Vassals and conscripts may work hard , but they don 't work willingly ......
侍从和佣兵可能会努力工作,但他们并不情愿……
Russia 's neighbours are told they can be vassals or enemies .
俄罗斯的邻国得知,它们若不臣服于俄罗斯,便是俄罗斯的敌人。
Lords and vassals employed the language of friendship .
主人和家臣使用友谊的语言。
It " virtually guarantees that a company will never get the best out of its people ... vassals and conscripts may work hard , but they don 't work willingly ... an enthusiastic workforce will consistently outperform one that is merely industrious . "
For a man such as vladimir putin , who calls the collapse of the loathsome soviet union the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century , using russia 's energy riches to pamper or punish its former vassals according to whim must seem like a natural thing to do .