He is getting rid of the old guard and replacing them with his appointees. Like the Gingerman, our friend's actual contribution was never even considered. A piece of the sidewalk and some tough explaining at home. The King on the other hand is chasing the bottom line by cost-cutting alone, which will undoubtedly lead to a big fall. Profit is required to keep the people.
Leaders know how to let both grow.
This tale, unfortunately, is a painful reminder of the reality we are living. It was published in a major management journal, received tremendous response, and has also been scripted for Public Radio.