In ancient times, Duke Wu of Zheng planned to attack Hu. He first married his daughter to the Lord of Hu to win his favor.
He then asked his ministers: “I wish to launch a military campaign. Which state shall I attack?”
Minister Guan Qisi replied: “Hu may be attacked.”
Enraged, Duke Wu executed him, saying: “Hu is a brother state. Why do you suggest attacking it?”
When the Lord of Hu heard this, he believed Zheng was friendly toward him and dropped his guard. Zheng raided Hu and conquered it.
There was a wealthy man in Song. Heavy rain ruined his wall. His son said: “If unrepaired, thieves will surely come.” An elderly neighbor said the same.
That night, much treasure was stolen. The family praised their son’s wisdom yet suspected the elderly neighbor.
Both speakers were correct. Yet the one who spoke seriously was executed, and the one who spoke casually was suspected. Thus understanding truth is not difficult; handling what one understands is difficult.
Rao Chao’s advice was sound. He was regarded as a sage in Jin but put to death in Qin. This must be carefully examined.
Note
These three anecdotes prove a critical rule for political advisors: correct judgment alone cannot guarantee safety. One must understand the ruler’s hidden intentions, timing, and political context to avoid execution or suspicion.
Han Fei
Late Warring‑States Legalist thinker. This passage comes from Han Feizi – On the Difficulty of Persuasion (Shuo Nan), using three short fables to illustrate political risk for advisors.
Duke Wu of Zheng
Ruler of Zheng State, famous for using deceptive marriage and execution to lull Hu into complacency.
Guan Qisi
Honest minister executed for speaking the truth too early.
Rao Chao
Wise statesman whose correct advice led to his own death, a classic symbol of political misfortune.
Wisdom of Judging vs Wisdom of Handling
Han Fei’s key distinction: it is easy to see facts, but hard to judge when, how, and to whom to speak them safely.
Suspicion Bias (Zhi Zi Yi Lin)
The fable of the rich man of Song is a famous Chinese idiom story: people tend to trust those close to them and suspect outsiders even when their judgments are identical.
Strategic Deception in Warring‑States Politics
Duke Wu’s plot shows rulers may sacrifice loyal ministers as political tools to deceive enemy states.
昔者鄭武公欲伐胡，故先以其女妻胡君以娛其意。因問於群臣：「吾欲用兵，誰可伐者？」大夫關其思對曰：「胡可伐。」武公怒而戮之，曰：「胡，兄弟之國也，子言伐之何也？」胡君聞之，以鄭為親己，遂不備鄭，鄭人襲胡，取之。宋有富人，天雨牆壞，其子曰：「不築，必將有盜。」其鄰人之父亦云。暮而果大亡其財，其家甚智其子，而疑鄰人之父。此二人說者皆當矣，厚者為戮，薄者見疑，則非知之難也，處知則難也。故繞朝之言當矣，其為聖人於晉，而為戮於秦也。此不可不察。
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