When Han Fei came to Qin, he surely relied on his ability to preserve the State of Han so as to gain high standing in Han.
He is skilled at persuasive discourse and elaborate wording, glossing over faults and disguising deceitful schemes. He seeks personal gain from Qin, and uses the interests of Han to sound out Your Majesty’s intentions.
If the bond between Qin and Han grows close and intimate, Han Fei will rise to greater prominence – this is nothing but a scheme to serve his own advantage.
Note
This paragraph represents the political slander against Han Fei: portraying him as a cunning rhetorician who pretends to serve Qin while secretly working to protect Han and advance his own political status.
A great Legalist thinker of the late Warring States Period, born in the royal clan of Han. He traveled to Qin, yet was suspected by Qin’s ministers of always prioritizing his home state Han over Qin’s interests.
Li Si
Prime Minister of Qin, fellow student of Han Fei under Xunzi. He envied Han Fei’s talent and accused him of being loyal to Han rather than Qin, eventually leading to Han Fei’s death in prison.
Warring States Scholar Official Politics
Intellectuals traveled among feudal states to offer strategies and seek official positions. Rulers and ministers often suspected foreign scholars of being secret agents for their home states.
Persuasive Eloquence
Debate and rhetorical skill were essential tools for political lobbyists in the Warring States era; fine wording could disguise hidden motives and manipulate a ruler’s judgment.
Allegiance Conflict
A common political dilemma: a scholar from a weak state serving a powerful empire was always suspected of prioritizing his mother-state’s survival over the hosting state’s hegemony.
非之來也，未必不以其能存韓也，為重於韓也。辯說屬辭，飾非詐謀，以釣利於秦，而以韓利闚陛下。夫秦、韓之交親，則非重矣，此自便之計也。
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