In the 1970s, when Mao Zedong summoned Marshal Ye Jianying, he dictated a poem to give: "Zhuge is cautious in his life, and Lü Duan is not confused about major matters." First, he evaluated Ye Jianying's decisiveness in the face of great right and wrong, and second, he expressed his hidden worries about state affairs after a hundred years, hoping that Ye Shuai could stand up in times of danger. I don't want this to come out, but let a Song Dynasty person famous in the contemporary era. This person was Lü Duan, the chancellor of the Northern Song Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Taizong and the former governor of Cai Prefecture.
Mao Zedong commented that Lü Duan was not confused because of an incident in 995 (the first year of Emperor Taizong to dao). At that time, Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi and the chancellor Lü Mengzheng discussed and wanted to make Lü Duan the prime minister. Lü Mengzheng said that Lü Duan was confused and could not be a face. Song Taizong replied: "Small things are confused, and big things are not confused." Determined to make Lü Duan a minister, he composed a "Fishing Poem" at a palace banquet: "If you want to bait the golden hook deep, You must ask the angler." "To show his determination to let Lü Duan as a phase." A few days later, Lü Mengzheng had to hand over his position and give way to Lü Duan. Lü Duan was indeed an official in office, had a general understanding, and repeatedly insisted on his own ideas in the face of major issues of right and wrong, often making Song Taizong "hate the late appointment."
After Lü Duanguan was promoted to prime minister, his power fell to the world and he was not condescending. At that time, he had the same reputation as a famous courtier, Kou Zhun, who also had the qualifications to be a minister. After Lü Duan entered the government, he was worried that Kou Zhun was upset, so he asked Emperor Taizong to issue an edict and let Kou Zhun, who was in the governor's affairs, go to the government affairs hall with him to discuss matters, and was approved by Emperor Taizong. Later, Emperor Taizong personally issued an edict one day: "From now on, the writing of the zhongshu must be carefully considered by Lü Duan, and it must be heard." This shows the degree of Trust that Emperor Taizong has in Lü Duan.
One year, the chancellor Li Weiqing was replaced by Emperor Taizong from the position of privy councillor in charge of the national military to serve as the imperial historian in charge of supervising the hundred officials, although it was a flat tone, but the actual power changed, and he believed that Lü Duan was in the middle to make the damage. Therefore, Li Weiqing took advantage of Lü Duan's illness to rest at home and did not have the opportunity to go to the court, and sued Lü Duan for a bad situation. After the matter reached Lü Duan's ears, Lü Duan did not think so, neither to confess to the emperor, nor to go to Li Wei to settle the account, but said lightly: "I have been acting right all my life, sitting upright, not doing anything to be sorry for people, and what kind of gossip am I afraid of?" This calm mentality of not worrying about people is also considered "confused".
When Lü Duan had just taken up the post of Governor of the People's Republic of China, he passed in front of the Civil and Military Officials, and a small official, because he had heard many rumors of Lü Duan's "confusion" in normal times, was very unconvinced by him, and came in a very dismissive tone: "This person has actually become a deputy prime minister?" Lü Duan's entourage felt very unfair and asked for the man's name to see what it was for. Lü Duan stopped and said, "Don't ask, if you ask him, you have to say it, and I will know it when he says it, and as soon as I know, I will never forget this kind of person who openly insults me." Deliberately retaliating against me is certainly not going to happen to me, but if something involves him in the future and bumps into my hands, it will be difficult to be fair. So, still don't know the good. This kind of gentleman's behavior of not thinking evil and pretending to be confused is a noble realm of self-cultivation for Lü Duan, but in the eyes of the world, it is naturally regarded as "confused."
Historical Drama Hebei Zizi "Song Xiang Lü Duan"
Lü Duan's "confusion" is not stupidity, but great wisdom, and is the leader's superb handling skills and means of employing people. A great leader who knows a more mellow way of coping will not blindly emphasize his position, but will avoid the situation of mutual stalemate and find a perfect outlet for himself. When dealing with advances and retreats, knowing how to use clever roundabout tactics to avoid the real and the virtual, turning the other party into their own help, is the key to the victory of smart people.
Zheng Banqiao's "rare confusion" has long been regarded as a motto by some leaders. In these four words, Mr. Itabashi expresses a kind of resentment and dissatisfaction with current politics, quite helpless mentality, but in the social circle, "rare confusion" has a very practical value.
The "confusion" here is not really confused, but "false confusion", the mouth says "confused words", the face reflects the "confused expression", but doing "understanding things". Therefore, this "confusion" is a kind of advanced wisdom of human beings, another special manifestation of shrewdness, and a high-level and ingenious way to adapt to complex societies and complex situations.
Source: Leadership Digest, January 2022