Kongming said that Jiang Wan was the weapon of the country
Three requirements for knowing people
Zhugeliang believed that people can be understood in seven ways
During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhugeliang was well-known for his proficiency in governing the country. Sima Yi called him a “genius in the world”. Zhugeliang also excelled in employing people.
When Liu Bei first came to Sichuan, he appointed Jiang Wan as the commander of Guangdu. Once, Liu Bei went out for an inspection and suddenly came to Guangdu. He saw Jiang Wan “all things are gone, and he is drunk and angry. He will add to the crime.”. At this time, Zhugeliang came forward to intercede for Jiang Wan. He said that Jiang Wan was “an instrument of the country, not a talent of a hundred miles”. He persuaded Liu Bei to put Jiang Wan in important position, so that Liu Bei looked at Jiang Wan with new eyes. When Liu Bei and Cao Cao competed for Hanzhong, Liu Bei’s troops were insufficient. While Zhugeliang was hesitating, his colleague Yang Hong suggested that “there would be no Shu without Hanzhong” and urged Zhugeliang to send troops immediately. Zhugeliang saw that Yang Hong had extraordinary insight, so he “showed that Hong was leading the governor of Shu Prefecture”. Yang Hong recommended that he Zhi, the subordinate secretary, had only talent and strategy. Zhugeliang asked Liu Bei to appoint He Zhi as the governor of Guanghan, “so that Zhugeliang could make the best use of the tools of the people in the west”.
In August of 234 ad, when Zhugeliang was dying, he still did not forget to recommend Jiang Wan and Fei Yi to “be able to do great things”. Later, Jiang Wan and Fei Yi successively took the post of big Sima in charge of the military and political affairs of the country, which enabled Shu to maintain stability for a long period of time.
How did Zhugeliang know people? In the heart book of Zhugeliang, Zhugeliang said:
Madam’s nature is not difficult to observe. Good and evil are different, and her feelings and appearances are different. Those who are gentle but cheat; Those who have external respect but internal deception; Those who are brave outside but timid inside; Those who try and cheat. However, there are seven ways to know people: one is to ask for right and wrong, and to view their aspirations. Second, we can argue with words when we are poor, but watch their changes. Third, consult him with his plan and observe his knowledge. On the fourth day, he told him that he was brave in spite of his misfortune. Five words: when you are drunk, you should use the wine and observe its nature. Six words: in the face of profit, we should look at honesty. Seven days: look at what you believe in.
Obviously, Zhugeliang mainly understood people from two aspects: language and behavior. He believed that through questions and answers, we can understand a person’s ambition, integrity and how to deal with changes, as well as people’s insight, wisdom and courage. By examining people with wine, money and dating, we can understand a person’s temperament and whether he is honest and trustworthy. Zhugeliang’s method of knowing people is similar to the method of “nine expeditions” proposed by Zhuangzi lieyukou (see Guangzhou Daily B9 on July 15). It is a very practical method of knowing people.
Act knowingly
Generals of the green forest army praised Liu Xiu:
See the small enemy timid, see the big enemy brave
Liuxiu, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, was born in Caiyang, Nanyang (now Zaoyang County, Hubei Province). After Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, peasant uprisings broke out all over the country. Liu Xiu and his brother Liu Yan joined the green forest army. After the generals of the green forest army supported Liu Xuan as emperor, Liu Yan became a great situ and Liu Xiu became a general of Taichang.
In 23 ad, the battle of Kunyang began. When the enemy was outnumbered and the generals were terrified, Liu Xiu stepped forward to command the battle, and rushed to the enemy and killed dozens of people. The generals said happily, “General Liu has seen the timidity of the small enemy all his life, but now he sees the courage of the big enemy. It’s very strange! Please help him when he returns to the front!” Hearing the praise from the generals, Liu Xiu became more and more courageous. He rushed to the enemy again and forced the enemy’s army to retreat. The generals then rushed up and won the battle of Kunyang by defeating Wang Mang’s army. After this battle, the generals of the green forest army knew that Liu Xiu was a man of great wisdom and courage. He listened to his words, and Liu Xiu became more and more popular in the uprising army.
Character knows people
Ma Yuan commented on Liu Xiu:
Broad and magnanimous, the same as Gaozu
In 25 ad, Liu Xiu was crowned emperor by his ministry. At that time, the whole world was in chaos, and many “Emperors” appeared everywhere. In addition to Liu Xuan and Wang Lang, who had previously been proclaimed emperor, the red eyebrow army made Liu Penzi emperor, gongsunshu emperor in Chengdu, Liu Yong emperor in Suiyang, the Huns made Liu Fang emperor of the Han Dynasty and Li Xian emperor in Lujiang. Pengchong in Yuyang, Qin Feng in Nanjun, Zhang Bu in Qidi, Dou Rong in Hexi, etc. also monopolized the country.
Kan Xiao of Tianshui claimed to be the general of Xizhou. He wanted to know who was more powerful than the emperor at that time, so he sent Ma Yuan, a famous scholar, to “watch Gongsun Shu”. Ma Yuan and Gongsun said that in the past, they were not only fellow townsmen, but also shared the same lane. Ma Yuan thought that after meeting gongsunshu, he would “shake hands like a lifetime”. Unexpectedly, gongsunshu pretended to be an emperor and put on the emperor’s shelf to meet Ma Yuan. After Ma Yuan returned, he said to Kan Xiao, “Ziyang (gongsunshu’s word Ziyang) is a frog’s ear at the bottom of the well. It’s better to concentrate on the east than to be arrogant.”. At that time, Liu Xiu was proclaimed emperor in Luoyang. Ma Yuan referred to “the East” as Liu Xiu, so Kan Xiao sent Ma Yuan to Luoyang to meet Liu Xiu.
Shortly after Ma Yuan arrived in Luoyang, the Zhonghuang gate took him into the palace. Liu Xiu, dressed in plain clothes and wearing only a headscarf, stood under the South veranda of Xuande hall and greeted him with a smile. He said to Ma Yuan, “you have traveled between the two emperors. Seeing you makes people ashamed.” Ma Yuan said to Liu Xiu, “in today’s world, not only do you choose your subjects, but you also choose your subjects. You and Gongsun are in the same county. You are rarely friendly. You go to Shu before, and you mention your halberd before you. You are far from here. Your majesty doesn’t know that you are not an assassin or a traitor, but simply if you are!” Liu Xiu said with a smile, “Qing is not an assassin. Gu is a lobbyist.” Ma Yuan said, “the world is repeating itself, and countless people have stolen names. Now, seeing your Majesty’s magnanimity, he is in line with Gaozu (Liu Bang), but he knows that the emperor is true.”.
Good looks
According to historical records, Liu Xiu:
Sexual diligence, farming, and the rising sun
Liu Xiu ranks third among his brothers. His eldest brother, Liu Yan, was “resolute and generous. He usurped the Han Dynasty recklessly. He was often angry and worried about restoring the country. He didn’t care about his family’s home and business. He went bankrupt and made friends with the world’s heroes.” Liu Xiu is “diligent in farming” and likes to do farm work. He is cautious and generous. Liu Yan often makes fun of him, saying that he is like Liu Zhong, the second brother of Liu Bang, the emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty.
Liu Xiu is handsome and handsome. History books call him “longzhun sun horn”. The so-called “longzhun” means that the bridge of the nose is high and the nose is big; The so-called “sunhorn” means that the heaven is full, and there is a round bone protrusion in the center of the forehead. Before Liu Xiu was proclaimed emperor, Zhu Hu, a WAN military guard, once said to Liu Xiu, “Chang’an is in political chaos. It is the destiny to share the sun’s horn.” Liu Xiu was afraid that this remark would arouse suspicion among the Gengshi emperor Liu Xuan and the generals of the green forest army. She immediately told Zhu Hu to shut up. Zhu Hu would never dare to say this again.
Recognize people by their sound and appearance
Original text: the actions of Fu Rong originate from the heart qi. The sign of the Heart Qi will make the sound become true. A man’s breath makes a sound, and the sound should be rhythmic. There is a sound of peace, a sound of clearness, and a sound of retrogression.
If a man’s voice is smooth in his Qi, his appearance will be real. Therefore, sincerity and benevolence must have a gentle color; If you are sincere and brave, you must have the color of Jin fen; Sincerity and wisdom must have the color of clearness.
Liu Shao’s biography of people, Chapter 1, sections 8 and 9
People’s appearance and manners are derived from their temperament, and the characteristics of their temperament are often expressed through the changes of their voices. The sound can not only combine with Qi, but also echo with the law. Different moods lead to different sounds. There are peaceful sounds, clear and smooth sounds, and reverberating and extending sounds.
The sound comes from the smooth flow of Qi. After the sound is emitted, because of different moods, the appearance and color are also different, so a benevolent person will inevitably show a gentle and easy-going appearance and color; A brave man must show a solemn and hardworking appearance; A wise man is bound to show a wise and understanding appearance.
Comments: Liu Shao’s two paragraphs mainly talk about the relationship between his temperament and his voice and face. It is pointed out that the voice of people with inner balance is peaceful, and the voice of people with inner injustice is agitated. Benevolent people have the color of “gentleness”, brave people have the color of “Jin Fen”, and wise people have the color of “understanding”. In fact, the voice and face can not only reflect people’s temperament, but also reflect people’s emotions. Generally speaking, listening to their voice and looking at their color can tell their inner emotions.