plain book

Chapter 14 Interpretation of Plain Books (12)
Wang said: "Those who can be clean and honest and set up disciplines do not depend on the size of the official, but they must do things fairly. For example, Guangwu appointed Dong Xuan as the slave of Princess Huyang in Luo County today. He killed people regardless of his life and bitterly advised the monarch. His good name is still legendary .If you don’t ask the virtuous and foolish, but only choose the size of the officials, how can you control the chaos and the people’s peace!"

[Interpretation] The worst case for a unit to appoint cadres is to set up a position according to the person. The position was not needed at first, but a relative wants to be an official, so a new department has to be established, or the staff is not human, resulting in overstaffing, everywhere. People who eat idle food.Doing so will surely lead to chaos.

Chaos in government in history basically occurred in four situations: eunuchs, cronies, relatives, and local forces.But there is only one fundamental reason, and that is improper employment.Either re-use "private persons", such as eunuchs and relatives; or use non-human beings, such as cronies and local forces.Emperor Xizong of the Ming Dynasty used Wei Zhongxian, which belonged to the heavy use of "private persons", which eventually led to great chaos in the government; Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty used Anlu Mountain, which used non-human beings, and eventually there was chaos in Anshi.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty favored Mrs. Li very much, and Li Guangli was Mrs. Li's younger brother.This person had no general talent, but because he was a "private person", Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty made an exception and used him as a general to lead his army to conquer the small country of Dawan.As a result, it took four years and 10,000+ troops to force Dawan to surrender.When Li Guangli returned to the court, he had only less than 80 soldiers and horses, and the loss was as high as [-]%, and the result of the battle was only a dozen Dawan good horses.Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was actually very happy, and named Li Guangli Haibaihou.

【Original】The strong who lose their place are weak.

Note: "There are those who are strong by virtue, those who are strong by people, those who are strong by power, and those who are strong by soldiers. Yao and Shun are strong with virtue, Jie and Zhou are weak without virtue; Tang and Wu are strong when they win people, and strong when you are weak. People are weak. Zhou gained the power of the feudal lords and became strong, lost the power of the feudal lords and became weak; Tang gained the power of the government and became strong, but lost the power of the government and became weak. For people, good is strong and evil is weak; Sex is strong, emotion is weak.”

Wang said: "If you bully a sage lightly, you will have no heart to use it; if you are arrogant and loyal, how can a person use his talents to the fullest? The Han king who gains Zhang Liang and Chen Ping is strong, and the overlord who loses Liang and Ping is weak."

【Interpretation】Where there is a strong leader, there must be a reason.Some leaders are strong because of their personality, some leaders are strong because they win people, and some leaders are strong because of their environment.Once the reason for the strength is lost, the strength will also become weak.Therefore, there is no fixed formula for strength and weakness, and it varies from time to time, and from situation to situation. The key lies in how to grasp it.

Zhang Liang in the Han Dynasty originally followed Xiang Yu, the overlord of Chu, but later turned his face and defected to Liu Bang.It can be said that Zhang Liang was half of the credit for the establishment of the Western Han Dynasty. In many major strategic decisions, Liu Bang followed Zhang Liang's advice and won.Liu Bang once praised him for "during the strategizing, the decisive victory is thousands of miles away, and the ovary is also good."

Xiang Yu lost Zhang Liang and achieved nothing, so he had to commit suicide in the end.Liu Bang won Zhang Liang, and finally created a great cause for a generation.Therefore, Liu Bang was strong because of winning people, and Xiang Yu was weak because of losing people.

The martial arts in the early Tang Dynasty were outstanding. Whether it was the internal unification war or the external expansion of territory, the cavalry of the Tang Dynasty was the most powerful army in the world at that time.why?Because the government military system was implemented in the Tang Dynasty, soldiers usually farmed at home, and they were the army in wartime, which had a strong regional character.However, it was this strong regionalism of the soldiers that later developed into a separatist force of arrogant soldiers and powerful generals, which led to the nearly hundred-year-long "Rebellion of Fanzhen" in the Tang Dynasty.

There is no such thing as a good or bad system in the Fubing system, it depends on how it is used.Everything should be guided according to the situation, not static.Use its strength and guard its weakness.

[Original Code] Decision-making depends on the risk of the unkind.

The note said: "People who are not benevolent take pleasure in misfortune."

Wang said: "People who are not benevolent have no vision; if a wise man conspires with him, he will be in danger of perishing. For example, Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty did not use Zhang Jiuling as his chancellor, but ordered Yang Guozhong and Li Linfu to rule the country. There are virtuous and good people who refuse to recommend them, for fear of being mixed up He has power and position; he uses treacherous and slanderous people as his confidantes and eyes, forming a party inside and outside, blocking up and down, resulting in chaos in Lushan, the Ming emperor lost his country, fled to Xishu, and Guozhong died at the foot of Mawei slope. This is a decision-making that is not benevolent. There is a terrible disaster."

【Interpretation】The important responsibility of a leader lies in decision-making, but decision-making must be based on love. In today's words, it is people-oriented, so that decisions can be far-sighted and in line with public opinion.If the decision-maker has no benevolence and the motivation for making the decision is bad, it means that the villain is taking power, and such decision-making is dangerous.

In the Ming Dynasty, there was a great eunuch named Wang Zhen.During Ming Yingzong's reign, he was reused by the emperor and even monopolized military power.But Wang Zhen didn't have any military talent, so he ordered troops to be dispatched to Luchuan.Wang Zhen's decision was entirely out of selfishness. He didn't understand military affairs, and he was afraid of others' irresponsible remarks, so he wanted to win the battle and gain prestige.As a result, it took hundreds of thousands of soldiers and took nearly ten years. Half of the country's income was used for military pay, which really outweighed the gains.Later, for the same purpose, Yexian asked the Ming Yingzong to conquer the north himself, hoping to use the emperor's power to build momentum for himself.As a result, he also led a large army to encircle the civil fort first, and Wang Zhen was defeated. Ming Yingzong was captured by Ye Xian, and he himself was killed by the rebel army.

[Original Code] The one who leaks the conspiracy loses.

Wang said: "If the secret is not secret, the disaster will happen first; if the plan is not successful, the disaster will follow. Confidential things should not be taught to everyone; if the news is leaked, disaster will happen instead, and there will be disaster."

【Interpretation】"Conspiracy" is not a conspiracy in the usual sense, but refers to a secret plan, for example, a company's marketing plan, a well-planned plan, once leaked, the loss will be quite serious.As with business plans, so with military deployments.

At the end of World War II, in order to attack the Allies, the German submarine force planned to use four submarines to attack merchant ships off the coast of Australia, thereby causing chaos.This plan was good, but because the code of the German navy had been cracked at this time, the four submarines were intercepted by the allies as soon as they left the port. Before they approached the target, three submarines were lost, and only one submarine reached the target. land.Another example is that Japan's secret codes have long been deciphered by the United States, so many of Japan's plans have no secrets at all to the Americans, and they have completely grasped the initiative on the battlefield. The US military's shooting down of Yamamoto's landline is a good example.

Once the "conspiracy" is leaked, the opponent can know himself and the enemy. At this time, the light and the dark have changed, and the strength and weakness have changed, so there is no failure.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Mu of Qin was about to send Meng Ming to attack the State of Zheng, but when the army marched to Yanjin, it was discovered by Xian Gao, a businessman of the State of Zheng.Xian Gao had an idea, pretended to be an envoy of the State of Zheng, and hosted a banquet to welcome the Qin army. He said to Meng Ming: "My lord already knew that the general led an army to our country, so he sent me all the way to reward the Qin army. Don't be polite, everyone, just let go of your stomach and eat." Meng Ming suddenly became suspicious, and the garrison stopped.He thought: "We came here from a long distance, just to surprise Zheng Guo. It's good now, Zheng Guo already knows our plan, and maybe it has been prepared for a long time. At this time, if we proceed according to the original plan, the attack will not be successful. A strong city is hard to overcome, and a siege is hard to sustain with few soldiers." So, after attacking Hua, they retreated.

[Original] Those who are thick and thin are withered.

The note said: "Withered, cut also. Wen Zhongzi said: "In a country with a lot of money, its wealth must be cut. "

Wang said: "Autumn rent and summer tax have their own regulations; disuse and use are huge, and they are often insufficient. Excessive collection of people's wealth and heavy taxation will definitely harm the people. The people are the foundation of the country. If it is originally strong, its country will be peaceful; If the common people lose their crops, there will be disasters like crippled birds."

【Interpretation】Those who are rich will make the people poor, and the people who are poor will make the country wither. The ancients said: "Those who are poor in the world will be hated by the world; those who endanger the world will be disasters by the world." Caring only for yourself and ignoring others has always been the same end, then It is to be abandoned by others.

The most talked about in Chinese culture is balance, from the philosophy of yin and yang to the idea of ​​the mean.why?That's because what China lacks the most is balance and moderation, what is really lacking and what to look forward to.However, from Qin Shihuang building the Great Wall and building Afang, to the Empress Dowager embezzling military pay to build the Summer Palace, they all "reserved generously and gave poorly".Therefore, from Chen Sheng, Wu Guang to Hong Xiuquan, there is always a response.

[Original] Soldiers are poor, but wanderers are rich and poor.

The note said: "The traveler drummed his cheeks and tongue, but fortunately the smoke and dust met; the warrior fought his best to defend the danger of the strong field. The rich and the poor, the army is declining!

Wang said: "A lobbyist enters his body with his mouthpiece. If he has a high official position and high salary, he will be rich in his family; a warfighter will sacrifice his life to make meritorious service. His name is meager and his salary is not enough to support his relatives. If he does not survive Compassionate soldiers, rewarding the three armies, the army is bound to decline, and there will be no brave men who fight to the death."

【Interpretation】Travelers are lobbyists. They lobby politicians with a three-inch tongue, only to win their own wealth and honor, lest the world will not be chaotic.This kind of person is often a commoner in the court and a prime minister in the evening.Su Qin was a lobbyist during the Warring States period, and later he became the Prime Minister of the Six Kingdoms all by himself.

Generally speaking, the era when travellers were popular was an era when opportunities and wealth were concentrated to a few people. The workers were poor and lacked opportunities. In today's words, the front-line workers did not get money, but the second-line staff got rich.Whether it is a society or a unit, once this happens, it is the beginning of decline.

[Original Code] The goods are ignorant of those who bribe the public.

The note said: "Private ignorance of public, music ignorant of straightness."

Wang said: "Benefits are not given, and authority is used to embezzle people's interests; good governance is not good, and private affairs are done by relying on power. Defrauding the people, turning right into wrong; taking people's wealth by force, turning evil into good. If you use greed to control state affairs, you will inevitably faint. Obscure laws and regulations, abolishing chaotic disciplines."

[Interpretation] "梦" means to be dark and unclear, to reverse black and white.When bribery in a society is no longer secretive, but becomes an open behavior, which is carried out in broad daylight, that is the darkest manifestation of politics.

Bribery and bribery in the Qing Dynasty almost reached the point of openness. "Three years to clear the magistrate, one hundred thousand snowflake silver" has become a recognized fact.As a result, spending money to buy an official—making money as an official—spending money to sell a bigger official has become the only way for many people to pursue official careers, so that the Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty had to hold a meeting in person to criticize: "Bribes are public, and they are priced according to the price. The door is actually the same as merchants." In order to prohibit bribery and accepting bribes, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty actually skinned the living people, filled them with grass, and hung them as a warning.

During the period of King Qi Wei in the Warring States Period, there were two officials who aroused everyone's discussion, one was Doctor A (place name) and the other was Doctor Jimo.Almost all the ministers in the court praised Dr. A and criticized Dr. Jimo.But King Qi Wei still had his own ideas. He first sent someone to secretly investigate the political achievements of the two officials, and found that: Dr. Jimo has outstanding political achievements, opened up fields, and the people are rich. to".But in the place under the leadership of Doctor A, Tian Huang Min Dong, because he is very good at bribery, so people say good things about him.In a fit of rage, King Qi Wei boiled Dr. A and those who spoke well of him in a cauldron.Since then, the trend of bribery has been stopped.

[Original] Wen Shan ignores, and those who remember their mistakes are violent.

Note: "Violence breeds resentment."

Wang said: "I heard that there are good people who are virtuous and kind, and they will be happy for a while; if they see loyalty and talent, they will respect and love them for a while; they have the false name of receiving virtuous people, but they have no honesty in employing people. When they make good strategies, they refuse to follow them; if they are loyal and upright, they don't Willing to listen. However, if you have talent, it is as if you don’t have it. If you don’t use good people, you can’t do good.

Qi Zhi is virtuous, and he is generous;If you have a big heart, you must be tolerant to others; if you have few mistakes, you will always remember them in your heart; "

【Interpretation】As a leader, you must know how to appreciate people. Everyone has something to be appreciated. When you see the strengths of your subordinates and hear good suggestions, you should be happy when you hear good things and praise them sincerely.Employees are most annoyed by leaders who don't like what they hear and don't forget their mistakes, because this kind of personality often has a very violent side.

In the Han Dynasty, Li Guang was known as a parachutist. Although he was extremely brave, he had a cruel and unforgettable personality.Once he was drinking with others in the country.When he came back, he passed by Baling Pavilion. The captain of Baling Pavilion was drunk and stepped forward to reprimand Li Guang for not allowing him to pass.Li Guang's entourage said: "This is the former General Li." Ting Wei said: "The current general cannot pass through at night, let alone the former general!"From then on, Li Guang held a grudge.Not long after, the Huns invaded the northern border, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty appointed Li Guang as the guard of You Beiping.Li Guang specifically asked Ba Lingwei to go with him, and when he arrived at the military gate, he would be beheaded without saying a word.Li Guang made countless military exploits throughout his life, but he was not granted the title of Marquis. Wang Bo wrote a poem saying "Feng Tang is old, but Li Guang is hard to seal", which has something to do with his disharmony.

[Original Code] What you can't be trusted, what you can't be trusted is turbid.

The note said: "turbidity, muddy also."

Wang said: "If you doubt and see, you will be afraid of using it, but you will lose your goodness; if you use it but not believe it, you will exhaust your strength and do your best. If you doubt it, don't use it, and if you use it, stop doubting it; if you doubt it and use it again, you will be apprehensive and fearful, and things will not work." Do it. Use it without doubting it, conduct politics impartially, and succeed in doing things.”

【Interpretation】There are great differences between people, and it is impossible to concentrate all the advantages in one person, so whether it is letting others do things or making friends, we must treat them differently.Some people use their talents, but it is not necessary to trust his character; while some people can trust him, but they may not be able to entrust them with important responsibilities.In a word, let the right people do the right thing.

Confucius once said: "You can learn together, but you can't be with the right way. You can be with the right way, but you can't stand with you. You can be with the establishment, but you can't be with the power." It means: People who can learn together may not be able to go together Pursue the truth; those who can jointly pursue the truth may not necessarily be able to make contributions together; those who can make contributions together may not necessarily be able to give power casually.Although the huanghuali in Hainan is extremely valuable, it is doomed not to survive if it is transplanted to Beijing.

The empress of the Southern Dynasties was called Chen Shubao. He loved literature and wrote good poems. His "Yushu Backyard Flowers" has been passed down for thousands of years: "Liyu Fanglin is opposite the high pavilion, and the new makeup is gorgeous and the quality is alluring. Yinghu Ningjiao Clothed in, out of the curtain with a smile on the alley. The face of the enchantress is like a flower with dew, and the stream of yushu shines in the backyard." It is a pity that he is not expected to be an emperor. For the same reason, a group of people who love literature were appointed to govern the government, and the result can be imagined. In 589, Sui general Han Qinhu led his army to attack. Taking advantage of the thick fog on the river, he quietly crossed the Yangtze River and surrounded Jiankang.Chen Chao's army was vulnerable, and soon the whole army was defeated.Chen Shubao, Zhang Lihua and other concubines hid in the well in a crisis, were captured by the Sui army, and later died in Luoyang. [Original Code] Those who shepherds use virtue gather, and those who lead others to punishment scatter.

The note said: "Punishers are forgiven in the meaning of morality; it is because the former kings used punishment to support virtue, rather than dedicated punishment. Therefore, it is said: "If the animal husbandry uses virtue, it will gather, and if it is punished, it will disperse. "

Wang said: "Teaching with morality and righteousness will make people feel at ease; harmonizing with punishment will scatter the people. If ritual, righteousness, integrity, and shame are transformed into filial piety, fraternity, loyalty, and trust, the people will naturally gather together." Officials without a sense of impartiality will lead to poor food; if they are lucky enough to serve households, they will frequently amass people; if they are not benevolent, they will only use severe punishments, and they will inevitably flee.”

【Interpretation】Lao Tzu once said: "The people are not afraid of death, so why should they be afraid of it." For a society, criminal law should always be placed in a supplementary position, it is to assist the cultivation of morality.If we blindly punish the people with the law, we will inevitably lose our morality, and when there is chaos, the whole society will collapse.Although the Qin Dynasty ruled the world, the criminal law was too cruel. As a result, Chen Sheng and Wu Guangdeng shouted, and the whole dynasty fell apart immediately.

There can be no real unity under harsh laws.A country, a unit, as it should be.If there is a leader who often punishes his subordinates, even if every punishment is in line with the regulations, there will inevitably be public resentment.Although management is inseparable from rules and regulations, if these systems are strictly implemented, it will be a failed manager.

(End of this chapter)