Skip to main content

Guiguzi: Calculation, distinguishing between inside and outside.

 　　Speaking of scheming, we must mention Yang Tinghe.

　　Some readers might ask, who was Yang Tinghe?

　　Looking back at the history of the Ming Dynasty, Yang Tinghe wasn't exactly a good or bad person, but rather a capable minister who brought order to the country. His hobby was scheming.

　　If you were to ask Lord Yang what his motto was, he would

　　say, "I scheme, therefore I am."

　　Why was Lord Yang so confident?

　　Consider his record: even the sage Wang Yangming couldn't escape his clutches. He schemed against both his former and current rulers, Zhu Houzhao and Zhu Houcong, ultimately leading to Zhu Houzhao's death.

　　With Zhu Houcong's complete victory, Yang Tinghe was demoted to commoner status—a fitting end for him.

　　Busy with scheming, unable to distinguish between internal and external affairs, the Ming Dynasty crumbled.

　　Guiguzi said: "Those who understand both internal and external affairs must understand the principles of strategy."

　　What does this mean?

　　It means distinguishing between friend and foe, and scheming must be done with a clear distinction between internal and external matters; one cannot act recklessly.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

There's a kind of meeting that feels like a long-awaited encounter.

     When     I first arrived in this city, the weather was a hazy, grayish white. It was already the height of summer, and there was a humid, stifling heat.     At the subway exit, I saw Mo Xiaobei struggling to find me in the crowd. She took my suitcase, then pretended to be incredibly strong, smiling happily at me and revealing her cute little tiger teeth. I followed Mo Xiaobei through several subway stops until we finally arrived at her rented room. The moment I opened the door, it felt like I had entered a disaster zone. Just as I had imagined, her room was a mess. Several pairs of shoes were scattered haphazardly on the floor, and bottles and jars were strewn about on the table, along with leftover food that had been moldy for days. I turned to look at Mo Xiaobei, who scratched her head sheepishly. "I haven't cleaned the house these past few days. Since you're here, could you help me tidy up?" I knew she was always like this, so I shook my head h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five-degree slanted characters (Part 2)

  　　Chi Zhoumu played three games of League of Legends in a row. Whenever he encountered a problem he couldn't figure out, he had to shift his focus to prevent himself from being trapped by his chaotic thoughts. After the three games, Chi Zhoumu stared at the computer for a long time, lost in thought. "No, I have to go out for a walk and relax," Chi Zhoumu thought to himself. 　　 　　When Chi Zhoumu went out, it was already past eight o'clock in the evening. The streetlights emitted a quiet, dim yellow light, and only a few people were running on the playground. The moonlight was faint, casting overlapping shadows, and the road was deserted. He went to the pavilion, sat down on a bench, and lazily admired the reflection of the library lights on the lake. Two or three couples were scattered on the small island in the lake. "It's hard to find such peace and harmony in the bustling city," he thought. 　　 　　After sitting for about twenty minutes, just as he was ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Looking up at the starry sky

     The night is deep, and I can't fall asleep alone. I open the window and see the twinkling stars, but are you the brightest one?     I remember the first time I saw you was in my final year of junior high. I stood nervously behind you, watching my classmates register one by one, and my name was left unassigned. Yes. I was timid and cowardly, and because I didn't have the money for tuition, I didn't dare to speak to you. I just stood there, standing there.     Later, you noticed me, smiled slightly, and asked, "Have you registered?" I shook my head. You asked again, "Are you having trouble?" I nodded. "Come with me!" When I took out my blankets from a corner of the school, I saw tears in your eyes; and I couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears. You took the blankets, took my hand, and walked towards the dormitory building.     I've always thought of myself as a stubborn child, someone no one could melt the thick ice in my hea...
Post a Comment
Read more