Relieve Command with a Cup of Wine

CORE DEFINITION

Zhao Kuangyin said to the founding generals at the banquet: "Being emperor is too difficult; I fear your subordinates might also drape yellow robes on you." The generals were frightened and begged for guidance. Zhao Kuangyin offered a solution: surrender military power in exchange for fertile land, fine houses, and wealth for descendants. The logic of the open scheme: interest exchange / buyout mechanism. It converts the high-risk asset of "power" into the low-risk asset of "wealth." This is a non-zero-sum game solution optimal for both sides; the generals knew it was a scheme but were happy to accept.