Chapter 13 The Seventh Art: The Unique Power of Silence

There is a famous saying in "Zhuangzi": It is not spoken.It means to persuade others in a silent way to achieve the goal. Westerners say: Silence is golden. In Buddhism, silence has a special meaning.When Manjushri asked Vimalakirti about Buddhism, Vimalakirti didn't say a word.Later generations said that his silence was as deafening as thunder.This unspeakable way is the essence of Zen. To sum up, it is not difficult to draw such a conclusion: the magical use of silence in speech has its unique and unparalleled power. In the 1960 U.S. presidential election, Kennedy won and Nixon lost. The reason was that Nixon used wrong language in his speeches in four televised debates.At that time, Kennedy appealed to the people of the entire United States, talked about the future, and gave the audience a clear image.Nixon, on the other hand, speaks insincerely and aggressively, giving the audience an unstable and dark image.

In 1968, Nixon ran for president of the United States again.He remembered the last lesson and made a complete image change.Its strategy is unspoken persuasion. In other words, this election is far more difficult than the last one.The most important thing is to compete with powerful opponents such as Rockefeller for the nomination of the Republican Party.At the Republican convention held in Miami, Nixon deliberately portrayed himself as a calm and confident strongman without saying a word.If you have to speak up, just talk about law and order, and I will do my best; other than that, I will never talk about any specific policies, trying to use wordless strategies to build people's trust in him and overthrow him. Nixon's fiasco image over the years.

Nixon's wordless persuasion finally paid off.He won the nomination within the Republican Party and also defeated the Democratic candidate Humphrey in the presidential election to ascend to the presidency. During the Warring States Period, when King Zhao of Qin summoned Fan Ju for the first time and asked Fan Ju about his plan, Fan Ju also used this silent and wordless tactic to achieve his goal. At that time, although King Qin Zhao was the king of a country, the real military and political power was still in the hands of the Queen Mother Xuan and his uncle Ranghou.Although King Qin Zhao wanted to implement the reform, he was unable to implement it.The strategist Fan Ju wrote a letter to King Qin Zhao, Mao then recommended himself, saying that there was a way to adjust the relationship between King Qin Zhao, his mother and uncles, so as to make the Qin State strong.

King Qin Zhao was very happy and summoned him immediately.On the day of the summoning, Fan Ju intentionally wandered around the agreed meeting place.When King Qin Zhao arrived, his courtiers shouted to avoid him. At this time, Fan Ju deliberately raised his voice and said: There is no king in Qin, only the Queen Mother Xuan and Marquis Rong! These words were right on the heart of King Qin Zhao. Seeing that he was Fan Ju, King Qin Zhao said to Fan Ju uneasily: I should have met and asked him for advice long ago, but because of government affairs, it has been delayed until today. I hope you don't blame me and give me more advice.

Fan Ju looked around without saying a word, as if he didn't hear it. Seeing this, the courtiers thought Fan Ju was rude and was about to explode.King Qin Zhao waved his hand and told the courtiers to retreat.He speculated that Fan Ju's silence might be due to the presence of the courtiers.So he asked Fan Ju again: Please sir serve! Fan Ju only said yes twice. After a pause, King Qin Zhao asked Fan Ju again.Fan Ju still only said yes twice.So repetitive. Later, King Qin Zhao knelt down to Fan Ju and said: Sir, won't teach me?At least explain the reason for not saying a word!

At this time, Fan Ju helped King Qin Zhao up, and apologized to King Qin Zhao, saying: dare not do so. Therefore, he sincerely talked to King Qin Zhao about the strategy of long-distance friendship and short-term attack, about the empress dowager Xuan and Houhou and others' asserting their power and evading King Zhao, and he also proposed coping strategies, which can be described as eloquent and eloquent. , and immediately appointed him as an advisor.A few years later, Fan Ju was made prime minister again, and he also called Fan Ju uncle just like Duke Huan of Qi used to call Guan Zhong his father.

Fan Ju persuaded King Qin Zhao in a silent way and a wordless way, which indeed has a unique and indescribable effect. Silence is sometimes more powerful than violent words.