The purpose of flattery is to gain power. To obtain power, you must flatter and please those who hold power by flattery. This is an iron rule that is beyond the reach of ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad.

From Shu Diao, Yiya to Dai Li , from ancient times to the present, who is the most outstanding master of flattery?

Yin Zhongwen (stills)

Wherever there is power, there is flattery. The purpose of flattery is to gain power. To obtain power, you must flatter and please those who hold power by flattery. This is an iron rule that is beyond the reach of ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad. Therefore, many people who know how to flatter are emerging in ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad.

French writer Molière has a wonderful discussion on flattery : wants people to favor. According to my experience, the best way is to meet their hobbies in front of them, praise their mottos, compliment their shortcomings, and praise their behavior. You don't have to be afraid of being too attentive, because even the smartest people are willing to be fooled as soon as they hear flattery.

People who know how to flatter are generally well aware of the weaknesses of human nature. What are the weaknesses of human nature? Love to listen to compliments rather than criticism, this is a weakness that almost everyone has. wise Zhuangzi has a saying: people's hearts are in the bottom and move forward. means: people will be depressed when criticized, and they will be happy when they hear praise.

Since ancient times, why has flattered a very important survival technique? The reason is very simple, because the superiors hold too much power, which plays the most critical decisive role in the subordinates from the power of life and death to small things to the promotion of the workplace. The huge role of power forms a serious personal dependence relationship between subordinates and superiors .

This leads to subordinates having to recognize and accept this personal dependence relationship, and regard this personal dependence relationship as their primary consideration. How to curry favor with and cater to superiors has become the top priority in their management. As a result, flattery behavior and knowledge emerged.

Especially under the prevalence of personal autocracy, the life and death of subordinates and the promotion of workplace are firmly in the hands of superiors. If subordinates want to live a good life, they must understand the principle of "those who follow it will prosper, and those who go against it will perish" to the superiors. This forces subordinates to be complacent and flatter. If they offend their superiors, they will be in great trouble. It is in this climate that has made the culture of flattery prevail.

But I'm afraid not many people know how the saying "flatter" came about. It is said that there are three sources of : First, when two people in the Yuan Dynasty Mongolians meet, they should slap the other person's butt to show respect; second, when good Mongolian riders encounter fierce horses, they usually slap the horse's butt. When the horse feels comfortable, the rider will jump onto the horse's back; third, the horse usually has two bulges, and good riders always like to slap the horse's butt to praise him when they see a horse.

From the source of the three statements of "flattering", at first, flattery had no negative meaning , but the problem lies in the fact that there are always some people who are tempted by the power. When they see the powerful and powerful riding horses, they all stepped forward and slapped their horses ass and praised them with great strength. In this way, flattery gradually evolved into a move of flattery and flattery, which became a complete derogatory term.

Yiya

In ancient times, ministers who had 6 kinds of evil behaviors were summarized as "six evils": ministers (occupying positions to make up for the number), flattering ministers (flattering), treacherous ministers (charming villains), slanderous ministers (provoking right and wrong), traitors (being traitorous criminals) and ministers who destroyed the country. The person who flatters is one of the "six evils".

, a flattering "flattering minister", will cheer for whatever the superior says, and will shake the flag and shout whatever the superior does; usually busy secretly asking what the superior likes, and you will follow what you say, do, and give away, with the purpose of just as long as the superior is happy.

In China's long history, who was the first to "flatter"? There is no evidence to be found.But what is interesting is that even the saint Confucius had a "flatter" move: it is said that when Duke Zhao of Lu heard that Confucius had given birth to a son, he sent someone to send him a carp to congratulate him. Confucius was very honored and immediately named his son " Kongli ". Is this considered the "flattering" move of the saint Confucius?

There were many people who flattered in ancient times, but the two cruel and ruthless treasures that were queering in extreme ways are probably , and Yi Ya. Shu Diao and Yi Ya can be regarded as the founders of treacherous officials in Chinese history. Such treacherous officials are not only cruel, but also have particularly vicious methods of flattery.

When Shu Diao was young, he went to the palace to serve Duke Huan of Qi. He was talented, cunning, and skillful. He soon attracted the attention of Duke Huan of Qi and was able to be transferred to the inner court as a close servant. Shu Diao is very good at guessing people's psychology and can always find ways to meet the preferences of Duke Huan of Qi. Over time, Duke Huan of Qi's daily life becomes increasingly inseparable from Shu Diao.

At that time, the nobles were popular with sending their children to the palace to serve the monarch, but they had to leave the palace when the children grew up. In order to express his unwillingness to leave the king, Duke Huan of Qi, Shu Diao simply castrated himself, so he was able to stay in the palace. Duke Huan of Qi was deeply moved and favored Shu Diao from then on. Unfortunately, the price of this flattery is too high.

But there is still someone who flatters even harder, that is Yi Ya. In addition to like beauties, Duke Huan of Qi also likes delicious food. At that time, there was a guy named Yi Ya in the palace. He had an exquisite cooking skills, but like Shu Diao, he was also an extremely treacherous villain. Shu Diao and Yi Ya hit it off and soon formed a close friendship. So Yi Ya was recommended by Shu Diao to Duke Huan of Qi.

Once, Duke Huan of Qi joked with Yi Ya that I have eaten all the delicious foods in the world, but I have never eaten human flesh. I don’t know what human flesh tastes like? A few days later, Duke Huan of Qi ate a delicious dish that he had never eaten before. It turned out that Yi Ya actually killed his 4-year-old son and made an adult meat banquet to Duke Huan of Qi. Yiya's flattery is no longer just cruel, but inhumane and creepy.

Dai Li

It is said that after Eastern Jin Huan Xuan became emperor, one day Huan Xuan just took his seat in the dragon position, and the imperial throne suddenly collapsed. Huan Xuan was frightened and the ministers were shocked. The attendant Yin Zhongwen stood up calmly and said, Your Majesty has a profound sage and cannot even bear the earth, so the imperial throne collapsed. When Huan Xuan heard this, he immediately turned to joy. After that, Yin Zhongwen became Huan Xuan's complimentary attendant.

Flattering like Shu Diao is too expensive, and many people probably cannot accept it; flattering like Yi Ya is inhumane. No one is willing to imitate except for jealous and perverted people, and the methods are too cruel, and people who are flattered are unwilling to accept it; flattering like Yin Zhongwen is feasible, but it is a bit pediatric. It can be said that from ancient times to the present, Dai Li is the one who is the best at flattering.

Dai Li was a gangster since he was a teenager, and until he was 29 years old, he was still a mediocre and accomplished nothing. But in this year he used superb means to flatter Chiang Kai-shek . quickly became a celebrity in front of Chiang Kai-shek, and later became the "agent king" who was terrified of the world. He was powerful and powerful. When Dai Li was in power, he penetrated his tentacles of his power into every corner of the Kuomintang rule, and even Chiang Kai-shek was afraid of him.

One of the main reasons why Dai Li's methods of flattery are superb is that Dai Li is very good at guessing Chiang Kai-shek's thoughts. In the 15 years that Chiang Kai-shek had a strong eye, Dai Li, with his outstanding ability to observe words and expressions, accurately grasped Chiang Kai-shek's likes and dislikes, and was able to cooperate with Chiang Kai-shek to achieve a seamless and tacit understanding.

Dai Li is well aware of Chiang Kai-shek's taboos. He is very good at what he can say and cannot say in front of Chiang Kai-shek. For example, Dai Li knew that Chiang Kai-shek rarely issued "handwritten orders" to spies, so he always insisted on making verbal reports to Chiang Kai-shek at work; Dai Li remembered the instructions given by Chiang Kai-shek in his mind based on his memory and never took notes. Dai Li knew that Chiang Kai-shek liked to be neat, and every time he saw Chiang Kai-shek, he would clean himself very cleanly.

Chiang Kai-shek had a bad temper and often scolded his subordinates, especially those who were confidant, and Dai Li knew this characteristic of Chiang Kai-shek. If Dai Li’s work goes wrong, Chiang Kai-shek will scold him at the least, and then punches and kicks will be added together. Every time Dai Li is beaten, he will not only have no complaints, but will be proud, because he knows that Chiang Kai-shek is only a confidant. Even Dai Li has carefully studied the title of Chiang Kai-shek. Dai Li would use different titles to Chiang Kai-shek on different occasions.