The Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government: When you’re about to give up, understanding these 3 sentences can save you 10 years of detours! This isn’t just motivational talk; it’s a survival algorithm forged through blood and fire in the "Zizhi Tongjian." It teaches us: in desperate situations, relying not on sudden outbursts but on deeply ingrained cognition and habits is key. Reading the "Zizhi Tongjian," what’s most precious isn’t the stories, but the mental strategies used by those on the brink of despair, forced into a dead end, who ultimately break through with their mindset. When you feel like you can’t hold on anymore, understanding the historical logic behind these 3 sentences might help you see the path ahead and avoid a decade of detours.

First Mental Strategy: The deepest sword must be hidden in the softest sheath.
Character: Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Chen.
Before ascending the throne, Li Chen was regarded as a fool by everyone. Eunuch Ma Yuan Zhi, seeking to monopolize power, deliberately installed him as emperor, thinking he was a controllable puppet. Li Chen played dumb for thirty-six years, enduring countless cold looks and mockery. He concealed all his wisdom, ambitions, and hatred beneath a naive and dull exterior, never revealing a trace of sharpness. Only after securing the throne did he, overnight, use thunderous measures to purge the power-hungry eunuchs, reform the government, and initiate the "Great Zhong Governance."

Action List:
When you are in an absolute disadvantage and others look down on you, all your ideas and strength must be tightly concealed. Use extreme patience to induce your opponents to become complacent. Your goal isn’t to win immediately but to survive until the moment you can win.

Second Mental Strategy: Retreat is to give the battlefield to the enemy’s enemy.
Character: Li Mi.
After the An Shi Rebellion, eunuch Li Fuguo and the powerful minister Yuan Zai took turns controlling power, constantly vying with each other. Prime Minister Li Mi, whenever he found himself caught in the center of the power storm, would immediately resign and retreat to Mount Heng. He wasn’t fleeing but withdrawing at the storm’s peak, causing the two major factions to lose their common enemy, thus accelerating their internal conflict. During his years in retreat, the two factions fought to the point of mutual destruction. When a new emperor ascended and needed an impartial figure to stabilize the situation, Li Mi was naturally recalled and returned to play a decisive role.

Action List:
When multiple forces are entangled and you become the focus, proactively “retreat” isn’t giving up. It’s stepping off the chessboard and letting them exhaust themselves. Your value peaks when they most need to clear the field and mediate.

Third Mental Strategy: Your problem is your ladder.
Character: Liu Yan.
During Emperor Daizong’s reign in Tang, the canal transportation system (waterway grain transport) collapsed, with grain losses reaching 80%, causing famine in Chang’an. Everyone saw the canal transport as a huge “problem.” After Liu Yan took over, he regarded this problem as a stepping stone to reorganize power. He reformed the canal system, established professional fleets and a contracting system, not only solving the grain transport issue but also gaining control over the empire’s most vital economic artery and a professional team loyal only to him, becoming an indispensable financial power for the court.

Action List:
Don’t complain about the tough problems you face. Think: if this problem could be solved, who would benefit most? Could I be the one to solve it? A recognized difficult problem often is the fastest shortcut to the core of power. Which of these situations are you struggling with? How are you responding? In the comments, share the “calamity” you’re facing—perhaps you’ll find others in the same boat and solutions here.