拔十失五 — “To select ten people and lose half of them”

During the Three Kingdoms period, a distinguished scholar named Pang Tong was initially not recognized for his talents. However, his uncle, the renowned Pang Degong, held him in high regard. Pang Tong later visited Sima Hui, who was known for his discernment of character, and their conversation left a deep impression, significantly boosting Pang Tong's reputation. Pang Degong even likened him to Zhuge Liang, calling him the 'Phoenix Fledgling'.

Pang Tong possessed an excellent ability to judge people and was fond of evaluating and promoting talent, often praising others generously. When people expressed surprise at his sometimes exaggerated commendations, Pang Tong offered an insightful explanation: "The world is currently in great chaos, with fewer good people than bad. When I select talent, even if I 'pull out ten and lose five' (拔十失五), meaning half of them turn out to be less than ideal, the other half are still genuine talents who can be put to good use. Isn't that a beneficial outcome?" This philosophy underscored his pragmatic approach to talent acquisition during challenging times.

Later, Pang Tong served Liu Bei and played a pivotal role in the conquest of Yi Province, but ultimately met his demise at Luofengpo.