Yu Rang said, "I served Fan and Zhongxing, and they treated me as an ordinary person, so I repaid them like an ordinary person. As for Zhibo, he regarded me as an ordinary person. He is regarded as a national scholar, so I will repay him like a national scholar."

[Original] Those who are expensive but forget the cheap will not be long.

The note said: "Those who are self-sufficient, high and low are not enough to be honor and disgrace; high is inherent, and low is also inherent. But when a villain suddenly becomes expensive, he forgets his low. This is why it is not long."

Wang said: "When you live in a place of wealth and honor, let your pride and madness go unrestrained; when you forget your poverty and humbleness, you can enjoy the current nobility exclusively. If you are born with arrogance and extravagance, and forget about hardships, how can it last long!?"

[Interpretation] "If you are rich, don't forget each other", this is a common psychology of Chinese people, and it is also an unspoken rule of society.If someone violates this rule and becomes rich and powerful, he will turn his face and deny him. Such a person will not last long, and sooner or later he will be drowned by people's saliva.

One should put kindness first, no matter how one's status changes, this cannot be changed at all.Because the people and things that everyone has experienced in the past years and the accumulated experience are wealth and deserve to be respected.

In the Jin Dynasty, there was a minister named Tao Kan, who was born as a commoner, and later became the governor, and controlled all the places south of the Yangtze River.But he never forgot that he was born as a commoner. He moved some clay bricks in and out of his house every day. He said: When a person's status becomes higher, his muscles and bones are easy to get tired. It will be a big mistake.At the same time, he was very economical. He kept all the bamboo and sawdust left over from the carpenter's work and piled them up in several rooms. People thought he was too stingy.Later, a war broke out and warships were urgently needed, but it was chaotic at that time, and there was no place to buy bamboo nails for shipbuilding, so he took out these bamboo heads for nails, and built the warship in time.

Forget about your past, indifferent to those who once cared about you, and even betrayed those who helped you, this kind of person will never go too far.Only by respecting the past can we move forward better.

[Original] It is fierce to forget the old evil and abandon the new work.

The note said: "Gritting teeth on the grievances of Yazi, and caring about the kindness of a meal, the amount of a man. Those who have ambitions for the world, even if they hate, they must use their talents; although they must record their grievances, they must use their merits. Han Gaozu Hou Yong Teeth are used to record achievements; Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty Wei Zhenggong used talents."

Wang said: "Administrative rewards for meritorious deeds must be used despite hatred; punishments for crimes and punishments are not pardoned even if relatives are not forgiven. For example, Duke Huan of Qi used Guan Zhong to abandon old enemies and value his talents; Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty Wei Zheng used his former hatred to use his talents. Can; there are small faults in the old ones, and great merits are made in the new ones. Those who hate not to be recorded are fierce."

[Interpretation] When a leader cannot be narrow-minded, he should forget as soon as possible the bad things that others do to him, but he should always learn from the bad things that he does to others.In particular, you can't remember people's faults, and you must avenge them.Holding grudges is not a man, and holding grudges cannot be a great cause.

When Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty conquered the world, there was a boy named Yong Chi who had always had two hearts and rebelled several times.In 208 BC, he followed Liu Bang to rebel against the Qin Dynasty. The Qin army besieged Liu Bang in Fengxiang (west of Pei County), but was defeated by Liu Bang.So he ordered Yong Chi to guard the place.But Yong Chi's heart changed, and he followed the advice of Zhou Shi, a native of Wei, and betrayed Liu Bang.After several repetitions, he returned to Liu Bang again. Liu Bang did not kill him because of his many military exploits.After the founding of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang followed Zhang Liang's advice and made Yongchi the Marquis of Shifang.

Before Tang Taizong became emperor, Wei Zheng was the teacher of the prince Li Jiancheng. During the fight for the throne, Wei Zheng helped the prince and almost killed Tang Taizong.After the Xuanwumen Mutiny, Emperor Taizong killed Li Jiancheng and became the emperor. He did not hate Wei Zheng because of this, and still appointed him as prime minister.All those who have achieved great achievements in history have such a capacity and demeanor.

[Original Code] Those who employ improper personnel are perilous.

Wang said: "Officials select virtuous and capable people, and try their best to govern the country and ensure the people's safety; they entrust treacherous and evil people heavily, and cannot administer government in accordance with the public. Those who are upright will have no officials, and the country will be destroyed; those who are incompetent and slanderous will be in power, and the country will be in danger."

【Interpretation】Employing people can't just look at ability, but moral character, style, and humanity are actually more important.If the character is not good, the higher the ability, the greater the harm.

The most inept emperor in history may be Emperor Guangxu.After Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty succeeded to the throne, he wanted to strengthen the country through reforms and at the same time get rid of the control of the Empress Dowager Cixi.But at that time, Guangxu had no power at all inside and outside the court, and the power was controlled by the Queen Mother.Therefore, Emperor Guangxu had no choice but to reuse Yuan Shikai, who had some military power, hoping to regain power through him.Unexpectedly, Yuan Shikai went to the Queen Mother to tell all of Guangxu's plans. As a result, Guangxu was imprisoned and the six gentlemen were beheaded.

Yuan Shikai really has some abilities, but his character is not very good, he is just a grass on the wall, falling with the wind.Later, when the National Revolution broke out, the Qing Dynasty used him to fight against the revolution, and he supported his own self-respect, bargained on the ground, and betrayed the Qing court again.Whoever uses this kind of person is unlucky.

[Original] Xinjiang employs people not animals.

The note said: "Cao Cao used Guan Yu in the frontier, but Liu Bei eventually returned it. This is not an animal."

Wang said: "If a virtuous person does not meet the right time, is his name in vain? Although he holds his position, he does not seek his own government. Just like Cao Cao loved Guan Gong's ability, he was named Shouting Hou and rewarded him with a lot of money; he was finally dissatisfied and returned to the former lord .”

【Interpretation】Employing people is learned, and retaining those who want to use is more learned.People have their own aspirations, and you must not force them. If you can't reach a consensus on values ​​and goals, you won't be able to retain talents at all.

At that time Cao Cao wanted to keep Guan Gong very much. He had a small banquet for three days and a big banquet for five days, and gave him an official position and money.But when Guan Gong learned of Liu Bang's whereabouts, he still sealed it with gold and hung the seal, and he broke through five passes and killed six generals without hesitation.Also, after Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao, he valued the ingenuity of Yuan Shao's supervisor, Jushou, and really wanted to keep him.Helpless people have their own aspirations, Jushou refused to surrender Cao, was found stealing horses and fled, and was killed.

The ancients said that "the way is different, do not conspire with each other", treatment and status are not sufficient conditions for retaining people, and gathering a team must have a common culture and a common goal, otherwise it is "being in Cao Ying and heart in Han". Same bed but different dreams.

[Original] The choice of officials for others is chaotic.

(End of this chapter)