The Game of Kings
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Summary
It applies economic principles to analyze the costs and benefits of coups, uses systems analysis and charts for intuitive presentation, and offers not mere translation but a three-dimensional reading of history and a scientific exploration of human nature and historical patterns.
Zhao Gao's cost accounting for murder, Wang Mang's strategy for running a regime, Emperor Taizong of Tang's curve of military growth, the eunuchs' reproduction of power, Emperor Taizu of Song's human resources management...
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- History enthusiasts interested in Ming history, especially the Jingnan Campaign
- Readers who enjoy themes of political intrigue and the interplay of human nature
- Readers seeking accessible history writing that is both substantive and readable
- Thinkers who hope to reflect on how power operates in reality through historical events
Not a good fit for
- Professional researchers expecting rigorous academic verification and new archival discoveries
- Readers weary of court intrigue and political maneuvering
Reading tips
- Read alongside works by leading Ming historians such as Wu Han and Ray Huang for a more multidimensional perspective
- Pay attention to the fates of secondary figures, who often embody the tragedy of the era more vividly
- Consider reading with the theme of how power shapes and destroys people as the throughline, going beyond mere historical narrative
About the publisher
New World Press is a comprehensive publisher whose list spans documentary literature, popular science, military studies, literary appreciation, social sciences and essays. Its titles reflect a broad editorial vision: documentary works such as Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption and A Civil Action; classic translations including On the Origin of Species and On War; and literary works such as Six Records of a Floating Life and Wu Guanzhong's selected essays on beauty and painting. Its authors include Laura Hillenbrand, Charles Darwin, Carl von Clausewitz, Shen Fu and Daniel Everett, showing a balance between translated and original works. Publicly available information on its fuller publishing profile and features is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 第一章 沙丘之变——赵高逆袭的成本核算
- 一、权力阉人——狠人其实不是太监
- 二、变革之初——赵高的SWOT分析矩阵
- 三、孰强孰弱——个人政治实力评估
- 四、各自为利——沙丘政之变的计划书
- 五、扶苏之死——赵高 3%的高伤害成本投入
- 六、利益分配——李斯的高投入零收益
- 七、蒙氏被除——帝国人力资源赤字
- 八、挟天子以令群臣——权力的帕金森第二定律
- 九、李斯灭族——博弈里需要有人流血
- 十、望夷宫之变——赵高最后的成本核算
- 第二章 王莽篡汉——外戚政权的经营战略
- 一、外戚满朝堂——王氏家族的东方神起
- 二、上任黄门郎——王莽入仕的SO发展型分战略
- 三、爵封新都侯——王莽SO发展型战略微调
- 四、官拜大司马——王莽干掉表哥的进攻战略
- 五、斩草须除根——大司马的宏观经营战略规划
- 六、未央宫事件——外戚政权的利益冲突
- 七、罢官回封地——东山再起的WT防御型分战略
- 八、政权再更迭——王莽对给哀帝外戚开出的清算单
- 九、天朝安汉公——ST多样化战略的实际应用
- 十、政权金字塔——初建大新帝国金字塔雏形
- 十一、狗血门事件——权力BOSS王莽的彻底清算
- 十二、符命上帝位——三十年仕途终极经营战略明细
- 第三章 河阴之变——北魏士族与帝国政权的代理合同
- 一、废除旧制——胡太后的代理合同
- 二、杨白花词——胡太后的旷世情人
- 三、选择弱者——刘腾的四角分析模型
- 四、高手联合——阴谋家的血腥手腕
- 五、政变夺权——元叉、刘腾的代理合同
- 六、元熙造反——各种反扑的N次方
- 七、重归朝野——权力不能放手的经典定律
- 八、六镇民变——北魏帝国的辉煌与没落
- 九、抢班夺权——母子之间的流血过招
- 十、契胡军团——冉冉升起的庶族将星
- 十一、进军洛阳——新生阶级的上位之争
- 十二、河阴县内——有片血腥的天空
- 十三、河阴之变——北魏士族最后的哀鸣
- 第四章 玄武门之变——次子的夺嫡曲线
- 一、以次夺嫡——李世民与杨广的履历对比表
- 二、寻找帮手——杨广的夺嫡大计开始了
- 三、高颎罢相——杨勇的最后一道防御屏障
- 四、和平演变——杨勇被废曲线示意图
- 五、晋阳起兵——为输在起跑线上抗议
- 六、两次战役——你是半斤我八两
- 七、长安之战——李建成军事才华的拉风时刻
- 八、孰强孰弱——李建成与李世民实力曲线图
- 九、名将噩梦——秦王党首席功臣的水平
- 十、刘文静案——皇帝集团与秦王党首次交锋
- 十一、放弃河东——李世民集团何去何从
- 十二、人才储备——天策上将的帝王之资
- 十三、围城打援——军事天才的华丽表演
- 十四、经略山东——给自己选一块桑梓地
- 十五、建成出击——刘黑闼的噩梦来了
- 十六、杨文干案——李世民的手捧雷
- 十七、兄弟联合——太子党一连串的反击
- 十八、武力夺嫡——谁才是最后的胜利者
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About the author
Zhao Jiasanlang is a Chinese author who writes mainly historical works and general biographies. Public information about him is limited, and details such as his birthplace, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly documented. Five of his books are currently known: Wang Anshi and His Northern Song Empire, Inner Sage and Outer King: Wang Yangming—Nothing Outside the Mind, Unity of Knowledge and Action, The Game of Kings, Those Extraordinary Figures of the Warring States, and Micro-History @ People of the Song Dynasty. His subjects center on Northern Song politics and figures, Wang Yangming's philosophy of mind, Warring States history, and Song dynasty social life, combining biography with popular history and often using specific people and events to illuminate their times. The Wang Yangming volume, with its focus on 'nothing outside the mind' and the 'unity of knowledge and action,' shows his interest in intellectual history and individual character. Overall, his books are aimed at general readers and are readable and accessible, offering some value for popular history and biographical reading.
