Selecting Generals-Six Teachings
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Selecting Generals (Tai Gong Six Teachings-Dragon Teaching Chapter 3)
本篇主要论述选择和考验将领的方法。
English
King Wu asked Tai Gong: If a king wants to raise an army, how should he go about selecting and generals and determining qualifications?
Tai Gong said: There are fifteen cases where a general’s external appearance and internal character are not coherent. These are:
He appears to be a gentleman but is actually immoral.
He seems kind-hearted but is a thief.
His countenance is reverent and respectful, but his heart is insolent
Externally he is incorruptible and circumspect, but he lacks respect.
He appears perceptive and sharp but lacks such talent.
He appears profound but lacks all sincerity.
He appears adept at planning but is indecisive.
He appears to be decisive and daring but is incapable.
He appears guileless but is not trustworthy.
He appears confused and disoriented but on the contrary is loyal and substantial.
He appears to engage in specious discourse but is a man of merit and achievement.
He appears courageous but is afraid.
He seems severe and remote but on the contrary easily befriends men.
He appears forbidding but on the contrary is quiet and sincere.
He who appears weak and insubstantial, yet when dispatched outside the state there is nothing he does not accomplish, no mission that he does not execute successfully.
Those who the world disdains, the Sage values. Ordinary men cannot see through them; only great wisdom can discern them out. This is because the general’s external appearance and internal character do not visibly cohere.
King Wu asked: How does one know this?
Tai Gong replied: There are eight forms of tests by which you may know it. First, question them and observe the details of their reply. Second, verbally confound and perplex them and observe how they react. Third, send a spy out to test his loyalty. Fourth, clearly and explicitly question them what you already know to see his character. Fifth, appoint them to positions of financial responsibility to observe their honesty. Sixth, test them with beautiful women to observe their uprightness and character. Seventh, confront them with difficulties to observe their courage. Eighth, get them drunk to observe their conduct. When all eight have been fully explored, then their character, values and morals can be distinguished.
Modern
武王问太公说：帝王起兵想选拔英明而有权略的人为将，并知道他的才能高下，应该怎么办?
太公说：士的外表和内情不符的有十五种情况：有的外似贤良而内实不肖，有的外似善良而实为盗贼，有的外似恭敬而内实不逊，有的外似谦谨而内不至诚，有的外 似精干而内无才学，有的外似浑厚而内不诚实，有的外多计谋而内不果断，有的外似果断而内无作为，有的外似老实而内无信用，有的外似动摇而内实忠诚，有的言行过激而作事却有功效，有的外似勇敢而内心惧怕，有的外表严肃而内实平易近人，有的外貌严厉而内心温和厚道，有的外表虚弱、貌不惊人，但受命出使没有到不 了的地方，没有完不成的任务。[那些外貌不扬，而内在品质好的人，]往往为天下人所看不起，却独为圣人所器重，一般人不知道他们内在的才华，非有高明的见 识，是不能看清这些人的实情的。这就是士的外表和内在才华不相一致的情况。
武王问：用什么办法可以真正了解他们呢？
太公说：有八种考验方法：一是提出问题，看他知道得是否详尽清楚；二是详尽追问看他应变的能力；三是用间谍考察，看他是否忠诚；四是明知故问，看他有无隐瞒，借以考查他的品德；五是让他管理财物，看他是否廉洁；六是用女色试他，看他的操守如何；七是把危难的情况告诉他，看他是否勇敢；八是使他的酒，看他能 否保持常态。这八种考验方法都用了，一个人的贤与不贤就能区别清楚了。
Original
武王问太公曰：王者举兵欲简练英雄、知士之高下，为之奈何？
太公曰：夫士外貌不与中情相应者十五：有贤而不肖者，有温良而为盗者，有貌恭敬而心慢者，有外廉谨而内无至诚者，有精精而无情者，有湛湛而无诚者，有好谋 而不决者，有如果敢而不能者，有悾悾而不信者，有恍恍惚惚而反忠实者，有诡激而有功效者，有外勇而内怯者，有肃肃而反易人者，有嗃嗃而反静悫意者，有势虚 形劣而外出无所不至、无所不遂者。天下所贱，圣人所贵，凡人莫知，非有大明，不见其际，此士之外貌不与中情相应者也。
武王曰：何以知之？
太公曰：知之有八征：一日问之以言以观其辞；二曰穷之以辞以观其变；三曰与之间谍以观其诚；四曰明白显问以观其德；五曰使之以财以观其廉；六曰试之以色以观其贞，七曰告之以难以观其勇；八曰醉之以酒以观其态。八征皆备，则贤、不肖别矣。
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