The state of Qin attacked Zhao, and the King of Zhao appointed Zhao Kuo as commander-in-chief. Zhao Kuo's mother said, "Zhao Kuo cannot serve as commander-in-chief." The King of Zhao said, "Do not interfere—my decision is already made." Zhao Kuo's mother replied, "Since Your Majesty insists on sending him, if he proves unworthy of his post, may I be spared from any punishment?" The King said, "You will not be implicated." Zhao Kuo's mother then said, "If Your Majesty sends Zhao Kuo to lead the army, he will surely bring ruin upon Zhao. When his father, Zhao She, served as commander, he distributed all the gold and silk bestowed by the king among his officers and scholars, and from the day he received his orders, he never once concerned himself with household affairs. Now, once Zhao Kuo assumes command, he sits facing east to receive homage, and no officer dares to look up at him. The gold and silk granted by Your Majesty, he takes all home to hoard, and daily he inquires where cheap estates and houses may be purchased. Does Your Majesty think he resembles his father? Father and son are not alike—their minds are wholly different. I beg Your Majesty not to send him." The King of Zhao said, "Do not interfere—my decision is already made." Zhao Kuo's mother said, "Since Your Majesty insists on sending him, if he proves unworthy of his post, may I be spared from any punishment?" The King said, "You will not be implicated." Zhao Kuo then set forth, replacing Lian Po as commander-in-chief. The army was defeated, and several hundred thousand Zhao soldiers were buried alive at Changping. Because of her prior declaration, Zhao Kuo's mother was spared from punishment.
💡 商战启示录
Zhao Kuo's defeat lay in his armchair strategizing—he lacked real combat experience and was self-centered, showing little regard for his subordinates. His mother, perceiving his tendency to "hoard gold and silk while ignoring military affairs," foresaw his inevitable downfall. In modern business, many startups or large enterprises parachute in "star managers" with impressive résumés but disconnected from reality—prioritizing strategy over execution and neglecting team collaboration, ultimately leading to project collapse. For instance, a certain bike-sharing brand once hired multinational executives at high salaries, yet their reckless expansion, disregard for operational details, and poor cost control eventually snapped the capital chain. In contrast, Huawei's Ren Zhengfei has consistently emphasized "customer-centricity and a people-centered approach," sharing rewards with his team and staying close to the front lines—hence his sustained success. Zhao Kuo's mother's counsel was, in essence, a warning against "talent misaligned with virtue"—a leader's vision, values, and ability to unite a team far outweigh superficial brilliance. When selecting executives, modern enterprises should examine their proven track records, profit-sharing practices, and team reputation, rather than merely credentials or oratory skills. Simultaneously, they should establish "mother's counsel"-style oversight mechanisms that permit internal dissent and prevent autocratic decision-making. Tencent, for example, instituted a "General Management Meeting" for collective decision-making, curbing individual heroism. Business warfare mirrors military warfare—know yourself and your opponent, but above all, know how to place the right people in the right roles, lest you fall into a "Changping-style pit."