OBS Chapter 2300
Chapter 2300
Chapter 2300
Unfortunately, Thor is not Odin.
Odin is a political machine. Don't be fooled by his kind and benevolent appearance now; it's only because Asgard needs him to be kind and benevolent!
In contrast, Thor is loved by so many people because he is more like a living, breathing human being, which is why he is so popular!
Is this good or bad?
For an ordinary person, this is of course no problem. It might even be a great thing. But if this were done to a monarch, it would be disastrous!
Within the vast and sweeping historical panorama of the *Zizhi Tongjian*, numerous stories twinkle like stars, among which the chapters on power struggles are particularly thrilling. Rewinding to the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the court was rife with undercurrents, and various factions openly and covertly vied for power. Yu Bing, a powerful minister, urged Emperor Cheng of Jin, on his deathbed, to ensure the continuation of his family's power by urging the emperor to appoint his younger brother, Prince Yue of Langya, as heir. The Grand Secretary He Chong insisted on the principle of "father-to-son succession, the old precedent of the former kings," but Yu Bing's opinion ultimately prevailed. Behind this lay Yu Bing's deep attachment to and fear of power. He knew that if Emperor Cheng's son ascended the throne, his family's power would inevitably be weakened over time. He relied not on the public's affection, but on the intimidating power he wielded. Using his position in the court, he suppressed dissenting voices, leaving many ministers angry but unable to speak out. In this power struggle, Yu Bing was feared by everyone; his words were like golden rules, and no one dared to disobey him easily. This is the magic of power: it makes people submit out of fear, and in submitting, it consolidates the position of the power holder. Thus, it is clear that on the stage of power, being feared is far safer than being loved. This view has gradually revealed its cruel yet true nature in the course of history.
I'm reminded of the most famous passage from *The Prince*: "Which is better for a prince or leader: to be feared or to be loved? Ideally, both, but that is a paradox. It is good enough to be both feared and not hated. If one must choose, it is safer for a prince or leader to be feared than loved." Failure is the poison of fear, so princes or leaders who hold absolute power never admit their failures, even resorting to whitewashing and distorting the truth. They know better than anyone that once the cloak of "legitimacy" derived from "correctness and success" is torn away, they will be torn to pieces by the hordes of people who will attack them.
Human nature is inherently complex and unpredictable, and its most despicable aspects are revealed in the vortex of power. Countless examples in the *Zizhi Tongjian* (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government) expose the ingratitude and fickleness inherent in human nature. Take Lü Bu from the Three Kingdoms period, for instance. He was originally the adopted son of Ding Yuan, who trusted him implicitly and entrusted him with important responsibilities. However, when Dong Zhuo tempted him with the Red Hare horse and high-ranking positions, Lü Bu betrayed Ding Yuan without hesitation, beheading him and joining Dong Zhuo's forces, recognizing Dong Zhuo as his adoptive father. Later, however, he turned against Dong Zhuo because of Diao Chan and personally killed him. Lü Bu's behavior was capricious and utterly devoid of loyalty; for personal gain, he could easily abandon kindness and betray others. In that turbulent era, this character trait made it difficult for him to truly establish himself among the various factions, ultimately leading to his tragic end.
Consider the rebel generals during the An Lushan Rebellion in the Tang Dynasty. Under An Lushan and Shi Siming, they wantonly burned, killed, and looted for power and wealth, bringing immense suffering to the people. When the situation turned against the rebels, they readily surrendered to the court to protect themselves. Yet, if the situation changed even slightly, they might rebel again. These people only cared about their own interests; loyalty and devotion were nothing more than things they could easily discard. Their actions fully demonstrate how fragile and fickle human nature is in the face of power and profit. In the arena of power, people often betray their former benefactors for temporary gains; such ingratitude is commonplace. Devotion appears incredibly fragile in the face of such human nature. People may adore you today, but tomorrow they might abandon you for a little personal gain. In contrast, fear brings more stable obedience. When people fear someone, they dare not easily disobey their orders for fear of punishment, and even if they are unwilling, they will still show obedience in their actions. This kind of obedience based on fear, though not from the heart, is often more effective than affection in maintaining power.
Power, in essence, is the ability to dominate and control others. Its operational logic is often closely linked to fear. In the *Zizhi Tongjian* (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government), we can see many rulers using intimidation to consolidate their rule. After unifying the six kingdoms, Qin Shi Huang implemented a series of harsh measures to strengthen centralized power. He enforced severe laws and harsh punishments, strictly controlling the people. A single crime often implicated the entire family and even neighbors. Under this oppressive policy, the people were filled with fear of Qin Shi Huang and dared not harbor any thoughts of resistance. He also conscripted labor on a large scale to build massive projects such as the Great Wall and the Epang Palace. Although the people suffered greatly, they were forced to obey due to their fear of him. With this intimidation, Qin Shi Huang established a vast and unified empire, under whose rule the government's decrees were smoothly implemented.
Take, for example, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Born into poverty, he deeply understood the hardships of the common people and the difficulty of acquiring power. After establishing the Ming Dynasty, to consolidate his rule, he severely suppressed meritorious officials and bureaucrats. He established secret police agencies like the Jinyiwei to monitor the every move of officials. Once any official was found to be corrupt or plotting rebellion, he would punish them without mercy. The cases of Hu Weiyong and Lan Yu implicated tens of thousands of people, and many meritorious officials and veteran generals lost their lives. Under Zhu Yuanzhang's intimidation, officials lived in constant fear and dared not easily break the law. Through this method, he firmly grasped power, enabling the Ming Dynasty to maintain relative stability in its early stages. These examples of rulers demonstrate that fear aligns with the logic of power. In the pyramid of power, the ruler at the top needs to use intimidation to make the people at the bottom submit to their will, thereby achieving effective management of the entire country or organization. Only when people fear the ruler can the ruler's power be consolidated and policies implemented smoothly.
Comparative argument: The different outcomes of love and fear.
The stories in the *Zizhi Tongjian* (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government) of those who, due to excessive benevolence and reliance on the affection of their subjects, ultimately lost power or even their lives, are deeply poignant. Emperor Hui of Jin, Sima Zhong, during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, is a prime example. He was inherently dull-witted, and faced with widespread chaos and starvation, he uttered the absurd question, "Why don't they eat meat porridge?" During his reign, power waned, Empress Jia Nanfeng wielded absolute authority, and the court was rife with corruption. Although Emperor Hui desired to govern the country and win the people's favor, his weakness and incompetence rendered him utterly unable to control the situation. He attempted to influence various factions with benevolence, repeatedly tolerating Jia Nanfeng's misdeeds and being powerless against the tyranny of powerful ministers. He hoped to gain the people's love and support through this approach, but his efforts were in vain. Ultimately, he not only lost control of the court but also became a puppet in the power struggles of various factions. Under his rule, the Western Jin Dynasty descended into the abyss of the War of the Eight Princes, causing immense suffering to the people and plunging the country into prolonged turmoil and chaos. Emperor Hui's failure ultimately stemmed from his over-reliance on patronage and his lack of sufficient ability and means to maintain his power. He failed to understand that in the game of power, benevolence and affection alone are far from enough; sufficient deterrence and decisiveness are also essential. His weakness and indecisiveness left him utterly defenseless in the face of power struggles, ultimately leading to his complete loss.
In stark contrast to Emperor Hui of Jin, many historical figures consolidated power and achieved their ruling goals through intimidating methods. Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, was one such example. During his reign, he implemented a series of harsh policies to strengthen centralized authority. He issued the "Decree of Grace," cleverly weakening the power of the vassal kings, rendering them powerless to challenge the central government. He heavily relied on ruthless officials, severely cracking down on local powerful clans and lawbreakers, striking fear into the hearts of those who dared to break the law. He was equally ruthless in dealing with the Xiongnu, dispatching generals like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing on numerous campaigns against them, severely weakening the Xiongnu and forcing them to flee far north into the Gobi Desert. These measures undoubtedly established Emperor Wu's immense authority among his subjects, filling them with awe. It was this awe that solidified his rule and ensured the smooth implementation of state decrees. Through these intimidating methods, he achieved national unification, propelling the Han Dynasty to its zenith.
In the modern workplace, the idea that "being feared is far safer than being loved" also holds significant implications. In a highly competitive workplace, a manager's style has a crucial impact on team development. Take, for example, a project team at an internet company. Team leader Li Ming is a very mild-mannered person who always tries to connect with team members, hoping to drive progress by winning their affection. Initially, the team atmosphere was harmonious, and everyone was friendly towards Li Ming. However, when the project entered a critical phase requiring overtime to meet deadlines, problems arose. Some team members began to slack off, neglecting their tasks. Li Ming tried to persuade them to work diligently through communication and encouragement, but with little effect. This was because everyone felt that Li Ming, who was usually very kind to them, wouldn't actually harm them. Ultimately, the project's delays caused considerable losses for the company, and Li Ming received criticism from his superiors.
In contrast, Wang Qiang, a department manager at another tech company, is a decisive and efficient individual. He has high standards for work, establishing clear rules and regulations, as well as reward and punishment mechanisms. In his team, anyone who violates the rules or fails to complete tasks on time is punished accordingly. Initially, team members were somewhat intimidated by him, finding him too strict. However, over time, they discovered that under Wang Qiang's leadership, the team's work efficiency was extremely high, and projects were always successfully completed. Moreover, because Wang Qiang's rewards and punishments were fair, everyone who worked hard received the rewards they deserved. Gradually, team members began to understand and respect him. Although they still harbored some fear of him, this fear transformed into motivation, enabling the entire team to stand out within the company. These modern examples clearly demonstrate that appropriate deterrence is necessary in management. It allows team members to maintain a sense of awe, abide by the rules, and diligently fulfill their responsibilities, thereby improving the team's overall efficiency and execution. Of course, this does not mean that managers should not care for their employees, but rather that they must find a balance between care and deterrence, employing both rewards and punishments to better achieve management goals. However, we must also be soberly aware that the idea that "being feared is far safer than being loved" is not an absolute truth; it has certain limitations. Excessive fear can trigger a series of serious negative effects. Throughout history, there are countless examples of this. At the end of the Qin Dynasty, after Qin Er Shi (Hu Hai) ascended the throne, he favored Zhao Gao and implemented a brutal rule. He abused the people's labor, continuing large-scale conscription for projects like the Epang Palace, causing immense suffering to the people. At the same time, he implemented harsh laws, frequently imposing severe punishments on both commoners and officials. The people lived in fear, their hearts filled with resentment towards the Qin Dynasty's rule. This excessive fear ultimately sparked a strong popular uprising. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang raised their arms in Dazexiang, leading to an uprising that quickly spread, forming a powerful anti-Qin force. The once mighty Qin Dynasty teetered on the brink of collapse in this wave of resistance, ultimately leading to its demise.
Looking at the late Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, was ambitious and frequently launched foreign wars, such as the three campaigns against Goguryeo, which resulted in the conscription of large numbers of people and countless deaths. At the same time, he squandered public funds on the construction of luxurious palaces and canals, further burdening the people. Under his rule, the people lived in poverty, filled with fear and resentment towards him. This fear did not make the Sui Dynasty's rule more stable; instead, it triggered peasant uprisings across the country. The Wagang Army and Dou Jiande's rebellion rose up, plunging the Sui Dynasty into a serious crisis. Ultimately, Emperor Yang was killed by his general Yuwen Huaji in Jiangdu, and the Sui Dynasty collapsed. These historical events clearly demonstrate that excessive fear can cause resentment to accumulate in people's hearts. Once this resentment reaches its peak, it can trigger resistance and lead to social unrest. The support or opposition of the people is often the key factor determining the rise and fall of a regime or organization. When a leader loses the hearts of the people and relies solely on fear to maintain his rule, his rule will inevitably be shaky and unsustainable. Therefore, in the actual exercise of power, we cannot depend solely on instilling fear; we must seek a balance between fear and affection. Only in this way can we ensure the effective exercise of power while winning the hearts of the people and achieving long-term stability. We should learn from history, draw lessons from it, and understand that in different situations, flexibly utilizing the forces of fear and affection is essential to better achieve our goals and avoid repeating the mistakes of history.
However, one thing is certain: a good person cannot be a good monarch!