There are many eloquent stories in the Warring States period, and debaters often use the method of double contrast persuasion when trying to persuade others. The essence of this method of comparison is to give an example that the listener knows or agrees with, and then say that the current situation is similar, but there are changes, that is, one aspect is more serious in degree, the number has increased, and on the other hand, the degree has weakened, the quantity has decreased, so what results will occur, needless to say, the listener will suddenly realize. This approach is used in the following stories.
There is an example in the "Warring States Strategy, Wei Er Pang Liang and the Prince Hostage in Handan".
It is said that during the Warring States period, in order to strengthen mutual trust between countries, important officials or heirs of monarchs were often sent to other countries to be hostages.
On this day, according to the orders of the King of Wei, an official named Pang Liang and the crown prince of the State of Wei were going to handan, the capital of the State of Zhao, to be taken hostage. Pang Liang was very prescient, the so-called "going to the country and nostalgia, worrying and sneering", he thought, leaving the King of Wei, there are more people who say bad things about me around the King of Wei, how to maintain the trust of the King of Wei in me? I have to beware.
Pang Liang thought hard, met with the King of Wei, and said something that impressed him: "Your Majesty the King of Wei, before I leave, I would like to ask you: If someone tells you now that a big tiger has come to the market of Daliang, the capital of the Wei kingdom, do you believe it?" ”
King Wei said, "Of course I don't believe it! ”
Pang Onion added, "If after a while, a second person reports to you that there are tigers coming from the market, do you believe it?" ”
King Wei said, "Then I will be a little suspicious." ”
Pang Onion continued: "If after a while, the third person reports to you that there are tigers in the bazaar, do you believe it?" ”
King Wei said, "Then I will believe it." ”
Pang Liang then began to compare the two aspects: "Now there are obviously no tigers in the market of da liang in our capital city of Wei, but if three people tell you that there are tigers, you can't help but believe it." Three people saying the same thing can be made out of nothing, and it seems credible! In contrast, I am in an extremely unfavorable situation in two aspects: first, the distance from Daliang, the capital of the State of Wei, to handan, the capital of the State of Zhao, is far greater than the distance from the bazaar to the palace, and if there are artificial rumors and dirty water thrown at me, it is even more difficult for me to defend; second, after I left the State of Wei and went to the State of Zhao, there must be more than three people who criticize me in front of you. I would like to make a request, that is, after I leave the Wei kingdom, if someone denounces me in front of you, I hope that you will seriously identify whether the content of their report is true, and do not believe it because there are many people who accuse me. ”
King Wei agreed.
This is the origin of "three people into a tiger". Unfortunately, the King of Wei approved of Pang Onion's words on the spot, but after Pang Onion left, there were too many people who said bad things about Pang Onion in front of the King of Wei, and Pang Onion soon lost the trust of the King of Wei, and he was never received by the King of Wei again.
Two other examples are from the Chronicle of the Chronicle of Kammolie.
It is said that King Wu of Qin appointed Gan Mao as the left chancellor and Li Lizi as the right chancellor. Soon, King Wu of Qin ordered Gan Mao to capture Yiyang in Korea, and Gan Mao was worried.
Gan Mao said to the King of Qin: "Yiyang is a large county, although the name is a county, but in terms of area and population, it can be called a county in essence, and it is nearly a thousand miles away from our Qin state, so it is difficult to conquer it." This reminds me of a story. At that time, a disciple of Confucius zengsan killed someone with the same name, so someone told the sage Zengshan's mother: 'Zengshan killed people!' Zeng's mother woven the cloth calmly. After a while, another person told Zengsan's mother: 'Zengshan killed someone!' Zeng's mother woven the cloth with suspicion and self-determination, and after a while, the third person ran up to him and said, "ZengShan killed someone!" Zeng's mother dropped the machine, climbed over the courtyard wall and ran. With the knowledge and trust of Zengsan's virtuousness and his mother, three people said that Zengshan killed people, and his mother was afraid. Now, my virtuousness is not as good as Zengsan's, and your majesty's trust in me is not as good as Zeng's mother's trust in Zengshan, and in addition, there are far more than three people who doubt me, and I am afraid that if you listen to the slanderous words against me one day, you will drop the machine like Zengsan's mother! This is a triple contrast, and the allusion to "having participated in murder" also comes from here.
The King of Qin felt that Gan Mao was right, and signed a letter of trust to Gan Mao, stating that he would never doubt Gan Mao. Later, Ganmao's war was unfavorable, and Li Lizi made a big rumor in front of the King of Qin, at which time Ganmao told the King of Qin about the letter of trust, and was able to successfully complete the attack.
The Chronicle of Ganmao also records the deeds of Ganmao's grandson Ganluo.
At the age of twelve, Ganluo learned his grandfather's persuasive technique, using the double contrast method to persuade lü Buwei's unmoved people.
Lü Buwei wanted to send Zhang Tang to the Yan Kingdom, but Zhang Tang casually found an excuse and refused, and Lü Buwei did not force him, but he was very unhappy. Ganluo volunteered to find Zhang Tang.
Ganluo said bluntly: "You think your credit is greater than that of Bai Qi, who is greater?" ”
Zhang Tang said: "Realistically speaking, my merits have not been in vain. ”
Ganluo said, "Which do you think Is more tyrannical, Fan Ju or Lü Buwei?" ”
Zhang Tang thought for a moment and replied, "Fan Ju is not as domineering as Lü Buwei. ”
Ganluo wanted to confirm that Zhang Tang really understood and said, "Do you really know that Fan Ju is not imperious than Lü Buwei?" ”
Zhang Tang replied, "Clear. ”
Ganluo pointed out the key point: "Bai Qi, who had greater merits in those years, did not listen to Fan Ju's words and was immediately executed; today, the more tyrannical Lü Buwei ordered you with less merit to go to the Yan Kingdom, and if you did not go, I don't know where you will die!" ”
Zhang Tang knew the seriousness of the situation, immediately agreed to go to the Yan Kingdom, and immediately began to prepare for the departure.
Soon, the King of Qin "sealed Ganluo as Shangqing, and restored it to the first Ganmaotian mansion." "Shangqing is the most honorable minister, and the folk legend of "Ganluo Twelve as Prime Minister" still has a certain historical basis.
In ancient literature, the use of the "double contrast persuasion method" is not uncommon.
For example, in the seventy-fifth episode of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, such a thing is written.
Sun Quan wanted Lü Meng and Sun Jiao to jointly lead an army to capture Jingzhou, who was this Sun Jiao? He was the son of Sun Quan's uncle Sun Jing.
Lü Meng responded to Sun Quan's proposal in this way: "If the lord is available in Mongolia, he will use Mongolia alone; if Shuming (Sun Jiaozi Shuming) can be used, he will use Shuming alone." Don't you know that in the past, Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu were the governors of the left and right, and although the matter was decided by Yu, Ran Pu lived under Yu as an old courtier, which was quite discordant; later, because he saw Yu's talent, Fang began to obey. The talent of this Meng is not as good as Yu, and Shu Ming's relatives are better than Pu, and I am afraid that I may not be able to help each other. ”
This means: You should appoint either of me and Sun Jiaozhi to lead the troops separately, so as not to hold each other back. In the past, Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu jointly led the army, and they got along very badly, and now, my Talent Of Lu Meng is not as good as Zhou Yu, but the relationship between Sun Jiao and you is closer than that of Cheng Pu and you, and if I lead the army with him, it will definitely be more difficult to cooperate happily.
Lü Meng compared himself with Zhou Yu, Sun Jiao and Cheng Pubi, and Sun Quan immediately changed his mind after hearing this, and the book reads: "(Sun) Quan Dawu, so he worshiped Lü Meng as the governor of dadu and made the army and horses of Jiangdong Commandery; sun Jiao was ordered to receive grain and grass in the future." "The purpose of Lü Meng's full command was achieved.
(Author: Gan Zhengqi)