Chapter 188 Kill one to warn others, the focus is on warning

Birds of a feather flock together.The same interest groups tend to have the same style of life.As a leader, how can the internal interests of these interest groups not affect the overall interests of the group?Use the role of killing one as an example and demonstrating to everyone a like and dislike tendency, which can achieve the desired effect. Once, Duke Huan of Qi said to Guan Zhong worriedly: "Most of the great officials annex property and refuse to distribute any. They would rather let the grain rot in the warehouse than distribute it to the poor." Guan Zhong said: "Please order Dr. Chengyang to come and question the crime."

Duke Huan asked, "Why?" Guan Zhong said, "Master Chengyang's concubine Pang wore gorgeous clothes, and even ate rice for the geese and ducks raised at home. His family often beat bells and drums, played sheng horns, and held large banquets. And a brother with the same surname has no clothes to keep out the cold and no food to satisfy his hunger, how can such a person be loyal to the country in his position?" After hearing this, Duke Huan of Qi summoned Dr. Chengyang, took off his official hat, and ordered his gate to be closed, and he was not allowed to enter or leave at will.

Seeing this scene, the rewarded officials' families immediately rushed to distribute the accumulated grain to their distant relatives and neighbors.There are also families of heroes who accept the poor, sick, lonely and unable to help themselves in the city, and distribute relief food to them.Since then, there have been no hungry people in the country. Not only eliminated Duke Huan's favor for Doctor Chengyang, but also persuaded the ministers to give food to the people. Guan Zhong's few words brought great benefits to Qi State. Later, when the price of grain fell, Duke Huan of Qi was afraid that the surplus grain would flow to other vassal states, and wanted to store some grain for his own people, so he asked Guan Zhong for advice.Guan Zhong said: "I passed by the city center today and saw two large granaries newly built. Please use jade to recruit their owners to be officials."

After listening to Guan Zhong's words, Duke Huan of Qi understood the truth.So in the name of meritorious service in storing grain, the two masters were hired as officials.When the people in the country learned about it, they built granaries one after another to follow suit, and each family hid as much grain as possible. Duke Huan of Qi used the strategy of killing one to make an example to others to solve the problem of the nobles "not cooperating" with him.It also used the method of "the minority motivates the majority" to protect the country's food.In fact, this approach reminds me of a saying: The power of role models is infinite.

Empress Wu Zetian was also very good at using this strategy to carry out reforms. Wu Zetian's first contribution to the development of history was that she attacked the conservative aristocracy.After Wu Zetian was established as the empress, the eldest grandson Wuji, Chu Suiliang and others who opposed her as empress were driven out of the court one by one, or killed or exiled to remote areas.For Wu Zetian, this was killing chickens and scaring monkeys, because these Guanlong nobles and their vassals had become a conservative force with vested interests at that time.Driving them out of the political arena marked the end of the century-long rule of the Guanlong nobles since the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and also created a favorable condition for social progress and economic development.

The practices of the above two monarchs can also be used as a reference for leaders.When faced with a social circle that forms a microclimate, carefully examine its intentions and its impact on the organization.If there is a bad influence, the representative can be caught.