Lord Zhou Wen dismissed Gongshi Ji from his post and appointed Lü Cang as prime minister, yet the people of the state were not pleased with this. Lord Zhou Wen grew troubled over it. Someone said to Lord Zhou Wen: "A state must inevitably have both slander and praise. A loyal minister will bear the slander himself and attribute the praise to his sovereign. The ruler of Song encroached upon his people's farming seasons to build lofty terraces, and the people censured him for it—this was because no loyal minister shielded him from such faults. Zihan resigned from the post of prime minister to take up the office of minister of works, not because he loathed the premiership, but because he knew that to act under the title of prime minister would be indefensible in name, and to act with actual power would be improper in deed. Thus it is said: 'Better to act according to righteousness.' Righteousness is the root of benefit. If one lives yet harms righteousness, it is better to die in devotion to it. Now, though Gongshi Ji was not truly worthy, dismissing him was no great offense. That Lü Cang serves as prime minister and the people are displeased is a fact. You would do well to persist in this decision, thereby winning the hearts of the people. Moreover, the praise of ministers and commoners cannot truly establish a sovereign's renown. You ought to rectify your own conduct."
💡 商战启示录
This narrative reveals the wisdom of balancing internal public opinion with long-term interests in personnel decisions. When Zhou Wenjun dismissed Minister Ji and appointed Lü Cang, the populace voiced discontent, yet his advisor urged him to hold firm while guiding public sentiment by having loyal ministers bear criticism on the sovereign's behalf. In modern business, this corresponds to how corporate leaders navigate internal resistance during organizational transformation or critical personnel changes. For instance, when a tech company CEO replaced senior executives during a strategic pivot, triggering team turmoil, he neither retreated in the face of short-term criticism nor ignored the discord—instead, through internal communication, a clear strategic vision, and allowing change agents to absorb some pressure, he ultimately achieved organizational renewal. This teaches us: decisions cannot be wholly swayed by public opinion, yet public sentiment cannot be disregarded—leaders must possess strategic resolve while mastering the art of communication, transforming negative voices into momentum for reform. Furthermore, the tale of Zihan declining the ministerial post in favor of the office of Sikong illustrates the importance of aligning position with capability and substance with title; enterprises should avoid "creating posts for people" and instead allocate talent based on actual needs. Ultimately, in the arena of commerce, "righteousness" may be interpreted as a company's mission and values—by adhering to the correct course, even at the cost of short-term gains, one earns enduring trust.