Volume 2 Clouds Chapter 29: Under the Ruler
Posthouse and tavern.
After eating and drinking, Zhang Qiong ran to the inn across the street to sleep.
Luo Youdu, Cao Bin and Pan Mei were still chatting about all sorts of things.
Pan Mei is not as pure as Cao Bin, he has a lot of little thoughts.
This is not to belittle, but different people have different lifestyles.
What was Cao Bin’s background?
He was the nephew of Emperor Taizu Guo Wei's concubine Zhang, and was related to Emperor Guo Rong. He was also a descendant of a military family. With this status, anyone could be a pure person.
Pan Mei was different, his father was just a colonel in the army.
If he didn't want to be left behind, he had to climb up step by step. Compared to Cao Bin, he had thousands of opportunities to choose from.
Pan Mei had only a tortuous path to follow, without any thoughts, and would have been lost in the masses long ago.
Keep a low profile when you are young so that you can look down on everyone in the future.
Luo Youdu has been able to get to where he is today by planning all the way.
For some reason, Luo Youdu could especially understand Pan Mei's feelings. Compared to those who were born to be favored by heaven, how could he, who had no roots or foundation and no ideas, make a name for himself?
He realized that compared to Cao Bin's simple obsession with military affairs, Pan Mei wanted to learn more about his experience in dealing with people and things, as well as his knowledge of management and commanding subordinates.
Luo Youdu wanted to win over Pan Mei, and was not stingy with his advice to Pan Mei in this regard.
As for other subjects in management, Luo Youdu said what he wanted to say, and it was up to Pan Mei to decide how much he could accept.
But Luo Youdu was reserved when talking about the art of controlling subordinates.
Controlling subordinates is a very profound thing.
Throughout history, those who have accomplished great things all possessed extraordinary means of controlling their subordinates.
This management includes all aspects, from the king commanding his subjects, the marshal managing the generals, the generals commanding the soldiers, to an innkeeper managing the waiters, and even the child king managing the children.
The simplest and most direct way to control your subordinates is to paint a rosy picture and make them believe that there is hope for the future by following you.
However, there are certain requirements on how to draw the cake and what kind of cake to draw.
Simply drawing rosy promises without seeking reality is just empty talk and will fool fools.
There aren't so many fools in this world.
The big picture must be combined with benefits, so that people can see the results and benefit at the same time. Even if there are no results or failures, it should give people hope, rather than an eternal mirage.
Luo Youdu has his own insights and experiences in this regard, and it is not just empty talk.
After checking the time, Luo Youdu said to Cao Bin, "Go call Zhang Qiong and ask him to get ready. It's time to meet up with Brother Han."
Cao Bin bowed and left.
Seeing Cao Bin leave, Luo Youdu said to Pan Mei, " Different people need different methods. Just like cats and dogs. Cats are lazy by nature. You can't feed them enough. Once they are full, they will find a place to sleep by themselves. Before they are hungry, they will ignore you. My attitude towards cats is to feed them hungry and let them come whenever you call. As for dogs, they are honest and loyal. As long as you feed them, they are willing to do anything for you. But once you can't feed them enough, others will take over to feed them. Over time, even a loyal dog will become someone else's."
There was something sinister in what he said. Luo Youdu knew that Cao Bin didn't like it very much, so he sent him away.
Pan Mei, however, understood very well and kept nodding his head.
Using cats and dogs as metaphors is already the boldest possible approach.
Because the pinnacle of the art of controlling subordinates is the art of being an emperor.
Luo Youdu has some knowledge of China's history of thousands of years and has a certain understanding of the methods used by many emperors in history to govern their subordinates.
Among those who have mastered the art of controlling subordinates to the highest level, Luo Youdu personally thinks that Liu Bang is second to none and no one dares to say he is first.
Some people say that if Han Xin had not appreciated Liu Bang's kindness and did not agree to Xiang Yu's advice to divide the country into three parts, or if Han Xin was more ambitious and listened to Kuai Tong's advice, perhaps the country would have been divided into three parts and Liu Bang would not have gotten it.
The person who said this must not understand Liu Bang.
Without Han Xin, Liu Bang might not have been able to defeat Xiang Yu. But as long as Han Xin was under Liu Bang's command, three Han Xins were no match for one Liu Bang.
Han Xin's power was at its peak after he conquered Qi. He had 100,000 soldiers under his command, and with the might of destroying Wei, conquering Zhao, threatening Yan, and pacifying Qi, he asked Liu Bang for the title of King of Qi.
Most people only know that Liu Bang was so angry that he jumped up and down, but thanks to Zhang Liang and Chen Ping secretly stepping on his feet, he suppressed his anger and compromised with Han Xin. However, few people know that after Liu Bang compromised, he also wrote letters to Guan Ying and Zhou Bo.
Then Guan Ying and Zhou Bo led their troops directly south and surrounded Xiang Yu, completely ignoring their superior Han Xin.
With the departure of Guan Ying and Zhou Bo, the number of soldiers under Han Xin's command was reduced by half.
Conferring the title of King of Qi was a favor from Liu Bang. Writing a letter to transfer Guan Ying and Zhou Bo away was a display of power, telling Han Xin that I can give you power, but I can also take it back.
Liu Bang compromised in order to defeat Xiang Yu, not because he was afraid of Han Xin.
A lot of people get this wrong.
Why did Liu Bang easily seize power from Han Xin time and time again ?
He knew that Han Xin was very powerful, so he didn't give Han Xin any chance to build his own team.
Among Han Xin's generals Cao Shen, Guan Ying, Zhou Bo, and Zhang Er, which one was not a die-hard supporter of Liu Bang?
If Han Xin dared to say anything against it, which one of Cao Shen, Guan Ying, Zhou Bo and Zhang Er could he mobilize?
Liu Bang did not use his full strength when he besieged Xiang Yu.
He left a troop in Qi, Cao Shen's army, the strongest army under Liu Bang that had experienced the most battles and conquered the most cities. In name, they stayed to pacify the areas of Qi that had not yet surrendered.
But as long as Han Xin had the courage to refuse Liu Bang's title as King of Chu, he would return to Qi to gain a foothold.
It depends on whether Han Xin can return to Qi alive.
Liu Bang's own military level was above average, far from comparable to Han Xin's, but he dared to use Han Xin, a military genius and a fierce tiger, so he naturally made all the necessary means to subdue the tiger.
Luo Youdu did not dare to discuss this top-notch method of controlling subordinates in detail with Cao Bin and Pan Mei.
They don't need to understand these things. As generals and ministers, it is enough for them to know how to command their soldiers.
Even so, Pan Mei, who had not yet reached this level, still benefited a lot.
Pan Mei stood up, bowed deeply and said, "Pan Mei has benefited a lot from your teachings today. I would like to take you as my teacher. I only regret that I cannot be by your side to listen to your teachings."
Luo Youdu hurriedly said, "You can't do that. Zhongxun is a few years older than me. You and I are friends, we learn from each other and are teachers to each other. How can I accept such a great gift from you?"
Pan Mei insisted on bowing three times : "From ancient times to the present, everyone has taken the wise as their teacher. How can we decide based on age?"
Luo Youdu tried to dissuade him, so he just let it go.
The two men sat down again, and Luo Youdu said, "With your talent, you should not be trapped in Shanzhou. If there is a chance, I will recommend you to the court and transfer you to the capital, or other good positions. Are you willing?"
Pan Mei stood up and bowed again, saying, "I am willing to follow your instructions, sir."
The two of them smiled knowingly.
Luo Youdu is bound to soar to fame when he returns to Beijing this time, and he needs his own team.
Aren’t talents like Pan Mei the best cornerstone of the team?
