Haitzizhi Tongjian

Author: None
Publisher: Reform Press
Publication Date: 1998-12-01
Features: Three volumes reveal ancient secrets not passed down by the sages, providing insights for modern governance. In ancient China, among the 611 emperors, 43% ended their reign unhappily, awaiting the fate of swords, poison, and white sheets. Murders were plotted in secret chambers, risks taken in royal palaces, where the cost versus potential gain was disproportionate. Even the royal family, which ruled the realm, could fall as low as ordinary people, turning to dust. Beware, beware.
This book teaches a principle: governing and living are like practicing Zen or Buddhism. At the beginning, you see mountains as not mountains, and water as not water. After enlightenment, you see mountains as mountains, and water as water. The secrets of governing and living lie in exploring and destroying "bad," and utilizing "bad."
The book is divided into two parts: "The Emperor's Chapter" and "The Minister's Chapter." In the Emperor's Chapter, it discusses how emperors govern through stillness, how they labor over people, how they orchestrate in secret, how they rise again, how they restrain ministerial power, how they control ministers with ministers, how they govern with deceit, how they form factions for self-rule, and how they deify their presence and extend favor beyond the law. In the Minister's Chapter, it covers how to hide one's talents, how to advance by retreating, how to humble oneself, how to guide the emperor toward evil, how to manipulate the Son of Heaven, how to unite against the dissidents, how to practice money politics, and how to embezzle while guarding.
To achieve victory over a thousand miles, one must know oneself and the enemy, understanding the enemy's tactics. Only then can one have the basis for decisive action. This is precisely the purpose of this book.