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Power and organisation

Liu Xiu

Absorbing

Liu Xiu (Eastern Han · 5 BC–AD 57) — Absorbing.

Power and organisationQin, Han and the Six DynastiesAbsorbing

What actually happened?

A general of Jia Fu's killed a man in Yingchuan. Kou Xun, the prefect, arrested him and put him to death in the market. Jia Fu took it as an insult and said that when he met Kou Xun he would kill him with his own hands. Kou Xun refused to meet him and had every county on the way lay in food and wine, two portions per man. He rode out, greeted the column and went home sick. Jia Fu's soldiers were drunk and could not give chase. Guangwu summoned both. Jia Fu was already in the room and half rose to leave. The emperor told him that with the realm not yet settled, two tigers could not be left to bite each other in private, and that he would part them himself. They sat down together in good humour and left in one cart, friends.

Find out what they fear before you act

After the Tongma surrender the men feared reprisals and being broken up. Liu Xiu did not begin with a speech; he rode through their camps. He dealt with what they were afraid of, not with what he wanted to say.

After a merger, new colleagues are not unwilling; they do not know if their posts remain. Settle that first, then talk about targets.

Take the power, not the man

In the thirteenth year of Jianwu the Left and Right Generals were abolished and 365 veterans had their fiefs raised or reassigned. Jia Fu and Deng Yu laid down their commands and received marquisates, Special Advancement and a seat in counsel. The army was taken; dignity and a voice were given.

A co-founder steps back from the front line but keeps a board seat and the quarterly strategy meeting.

Two key men are enemies: do not let them fight it out

He did not decide who was right. He first put the two in one room, then in one cart. The quarrel was over a man's life, and what he wanted was that it should not be carried outside.

Two department heads will not give way: put them in one meeting before each starts lining up supporters in the group chats.

The door left open in a rule

In the land survey he saw 'not to be asked' written on a clerk's tablet, pressed it, and found that the capital and his home region had been quietly left out. The result was uneven: a dozen officials died in prison, and the veteran Liu Long was only reduced to commoner. The gap in a rule tends to be nearest its author.

A firm audits every department but nobody opens the founders' accounts.

How do I use it today?

Pick someone you have meant to deal with and not done. Write down which one thing he most fears losing: power, rank or face. Then decide which of the three you must take, and whether the other two can be left intact. Jia Fu and Deng Yu gave up their commands and kept rank and voice; Liu Long was dismissed and kept his life.

Deep read

A Heart Placed in Another Man's BellyWhen newcomers are all guarding against you, do one thing that lets them see you are not guarding against themThe Tongma rebels had surrendered, and he rode through their camps with only a light escortRetiring the GeneralsGive a veteran's power and standing separately: take back the army, leave the rank and the voiceThe war was over, and the men who had been with him longest gave up their commands firstNot to Be AskedBefore you write a rule that checks everyone, look for the door in it that was left open for your own peopleOn a clerk's tablet he found a line saying two commanderies were not to be questioned

Read alongside

Liu BangBoth were founders who had to deal with veterans. Under Liu Bang Han Xin was killed, Peng Yue was minced and Ying Bu was executed; under Liu Xiu Jia Fu and Deng Yu gave up their armies and got marquisates, Special Advancement and a seat in counsel. Liu Bang's page is about using people better than yourself; this one is about what to do with them afterwards. Zhuge LiangBoth acted against someone close: Zhuge Liang executed Ma Su, whom he valued, to keep military law; Liu Xiu, in the same survey, struck hard at governors without merit and left the veteran Liu Long a way out. One is about no favourites; the other about how closeness makes holes in a rule.

Further

Liu Bang Xiao He Feng Yi Zhuge Liang Wei Zheng

Lines to keep

With the realm unsettled, two tigers must not fight in private. I part you today.

The Prince of Xiao has put his heart in our bellies.

Yingchuan and Hongnong may be questioned; Henan and Nanyang may not.