What means over‑estimating one’s own strength internally? In ancient times, Qin attacked Yiyang of Han, putting Han in great danger.
Gongzhong Peng (Gong Zhongpeng, or Gongzhong Chi) said to the Lord of Han: “Allied states cannot be relied on. Why not seek peace with Qin through Zhang Yi? Offer a famous city as tribute and jointly attack Chu southward. Thus the threat from Qin will be removed and shifted to Chu.” The Lord of Han agreed and prepared to send Gongzhong Peng west to negotiate peace with Qin.
When the King of Chu heard this, he feared greatly and summoned Chen Zhen: “Gongzhong Peng of Han will make peace with Qin. What shall we do?”
Chen Zhen replied: “If Qin gains one major city of Han and marches its elite troops, Qin and Han will unite to attack Chu from the north – exactly what King Qin prays for in his temple. This will surely bring disaster to Chu. Send trusted envoys with many carriages and rich gifts to Han immediately, saying: ‘Though our state is small, all troops have mobilized. We beg your great state not to submit to Qin. Please send envoys to inspect our mobilized army.’”
Han sent envoys to Chu. The King of Chu displayed masses of chariots and cavalry along main roads and told Han’s envoys: “Report to your lord: our troops will soon enter Han to support you.”
When envoys returned, the Lord of Han rejoiced and halted Gongzhong Peng’s mission.
Gongzhong Peng protested: “This is wrong. Qin threatens us with real force, while Chu only offers empty promises. Trusting Chu’s false words and ignoring Qin’s real danger will ruin our state.”
The Lord of Han refused to listen. Enraged, Gongzhong Peng returned home and did not attend court for ten days.
As the siege of Yiyang grew fiercer, the Lord of Han repeatedly sent messengers urging Chu’s aid. Envoys traveled back and forth, yet no Chu troops arrived. Yiyang was finally captured by Qin, and Han was mocked by all feudal states.
Hence it is said: over‑estimating internal strength and relying externally on other feudal states brings the disaster of territorial loss.
Note
This story delivers a vital Legalist warning: rulers must realistically evaluate domestic strength and avoid blind dependence on foreign powers; empty diplomatic promises cannot save a weak state from powerful enemies.
Core Legalist thinker of the late Warring‑States Period. This excerpt is from The Ten Faults (Shi Guo), illustrating the ninth fatal mistake of rulers: blind reliance on foreign allies without self‑assessment of national strength.
Lord of Han
King Xuanhui, ruler of the State of Han, whose poor judgment cost him the strategic city Yiyang.
Gongzhong Peng
Wise prime minister of Han who foresaw Chu’s false aid and urged peace with Qin.
Zhang Yi
Famous strategist of Qin, advocate of horizontal alliances among states.
King of Chu & Chen Zhen
Chu’s ruler and his clever advisor who used false military display to manipulate Han for Chu’s own security.
Self‑Assessment of National Strength
A key Legalist principle: rulers must objectively judge their own state’s power instead of blindly trusting external allies.
Empty Diplomatic Promises
In Warring‑States diplomacy, states often used verbal support and military displays as political bluffs to avoid direct war.
Yiyang Campaign
A major historical battle where Qin seized Yiyang, opening access to the Central Plains and weakening Han severely.
Alliance Reliance Risk
Han Fei repeatedly warns that depending on other states for survival is extremely dangerous in multi‑state competition.
奚謂內不量力？昔者秦之攻宜陽，韓氏急，公仲朋謂韓君曰：「與國不可恃也，豈如因張儀為和於秦哉？因賂以名都而南與伐楚，是患解於秦而害交於楚也。」公曰：「善。」乃警公仲之行，將西和秦。楚王聞之，懼，召陳軫而告之曰：「韓朋將西和秦，今將奈何？」陳軫曰：「秦得韓之都一，驅其練甲，秦、韓為一以南鄉楚，此秦王之所以廟祠而求也，其為楚害必矣，王其趣發信臣，多其車，重其幣，以奉韓曰：『不穀之國雖小，卒已悉起，願大國之信意於秦也。因願大國令使者入境視楚之起卒也。』」韓使人之楚，楚王因發車騎陳之下路，謂韓使者曰：「報韓君言弊邑之兵今將入境矣。」使者還報韓君，韓君大悅，止公仲，公仲曰：「不可。夫以實告我者秦也，以名救我者楚也，聽楚之虛言而輕誣強秦之實禍，則危國之本也。」韓君弗聽，公仲怒而歸，十日不朝。宜陽益急，韓君令使者趣卒於楚，冠蓋相望而卒無至者，宜陽果拔，為諸侯笑。故曰：內不量力，外恃諸侯者，則國削之患也。
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