When Lord Mengchang held the fief of Xue, the feudal lords at first vied with one another to win his favor with treasures and gifts, but later they all turned to unite against the state of Qin. And while Lord Mengchang remained in Xue, the feudal lords each sent parcels of land to express their goodwill. Troubled by this, Lord Mengchang asked Gongsun Hong, "What am I to do?" Gongsun Hong replied, "The reason Lord Mengchang is held in such esteem is that he has the support of Qi. Now that you have gained Xue as well, this does not benefit Qi. And the reduction of Qi's territory is not to your advantage either. If you wish to benefit Qi, it would be better to relinquish Xue; if you wish to benefit yourself, it would be better to keep Xue. Nevertheless, I have privately observed your aspirations—you surely desire both to benefit yourself and to benefit Qi, yet these two cannot be obtained at once. If you are driven to a choice, it would be better to set aside Qi and retain Xue." Lord Mengchang said, "Well said." Thereupon he declined his guests, secretly maintained his retainers, and used Xue as his foundation.
💡 商战启示录
Lord Mengchang faced a dilemma: whether to remain loyal to the State of Qi (the parent company) or to manage his own fief of Xue (his personal domain). The essence of Gongsun Hong's counsel was "core assets first"—when personal interests and collective interests collide, and both cannot be secured, one must make a decisive choice. In modern business, a similar predicament often confronts professional managers: should one devote oneself wholly to the corporate platform, or accumulate personal resources—clients, networks, knowledge—in preparation for striking out independently? For instance, a senior executive at a major tech firm, while leading a core project, simultaneously cultivated his own entrepreneurial team and industry influence, and upon departure swiftly secured venture capital—an act akin to "using Xue as a foundation." Another scenario arises when entrepreneurs face diversification: when a conglomerate's main business and sideline ventures compete for resources, the prudent course is to focus on core competencies and divest non-essential operations to safeguard the very basis of survival. Lord Mengchang's choice to "forsake Qi and keep Xue" reflected his recognition that Xue was the root of his security, whereas Qi's support might shift at any moment. In business, commanding core resources—proprietary technology, key clients, unique supply chains—is far more reliable than depending on external conditions such as policy dividends or the endorsement of a major platform. Therefore, enterprises and individuals alike should invest first in their own controllable "Xue," rather than over-rely on the patronage of "Qi."