Classic VII: Contrary Words and Opposite Deeds (Reverse Psychology and Probing)
If a ruler speaks contrary words and does opposite deeds to test his suspicions, the true nature of treachery will be revealed. Therefore, Yangshan slandered Jiu Shu to probe the ruler’s intentions; Nao Chi posed as a Qin envoy to test the King of Qi; a Qi rebel feigned the expulsion of a favorite to gauge the king’s discernment; Zi Zhi claimed there was a white horse to test his attendants’ honesty; Zichan isolated litigants and reversed their statements to uncover the truth; and Duke Si of Wei sent a man to bribe a border guard as a sting operation.
Note
This excerpt is from “Canon Seven: Reversed Speech” in Han Feizi · Inner Congeries of Sayings I. Han Fei advises rulers to feign appearances and speak ironically to probe suspects. By laying bait deliberately, the ruler lures suspicious figures into traps, forcing their treacherous true intentions to surface.
Yangshan Slandering Jiu Shu:
Yangshan (阳山), the Prime Minister of Wei, suspected the King was doubting him. To test the King’s true feelings, he deliberately slandered the King’s favorite minister, Jiu Shu (樛竖). If the King was already suspicious of Yangshan, he would blame Yangshan; if not, he would blame Jiu Shu. This is an example of testing a superior’s boundaries through provocation.
Nao Chi Posed as a Qin Envoy:
Chu general Nao Chi (淖齿) heard that the King of Qi despised him. To confirm this, he had someone impersonate a Qin envoy. The King of Qi’s reaction to the fake envoy revealed his true attitude toward Nao Chi. This illustrates indirect intelligence gathering via proxy.
Zi Zhi’s White Horse:
Zi Zhi (子之), the Chancellor of Yan, fabricated a scenario by claiming a white horse ran out the gate. Those who lied and said they saw it were exposed as sycophants willing to fabricate reality to please him, while those who said they saw nothing were honest. This is an ancient integrity test using a fabricated stimulus.
Zichan Isolating Litigants:
Zichan (子产), a renowned statesman of Zheng, separated two disputing parties and fed them reversed versions of each other’s claims. A guilty party would accept the false premise to minimize damage, thereby exposing their guilt. This is a brilliant application of cross-examination and psychological pressure in jurisprudence.
Duke Si’s Border Guard Sting:
Duke Si of Wei (嗣公) orchestrated a sting operation by having an agent bribe a toll collector. When the collector accepted the bribe, Duke Si confronted him with the exact details. This is the ancient equivalent of entrapment or a controlled sting operation to enforce compliance.
Contrary Words and Opposite Deeds / Reverse Psychology:
This method involves deliberately creating a false narrative or an abnormal situation to serve as bait. It relies on the psychological principle that people cannot easily suppress their true reactions when presented with favorable or threatening illusions.
To test one’s suspicions:
In this context, it means to actively probe or test. Unlike passive observation, this is a proactive, aggressive form of intelligence gathering where the ruler sets the trap.
The true nature of treachery is revealed:
The ultimate goal of this stratagem. By manipulating the environment, the ruler forces hidden agendas into the open, making the invisible visible.
经七 倒言
倒言反事以尝所疑，则奸情得。故阳山谩樛竖，淖齿为秦使，齐人欲为乱，子之以白马，子产离讼者，嗣公过关市。
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