Liu Bei and Cao Cao are two rivals and major warlords of ancient Chinese history in the Three Kingdom era (220 – 280AD), both were extremely capable, full of charisma and ability in spotting and using talented men. Their leadership models, though, are far distant from one another.
Liu Bei’s Leadership Model
Liu Bei (161 – 223 AD), courtesy name XuanDe, a warlord who founded the state Shu Han in the Three Kingdom period, had a distinct decentralized management model, which included low risk-taking (he was involved in most battles, but it was his generals that charged into enemy ranks) and relying on the professional talents of his advisor, Zhuge Liang, and his generals in the battlefield, some of whom became synonymous with loyalty and wealth. Zhuge Liang was also entrusted by Liu Bei to take full control in handling internal affairs too.
Liu Bei was able to assign just the right people in the right place. He was a follower of the Confucian code that refers to the superior man as the one that avoids using force to achieve his goals. Liu Bei did not hesitate to use any means available, from diplomacy and intelligence to achieve what he wanted. He firmly believed that defeated warriors first go to war and then try to win it while the victorious ones first win and then go to war.
“To know your enemy, you must become your
enemy.”
(Liu Bei)
Despite his strong attributes, Liu Bei was not always as decisive as he was when he became general. In fact, it was Zhang Fei who urged him to take action when he (Liu Bei) saw a poster calling the bravest men of the empire to step up and, among others, help suppress the Yellow Turban Rebellion (at that time, Liu Bei did nothing more than sigh). He, Zhang Fei, and another man they met shortly after, Guan Yu, swore eternal brotherhood and set off to try to save the Han Dynasty. A trio that remained loyal to one another long after Liu Bei moved up the ranks.
“Be vigilant! If an evil is minor, resist it
nonetheless. If a good deed is trifling, perform it
all the same. Only wisdom and virtue can truly
win men's devotion.”
(Liu Bei)
Cao Cao’s Leadership Model
Cao Cao (155 – 220 AD), courtesy name MengDe, was the Penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty (25 -220 AD) who rose to great power in the final years of Dynasty. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms, he laid down the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and ultimately the Jin Dynasty, and was posthumously honored as “Emperor Wu of Wei”. He was among those people supporting risk-preference leadership, which was also an attribute of Sima Yi leadership style as analyzed in my Sima Yi vs. Zhang Fei article. He followed a flat, centralized management model that did not allow his generals to develop their talent (i.e., by commanding a big battle), as Cao Cao involved himself in all affairs, military and domestic. In the absence of any competent leader in the Cao Cao family, his successors quickly lost military and political power and, consequently, the ruling power of the Wei Kingdom to Sima Yi, which paved the way for the establishment of the Jin dynasty in 266 AD. Now, as a general, Can Cao was ruthless and cunning and would not hesitate to use his resourcefulness to outwit his enemies.
What is at a peak is certain to decline. He who
shows his hand will surely be defeated. He who
can prevail in battle by taking advantage of his
enemy's doubts is invincible.
(Cao Cao)
The Verdict
At the time when the two warlords were living, the Chinese, Cao Cao included, dreaded the lack of central power. They believed that without one, the country would split up, which was exactly the case over and over again. Different generals were setting up different regimes in different parts of China, and then they were fighting each other. However, gathering all powers on a single person, without surrounding him/her by a competent group of people to contribute to the good ruling of a country can only produce short-lived results. That’s why Liu Bei’s decentralized management has a longer lasting effect as it relies on tracking and using the right professional talents instead of doing everything yourself.
#randalpost
Continuation from:
Leadership Differences Between Zhang Fei & Guan Yu - What Tells a Leader From a Commander (Leadership in the Three Kingdom Era - Part 1 of 3)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership-differences-between-zhang-fei-guan-yu-what-randal-koh/
Sima Yi vs. Zhuge Liang Leadership – Two sides of the same world (Leadership in the Three Kingdom Era - Part 2 of 3)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sima-yi-vs-zhuge-liang-leadership-two-sides-same-world-randal-koh/