Trust Securing Through Historical Analogy

Based on Gan Mao's method before attacking Yi Yang.

Overview

Before undertaking a difficult task where others may undermine you, secure a formal pledge by illustrating how easily trust can be broken.

Steps

1. Identify the Risk

   • Recognize that long campaigns allow time for enemies to slander you
   • Identify who might speak against you (colleagues, rivals)

2. Select Appropriate Analogy

   • Choose a story about false accusations believed through repetition
   • Example: Zeng Shen's mother believed he killed someone after three people said so, despite his known virtue

3. Present Your Case

   • "My virtue is less than the historical figure"
   • "Your trust in me is less than a mother's trust"
   • "Those who will speak against me are more than three"

4. Secure Formal Commitment

   • Request a pledge or oath before proceeding
   • Reference this pledge if challenged later ("Remember [place]!")

5. Invoke Pledge When Needed

   • When ruler wavers, remind them of the specific pledge location
   • This forces acknowledgment of original commitment

Expected Outcomes

• Binding commitment secured
• Protection against later slander
• Ruler reminded of obligation at critical moment

Validation

1. Confirm the pledge was made in a specific, memorable context (place and circumstance) that can be invoked later — vague commitments are easily denied
2. Verify the historical analogy resonated: the ruler should understand that "your virtue is less than Zeng Shen's, your trust in me less than a mother's, and those who will speak against me are more than three"
3. Test the pledge's durability by checking whether the ruler honors it when the first slander arrives — if not, the pledge was insufficient