TL;DR: History teaches us a brutal lesson: Even the greatest strategist (Zhuge Liang) needs a competent leader (Liu Bei) to succeed. If the leader is incompetent, even a genius like Li Mi has to hide in the mountains. In the tech world, AI is the ultimate "Amplifier." But remember the basic rule of math: Any number multiplied by Zero is still Zero. If you are a "Zero," AI won't save you; it will just automate your failure.
James here, CEO of Mercury Technology Solutions.
I was recently re-reading the history of the Tang Dynasty, specifically the story of Li Mi, one of the greatest strategists in Chinese history.
People often say Liu Bei was lucky to have Zhuge Liang.
But after reading about Li Mi, I realized: Zhuge Liang was the lucky one.
Zhuge Liang served Liu Bei—a leader capable of listening, changing, and executing.
Li Mi, arguably just as brilliant, spent half his life hiding in the mountains. Why? Because the emperors he served (like Li Heng) were fundamentally broken.
Li Mi knew a hard truth: If the user is broken, the tool doesn't matter.
1. Li Mi was the Original AGI
Think of Li Mi (or Zhuge Liang) as the AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) of their era.
They had infinite compute, perfect strategy, and predictive capabilities.
So why did Li Mi hide? Why did he wait until the Emperor died before coming out to fix the mess?
Because he knew that Strategic Intelligence is just a Multiplier.
If the leader (the Base Integer) is incompetent, no amount of strategy can fix it.
- Liu Bei (10) x Zhuge Liang (100) = 1,000 (Empire)
- Li Heng (0) x Li Mi (100) = 0 (Disaster)
If you are a duck egg, Jesus himself cannot hatch you into a swan.
2. The Great Lie of "No Change Required"
In the consulting world, I see a lot of snake oil salesmen.
They sell you a seductive lie:
"You don't need to change. You don't need to learn. Just buy this AI tool / use my system, and you will fly."
This is a scam.
Anytime someone tells you that you can succeed without upgrading your own internal operating system, they are lying to you.
Anytime someone claims they were a total failure until they found "One Magic Tool," they are a shill.
The reality is boring and painful: You must be the "1" before the "0s" matter.
3. AI is an Amplifier, Not a Savior
We need to stop looking at AI as a "Solution" and start seeing it as an "Amplifier."
- If you are a great writer, AI makes you prolific.
- If you are a bad writer, AI makes you generate spam.
- If you have a solid business model, AI scales it.
- If your business model is broken, AI just accelerates your bankruptcy.
The "Zero Multiplier" Effect:
Most people are looking for an external force (AI, a Consultant, a Co-founder) to save them.
But if you (the Founder/Operator) are a Zero—if you lack judgment, discipline, or domain expertise—the equation will always result in Zero.
Conclusion: Be the Base Integer
Warren Buffett is boring for a reason. He tells you the truth: "Invest in what you understand."
If you don't understand the game, having Buffett as your dad won't help you. You will just lose his money faster.
So, before you go out and buy the latest AI software or hire the expensive consultant, look in the mirror.
Are you Liu Bei, ready to utilize the tool?
Or are you Li Heng, waiting for a miracle that will never come?
Don't look for a Zhuge Liang to save you. Become a Liu Bei worth saving.
Mercury Technology Solutions: Accelerate Digitality.
