Decision-Making Archives - understand-culture

Cutting the Desk

Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao had taken Jingzhou and its fleet. Sun Quan called his officials together and asked for their advice. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, all who spoke said that the best plan was to “welcome” Cao Cao, that is, to submit. Zhou Yu argued for war, and Sun Quan agreed with him.

A note to the same chapter, from the Jiangbiao Zhuan, describes what Sun Quan did next. He drew his sword and cut the desk in front of him. “Any officer or official who dares to speak again of welcoming Cao Cao will be like this desk.” (诸将吏敢复有言当迎操者，与此案同)

No More Chancellors

In 1380, the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming dynasty, had his chancellor Hu Weiyong executed for alleged treason and abolished the office of chancellor. In his Ancestral Instructions (皇明祖训), he explained the new order. The ministries and offices “check each other and do not dare to press on each other. All matters are brought together at the court.”

His rule for the future was absolute: “When my descendants are emperor, they may not appoint a chancellor. If any minister dares to propose it, all officials shall impeach him at once. The offender shall be put to death by slicing, and his whole family executed.”

Drafts and Red Ink

After the Ming abolished the chancellor, memorials to the throne went to the Grand Secretaries. They drafted a proposed reply on a slip of paper and attached it to the cover of the memorial. This was called piaoni (票拟), “drafting on a slip.” The emperor then wrote his decision on the memorial in red ink. This was called pihong (批红), “approving in red.”

If the emperor agreed, the memorial went out to be carried out. If he did not, it went back to the cabinet for a new draft. From the Xuande reign on, the red brush passed to the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The Grand Council

In 1729, the Yongzheng Emperor set up an office inside the palace to handle a war in the northwest. It became the Grand Council (军机处), and it remained until 1911. Its ministers turned the emperor’s spoken instructions into edicts. They also discussed major affairs, but their opinions went to the emperor for his decision.

Chinese Wikipedia sums up their position with a classic description. They “only transmitted and wrote, and could not add the slightest counsel in between” (只供传述缮撰，而不能稍有赞画于其间). The power of decision rested entirely with the emperor.

The Decision to Enter Korea

In early October 1950, China’s leaders debated whether to send troops to Korea. On October 2, Mao Zedong told the Soviet side that “many comrades in the Central Committee believe that we must act with caution.” At an enlarged Politburo meeting on October 4 and 5, Peng Dehuai supported Mao’s decision to send troops. On October 8, Peng was appointed commander of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.

According to the memoirs of Nie Rongzhen, Mao had first chosen Lin Biao to command, and Lin, afraid, used illness as a pretext and refused to go. One historian notes that there is no documentary evidence for this account, only the recollections of people who were there.

The Top Leader Speaks Last

In 2013 and 2014, several provinces, among them Yunnan, Henan and Anhui, wrote a “speak last” rule (末位表态) into their decision procedures. Yunnan did so in June 2013, and Henan in May 2014. When a leading group discusses a decision, the other members state their views first. The top leader states a view last.

A 2014 report on the rules gave the reason: “The other members of the group speak first, and the top leader speaks last. This will help to avoid a ‘hall of one voice.'”

Dangdang’s Seals

According to press reports, on April 26, 2020, Li Guoqing went to the offices of Dangdang with four men and took the company seals. He was in a dispute over who controlled the company. Dangdang answered the same day that its company seal, financial seal and finance department seal were void.

In a Chinese company, the seal (公章) is how decisions become binding on paper. As one report put it: “The company seal is, admittedly, an important proof of exercising power in the company.”

The Vocabulary of Deciding

做主 To be the master. To take charge and decide. The Handian dictionary gives the example 你大胆干吧，一切由我做主, “Go ahead boldly. I will decide everything.”

拿主意 To take hold of an idea. To make the decision on a matter.

定夺 To fix and to take. To decide whether a thing will be done, or which option will be chosen.

定调子 To set the key. Originally to fix the pitch of a piece of music. Figuratively, to set the basic direction before a piece of work begins.

当家 To head the house. To manage the household.

Family

Ba Jin’s novel Family (家) is set in the large Gao household in Chengdu. Grandfather Gao is the authority of the whole family. His eldest grandson, Juexin, has absorbed new ideas but still obeys tradition.

As a young man, Juexin loves his cousin Mei. He marries Ruijue instead, because his parents have arranged it. He comes to love his wife, but he never forgets Mei.

Under the Eaves

When word came that Cao Cao was moving east, Sun Quan discussed it with his officers. All of them urged him to welcome Cao Cao. Lu Su alone said nothing. When Sun Quan rose to change his clothes, Lu Su followed him out under the eaves. Sun Quan took his hand and asked: “What do you want to say?”

Lu Su told him that the others’ advice would ruin him. Lu Su himself could submit to Cao Cao and still keep an official post. Sun Quan could not. “Settle the great plan early, and do not use the advice of the many.” (Records of the Three Kingdoms)

Their first conversation had gone the same way. After the other guests left, Sun Quan called Lu Su back alone. They sat on the same couch, drank, and “discussed in secret.”