A Story from ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ The story goes that Cao Cao’s army of 170,000 surrounded Shouchun, requiring vast amounts of grain daily, compounded by a drought. The grain officer, Wang Zu, reported to Cao Cao, “We have many soldiers but little grain, what should we do?” Cao Cao suggested using smaller measures for the grain distribution. Wang Zu was worried about potential unrest among the troops. Cao Cao assured him he had a plan. Later, when discontent spread among the soldiers, Cao Cao called Wang Zu in privately and said, “I need to borrow something from you to calm the troops, don’t be stingy.” When Wang Zu asked what, Cao Cao replied, “Your head, to show to the crowd.” Wang Zu was shocked, protesting his innocence, but Cao Cao explained, “I know you’re innocent, but not killing you would lead to a mutiny. I’ll take care of your family, don’t worry.” Before Wang Zu could say more, he was dragged outside and beheaded, with his head displayed as an example, and a notice posted claiming he was punished for stealing grain with small measures.
The veracity of this story aside, it reflects a cautionary tale about not taking a boss’s words at face value. Some bosses might promise, “Once this project is done, everyone will be secure.” But after completion, you might find yourself unrewarded. Others might say, “When the company grows, you’ll all be heroes, I won’t let you down.” Yet when the company actually prospers, you might see those who struggled with the boss in the early days gradually disappear. Sometimes, bosses might even assure, “Do it this way, and I’ll take the fall if anything goes wrong.” But when issues arise, the boss might be the first to criticize you. These are tactics of power.
Avoid Arrogance and Complacency Some bosses might appear very approachable, or particularly friendly to those with special skills or connections. This can lead some to act freely in front of their boss, making jokes or even openly criticizing their actions. While bosses don’t always wield absolute power, they do command and manage you, so while you might jest with other people’s bosses, be cautious about how you behave with your own.
