Cao Shen vs Pang Tong

After Xiao He's death, Cao Shen succeeded him as chancellor of the Han dynasty. He continued Xiao He's policies without alteration, following the principle of 'non-action' (wu wei) in governance.

Cao Shen maintained the legal and administrative framework established by Xiao He, avoiding new initiatives. He selected officials who were simple and honest, and dismissed those who were overly ambitious. This policy of non-interference allowed the Han economy to recover from war.

Cao Shen was known for his daily drinking and apparent lack of activity as chancellor. When criticized, he argued that he was simply following the superior precedents set by Xiao He, and that any changes would be harmful. This approach became a famous example of Daoist-inspired governance.

Pang Tong left Zhou Yu's service and joined Liu Bei as a county magistrate. Liu Bei initially undervalued him, but after an interview with Lu Su and Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei promoted him to a key advisory role.

Pang Tong presented three strategies to Liu Bei for taking Yi Province from Liu Zhang: a direct attack, a feigned retreat to lure Liu Zhang's forces, or a slow consolidation. Liu Bei chose the middle strategy, leading to the eventual conquest of Yi.

During the siege of Luo County in Yi Province, Pang Tong was struck by an arrow and died. His death was a significant loss for Liu Bei, who mourned him deeply and later appointed his father to a post.