17 – The Leader – Following – Thunder in the Lake

A leader is one who has the trust of his followers and executes directives as a function of the people. Leaders will come in different forms at different times. The king sits at the top of a pyramid, issuing ultimatums. While the chief sits at the start and end point of a circle, and is regarded as a first among equals. Now is the time to seek out the confident leader either within or without and follow their command to victory.

1^st – Seeking the Leader – There is a change of heart among those in command. They begin to consider previously discarded alternatives. The wise man leaves the comforts of his home to venture to the marketplace to purchase produce and listen for whispers in the crowd.

2^nd – Rejecting the Leader – He refuses responsibility and prefers to run in the forest with his childhood friends. Rejecting the adult and serving the child is a joyous way to live, but does not get much done in terms of practical matters. We should understand this and make our choices carefully.

3^rd – Serving the Leader – He rejects his childhood playmates and pledges fealty to the king. By doing so, he strengthens his position and patiently waits for command before taking action.

4^th – The Corrupted Leader – He opens his eyes and realizes the leader is polluted and only interested in serving his own ulterior motives. In this situation, the wise man will continue service to the corrupted leader by focusing on being a beacon of sincerity and working in the shadows to right what was wronged and lay seeds for the impending ku.

5^th – Following the Leader – The young knight places his utmost trust in his king as he is led blindly into the forest. By having faith in those who lead us, we shall find success.

6^th – A New Leader is Crowned – After spending time in seclusion on the Western Mountain, the prince returns to find himself being hailed as the new king. The former king had exhausted his merit and was deemed no longer fit to rule. Learn from the past and do not repeat the same mistakes.

All Six – The Leader is Assassinated! – Bandits roam the countryside; the queen is in conspiracy and a subtle poison is slipped into the wine. Do we still drink?