Political intrigue
CELEBRATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF PARK SIHOO-SSI’S “THE PRINCESS MAN”!
庆祝施厚君的“公主的男人”第5周年!
When I watched Park Sihoo-ssi’s “the Princess Man”, I find myself being drawn in by the political intrigue. The power struggle during ancient times seemed kind of familiar. No, it is not because I have watched too many period dramas involving the imperial court 🙂
In some ways, the power struggle and political intrigue depicted in “the Princess Man” are no different from that of the big bad corporate world during our modern times! But of course, it was more bloody then, in the literal sense, while we are somewhat more civilized now, or seem to be.
Underlying the ancient and modern world is the concept of “Power is King”. If you have power in your hands, you can do practically anything, command anyone to do your bidding and get away with anything, including murder.
But how do you get the power? Going by “the Princess Man” there are many ways to maneuver to get there.
Oust your enemies is of uppermost in importance. Don’t let any one get in your way, including pitting against your own family, brother against brother.
Prince Suyang did just that. He schemed and conspired to reduce the power of his brother King Munjong and later, sought to control his young nephew King Danjung. Not contented, he got rid of this last hurdle through exile and finally to drink poison, so clear the way for his ascend to power to become King Sejo. The modern context? Get rid of your competition for the position of company top dog. Even family owned businesses like the chaebols in Korea, sibling rivalries and companies splitting up as a result are not uncommon. A family divided.
When you get rid of your enemies, leave no stones un-turned and leave no surviving roots that can fester and grow.
This was what ruthless Prince Suyang strongly believed in. He rallied a troop to kill his arch enemy Kim Jongseo and attempted to mow down his whole family by hook or by crook. If junior Kim Seungyu managed to escape the executioner’s knife, exiled him and sink the ship carrying him into exile, along with those others who defied him. To make sure they were truly dead, behead them or bore witness that they were no longer among the living. When you oust the key man on the company board or management, make sure you also get rid of his supporters and underlings, leaving no disapproving voices.
To consolidate your strength, you need to be surrounded and supported by powerful people. Wield your influence and buy your men if necessary. Power and money speak. So dangle these as carrots and get them to bite. If they don’t, threaten harm to them and their families.
Through his minions, Prince Suyang bought men with lots of coins and offer of political posts and promotions. And those who did not bite, they threatened their lives – like that of the astrologer who was tasked to assess the compatible birth dates and zodiacs of Princess Kyunghye and Kim Seungyu in marriage. Under duress, he falsified his finding and declared that such a marriage would bring disaster. Buying men with promises of senior management positions and attractive compensation packages are not unheard of in the modern corporate world. This is what they call attracting top talents!
Other than buying men, a stronger approach might be to secure alliance through marriages.
Prince Suyang tried to broker a marriage between his daughter and the son of Kim Jongseo. He wanted to dilute the power of the existing King through marriage with the King’s most staunch ally. Failing which, he sought marriage alliance with the next best political ally, Shin Sukju. Another thing that is still common in this day and age in South Korea – chaebol marriage alliances. Remember Park Sihoo-ssi’s other drama “Cheongdamdong Alice”? A marriage between the Cha and the Shin families will make them a formidable force in the Korean luxury and fashion world!
Bloodshed will be inevitable. You just have to harden your heart, be ruthless to get to the very top. When you get the crown, you want it to stay on. So what would you do? You do away with the old guards who were loyal to the past regime and put in your own generals. This way, you can be more certain of your subjects’ allegiance.
So every change in dynasty, you witness bloodshed, just like when Prince Suyang ascended the throne as King Sejo, there was enormous bloodshed. The corporate boardrooms also see this. New boss, new team, inevitable!
Political intrigue in the Joseon imperial court. Isn’t it similar to the political intrigue in today’s corporate boardroom? Less of real bloodshed but bloody nevertheless!
政治阴谋
观看施厚君的“公主的男人”电视剧时,发觉自己被剧中的政治阴谋给吸引住了。远古时代的权力斗争似乎有点熟悉。不,不是观看了太多古装连续剧的原因啦 🙂
在某些方面,“公主的男人”所描绘的权力斗争和政治阴谋和现代企业界的政治斗争没有两样!当然,古代血腥味更重,而现在似乎是更文明些。
古代和现代世界背后的理念是相识的,以“权力为王”为中心。如果手中掌握着权力,就能做任何事,给任何人下命令和可以逃脱任何责任,包括谋杀。
但如何争取掌握权力呢?从“公主的男人”可以发现好多方法夺权。
推翻跟你对抗的敌人是最重要。不要让任何人阻挡你的去路,包括自己的家人,甚至可能兄弟对兄弟。
首阳大君就是这样的做法。他策划和密谋怎么去消减兄长文宗王的力量,后来,试图控制他的小侄子端宗王。还不知足,他把侄子给流放了,最终逼他喝毒药,障碍除掉后,升为世祖。现代情况是如何的呢?除掉跟你争夺公司里高职或对抗你的竞争者,像在韩国财阀家族企业,兄弟姐妹竞争,结果公司拆分。家庭分裂。
除掉敌人时,必须得彻底,不要斩草不除根,春风吹又生。
狠毒的首阳大君坚信这个概念,他召集队伍,把和他对敌的金宗瑞杀除,也不择手段的杀害他全家。如果儿子金承琉逃脱刽子手的刀,那他被流放时,把载着他的艘船给沉了,那些其他敌对的人也一起埋没!为了确保他们是真的死了,把他们斩首,或见证他们不再活着。当你把敌对的公司董事或高层管理人给打败后,也必须确保他的支持者和下属也给换了,不会再有挑剔的声音。
为了巩固你的力量,需要有权有势,支持你的人包围着。挥舞你的影响力,在必要时收买人才。权力和金钱就可以为你说话。所以就像兔子,用胡萝卜做引诱。如果他们不咬,威胁他们与家人,不给他们生路。
首阳大君通过他的爪牙,花了许多金两和政治职位和晋升。那些不上钩的人,威胁他们的生命。 就像那位算命师,被委任研究敬惠公主和金承琉的婚姻八字时,在胁迫下,伪造了报告,宣称这婚姻会带来灾难。在现代企业世界,所用的手段包括高级管理职位和特优的补偿方案。这就是所谓的吸引顶尖人才!
除了买人才,也许更强大的方法是通过婚姻联盟。
首阳大君试图促成女儿和金宗瑞的儿子之间的婚姻,跟现任国王最强大的盟友有婚姻联盟,可以稀释国王的权力。当他被拒绝后,首阳大君就寻求另一个政治盟友,申叔舟。在现代的韩国,财阀还是注视婚姻联盟。还记得施厚君的另一部韩剧“清潭洞爱丽丝”吗?现代财阀车家族和申家族之间的婚姻,就是希望会让两家成为韩国奢华与时尚界的强大实力吗?最佳联盟!
流血事件是不可避免的。需要强化你的心,无情的去争夺上峰。当争到王位时,还得想如何保住它。所以,需要做些什么呢?破除忠于过去制度的旧警卫,把自己的将军放上位。这样,可以更肯定属下的效忠。
每次改朝换代时,都会见血,就像首阳大君即位为世祖时,带来的巨大流血事件。公司董事会也如此。新老板上任,必然有新的团队!
朝鲜宫廷政治的阴谋。在今天的企业董事会,是不是有类似的政治阴谋?较少真实的流血事件,但血腥仍然不少!
Photo Credits – Many thanks! The Princess Man by kbs.co.kr