💥 Story 6 : Yuan Shu's Letter

💥 Story 6 : Yuan Shu's Letter

Yuan Shu, while in Nanyang, heard that Yuan Shao had just conquered Ji Province, so he sent someone to ask Yuan Shao for a thousand horses. Yuan Shao refused, which angered Yuan Shu, and the relationship between the two brothers soured from then on.

Yuan Shu then sent someone to Jing Province to borrow 200,000 shi (a unit of volume) of grain from Liu Biao, but Liu Biao also refused. Yuan Shu harbored resentment and secretly sent a letter to Sun Jian, hoping he would attack Liu Biao.

The letter essentially read:

"Liu Biao's previous interception of your return journey was actually Yuan Shao's idea. Now Yuan Shao is secretly conspiring with Liu Biao to attack your Jiangdong. You'd better send troops to attack Liu Biao quickly. I will deal with Yuan Shao for you; you can avenge both enemies. You seize Jingzhou, I'll seize Jizhou—don't miss this opportunity!"

Upon receiving the letter, Sun Jian angrily said, "That despicable Liu Biao! He blocked my return home before, and now is the perfect time for revenge! When else should we fight?"

He then summoned Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and others to discuss the matter.

Cheng Pu said, "Yuan Shu is a cunning man; we can't completely trust him." Sun Jian said, "I wanted revenge anyway; I'm not going to fight because of him!"

So he sent Huang Gai to the riverbank to prepare warships, loading them with weapons and provisions. Larger ships were also loaded with warhorses. Once everything was arranged, they prepared to set out.

Spies on the river reported the news to Liu Biao, who was greatly alarmed and hurriedly summoned his civil and military officials to discuss countermeasures.

Kuai Liang said, "There's no need to worry too much. We can send Huang Zu with the Jiangxia soldiers to lead the vanguard, while you, my lord, lead the armies of Jingzhou and Xiangyang to provide support. Sun Jian will be crossing the river and lakes to come; he won't be able to exert any force on the water." Liu Biao adopted his suggestion, ordered Huang Zu to prepare defenses, and then led his army out himself.

1. Was Sun Jian's action rational? What factors influenced him?

2. Was Yuan Shu's act of sending the letter clever? If so, how?

3. If Yuan Shu's act of sending the letter wasn't clever, why was it effective?

4. If Yuan Shu's act of sending the letter was clever, why did he fail in the struggle for power?

1. Was Sun Jian's action rational? What factors influenced him?

Sun Jian's action was not rational. He was provoked by Yuan Shu's letter.

The letter stirred his desire for revenge; he was angered.

Sun Jian did not rationally assess the gains and losses and related risks of military action.

Furthermore, Sun Jian didn't know the truth of the matter.

His actions were extremely irrational, provoked by Yuan Shu's letter.

Even if Sun Jian's actions were staged,

the trigger for the incident,

it cannot be simply stated as "I received a letter" or "I received a letter that angered me."

Because that would make one seem like someone else's puppet.

A more plausible reason is needed.

2. Was Yuan Shu's act of sending the letter clever? What made it clever?

Yuan Shu's act of sending the letter was: using someone else to do his dirty work.

Using: Sun Jian as a tool to kill Liu Biao.

A mediocre move, not particularly clever.

However, in chaotic times, any move that works is fine.

It will meet the needs of a hegemon: letting other powerful rivals fight each other, so that the hegemon can:

The snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

The snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits: The snipe wants to eat the meat inside the clam's shell, but the clam uses its shell to clamp the snipe's beak, preventing it from succeeding. A stalemate, where neither side is willing to yield, leads to a lose-lose situation, allowing a third party to capture both and reap all the benefits. (From: *The Strategies of Yan*, Book II of the Warring States Period). This saying typically illustrates that when two parties are locked in a stalemate, a hidden third party may benefit. Both parties involved should be wary.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind." This saying describes a mantis focused on catching a cicada, unaware that a bird (oriole) is lurking behind it, ready to peck at it. (From: *The Mountain Trees*, Chapter of Zhuangzi). This saying typically illustrates short-sightedness and lack of foresight, focusing only on immediate gains while ignoring hidden dangers. Alternatively, it can be interpreted as a chain reaction, or a situation where A, B, and C are involved. B wants A but is too focused to notice C, who might seize the opportunity to devour A while B is distracted.

Don't let strange letters or messages incite non-existent hatred, or cause you to change your original development plans, goals, or well-organized processes. This educational process teaches you to have your own judgment and to guide your passions with reason.

Another interpretation is that Yuan Shu's act of sending the letter was a case of "using someone else's knife to kill someone else." He used Sun Jian as a tool to kill Liu Biao.

This is considered clever. He survived, so how could it not be clever? Even if it was foolish, perhaps it was a case of "fools have their luck."

3. If Yuan Shu's act of sending the letter wasn't clever, why was it effective?

Sun Jian was sown discord by Yuan Shu's letter.

This letter from Yuan Shu caused Sun Jian and Liu Biao to become hostile to each other.

This indicates that Sun Jian was easily manipulated.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms portrays Sun Jian as easily provoked,

unable to set aside personal grudges and consider the gains and losses of the entire camp.

As the leader of a group, one must prioritize the overall situation and consider the group's gains and losses as one's own; one must set aside personal grudges and consider the group's interests. Personal grudges cannot supersede the group's development goals.

4. If Yuan Shu's act of sending the letter was clever, why did he later fail in the struggle for power?

Because Yuan Shu only had that one letter; neither his group nor his strategists took any follow-up action against Sun Jian or Liu Biao.

5. If these individuals could travel through time and buy stocks, who would be most likely to suffer a heavy loss due to impulsiveness? Why?

Sun Jian, Cheng Pu, Han Dang, Liu Biao, Kuai Liang, Lü Gong. Probably: Sun Jian.