Zhang Juzheng knows one thing very well, in order to make a cause worthy of the common people in the world, it is necessary to master policies and cadres. If the policy is perfect and the cadres are sound, then we will win the battle, otherwise, everything will be in vain.
When he promoted Zhang Han to be the secretary of the ministry, the two had the following conversation, which can very well illustrate Zhang Juzheng's concept of talent.
Zhang Juzheng asked Zhang Han to recommend a capable cadre every ten days, Zhang Han said with a sad face: "Where are there so many talents in the world?"
Zhang Juzheng said: "Born with a lifetime of talent, enough for a lifetime." Talent is produced by the vision of the employer, and it is produced by the quantity of the employer. Therefore, whether there are talents in the world depends on the vision and quantity of you, the employer. The reason why talents are valuable is because their actions and abilities are different from those of mediocrity, and if we look at talents in the way of looking at mediocrity, it will inevitably be difficult to obtain talents. If you can't get talent, you will inevitably use slaves, and if there are more slaves, there will be fewer and fewer talents. ”
In fact, the quality of politics does not have to be studied in detail in all aspects, but only depends on the employment of people.
Zhang Han asked: "What kind of person is considered a talent?"
Zhang Juzheng replied: "There is no specific standard for talent, especially if it has nothing to do with origin. Now that there is the imperial examination, everyone thinks that the people in the imperial examination are talents, and they cannot be officials without the imperial examination, but in fact, this is the most stupid and shallow opinion. I once said that good officials are not specialized in the first department, and the first department may not all be good officials, as long as they are not greedy and excessive, they can be used according to their talents. ”
Zhang Han was still in the clouds: "Please make it clear to Lord Zhang." ”
Zhang Juzheng replied: "The first-class person is like this, he knows everything in the world, but he doesn't have to use his knowledge. He could easily bring 10,000 reckless men to their knees, but he didn't have to use his own strength. Respond to things as they develop, don't do it deliberately, follow the rules and move forward, don't have utilitarian intentions. Such a person can deal with a crisis in a timely manner before the signs appear, and can see through the essence at a glance and resolve it quickly when the situation is obscure. When he did his immortal deeds, the people didn't know how he did it, and thought that he was just sitting in the yamen in a daze every day. ”
Zhang Han teased up: "Oh, isn't this what Lao Tzu said about Taishang, I don't know if there is?"
Zhang Juzheng sighed: "It's a pity that there are very few such talents, so we should seize the second type of talent." This kind of talent has excellent intelligence, can accurately interpret national policies, can save when the tide falls, create unbeatable political achievements, and benefit a place for the sake of officials, and the people worship them. ”
Zhang Han excitedly shouted: "This is what Lao Tzu said" Secondly, the reputation of pro ". ”
Zhang Juzheng said: "In fact, such talents are not perfect. Where a person is strong, he must be short. Employers can only use them correctly if they consider the length of the suitability. ”
Zhang Han asked, "What kind of talents do you like to use?"
Zhang Juzheng replied happily: "Of course, they are honest and fundamental people, and those who are ashamed of their words must not be used." Those who know shame and are full of vigor are also talents. When someone is scolded and angry, it cannot be regarded as a small measure, which is a sign of shame. ”
If Zhang Han realized, he asked again: "How to seek talents?"
Zhang Juzheng replied: "Everyone has a different way of seeking talents, I will only talk about my experience." In the past few years, whether it is the center or the border pass, it can be regarded as a proper use of personnel. First of all, we should have a correct mentality, and we should not be selfish in seeking talents, because once our conscience is blinded by selfishness, there will be problems with what we are seeking. Some of them are obtained at the wine table, some of them I only have to look at his attitude, and some of them, I have never seen at all, but I have only checked his actions. So many people say that Zhang Juzheng suddenly promoted someone, which must be his cronies or fellow countrymen. In fact, they don't know how much work I've put into my back. I don't want the person concerned to know who I recommend or whose official I have promoted, and this is the public intention; if I promote someone and let him know, this will be suspected of winning the hearts of the people, and it will be selfish. ”
Zhang Han frowned and said, "How to use people?"
Zhang Juzheng replied: "Reward those with strong ability, and also sympathize with those with poor ability." ”
Zhang Han frowned again: "How do I know who is strong and who is poor?"
Zhang Juzheng replied: "Try it and get a score." After trying it, you will know its strength and weakness, which can be described as winning people, but it may not be able to make it the best of its talents. ”
Zhang Han was puzzled: "Why is this? Talent exists objectively, as you said, as long as it is out of public intentions, talent will be used." ”
Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said: "Personnel are complicated, he says long, this one says short, it is difficult to have a consistent view." Employers will inevitably have subjective likes and dislikes, that is, the so-called prejudices in the world, which causes there to be no objective standards for talents. For example, Emperor Wen Liu Heng and Emperor Wu Liu Che of the Western Han Dynasty, Liu Heng likes to use old guys, and Liu Che likes to use young people, this is prejudice. If there is prejudice, there will be suspicion, and if there is suspicion, it will be shaken by the words of the traitorous villain. Liu Bowen, the founding emperor of our empire, said, "Slander does not come naturally, but comes because of suspicion", this is the truth. Therefore, the employer must control his emotions, reduce prejudice, appoint people not to have love and hatred, and do not believe the slander of others after the appointment. We must be "honest and loving" in order to win souls. ”
Zhang Han repeated in confusion: "Honest and lover, how can you say this?"
Zhang Juzheng replied: "The so-called honesty means not to do despicable things, but also to have a noble public heart." The so-called love for others is not to win people's hearts with small favors, but to have a kind of forgiveness that regards others as oneself. It can use people's strengths, forgive people's shortcomings, use its uprightness, forgive its uprightness, use its magnificence, forgive its boldness, use its strength, forgive its stubbornness, use its sensitivity, forgive its omission, use its major sections, forgive its small flaws. If you can have this kind of forgiveness, you won't have to worry about not being able to get real talents!"
There are different opinions on the knowledge of practical people.
Liu Bowen, who is at the same level as Zhang Juzheng, said that the premise of employing people is to first create a clear environment for talents, just as a magnet attracts iron.
Wang Yangming, who advocates the unity of knowledge and action, said that in employing people, we must use those who are willing to exercise self-restraint, and this self-restraint is to have the courage to have a conscience. Genghis Khan, the Tianjiao who conquered the world by will, said that employing people is to use those who have tenacious willpower.
As the saying goes, all roads lead to Rome, whether it is Liu Bowen, Wang Yangming, Genghis Khan, or Zhang Juzheng, they all rely on making good use of human art to win a piece of their own sky.