Explanation 3
Among the Grand Masters of Qi, there was a man named Yi She. He had been serving wine to the king, became thoroughly drunk, and staggered out, leaning against the gate of the palace corridor. The gatekeeper – a man who had suffered the punishment of having his feet cut off – knelt and begged: “Would Your Excellency care to bestow upon me the dregs of your drink?” Yi She rebuked him: “Away! You mutilated wretch – how dare you beg a drink from your betters!” The gatekeeper scurried away. After Yi She had left, the gatekeeper poured water beneath the eaves of the corridor gate, making it resemble the appearance of urine. The next day, the king came out and saw it, and shouted in anger: “Who urinated here?” The gatekeeper replied: “I did not see it. Nevertheless, yesterday the Grand Master Yi She was standing right here.” The king thereupon investigated Yi She and had him executed.
Two ministers of the King of Wei were on bad terms with Lord Jiyang. Lord Jiyang therefore arranged for someone to stage a fake assassination attempt on himself, pretending it was ordered by his enemies. The king sent someone to ask Lord Jiyang: “Who bears you a grudge?” He replied: “No one would dare. Nevertheless, there were two men with whom I was once on bad terms – though not enough to warrant this.” The king asked his attendants, and his attendants said: “Indeed, that is so.” The king thereupon executed the two men.
Ji Xin and Yuan Qian harbored mutual resentment. Sima Xi, who had recently fallen out with Ji Xin, secretly sent someone to assassinate Yuan Qian. The Lord of Zhongshan assumed it was Ji Xin’s doing, and had Ji Xin executed.
Among the favorite concubines of the King of Chu was one named Zheng Xiu. The king had recently acquired a beautiful woman. Zheng Xiu said to her: “The king is very fond of people who cover their mouths. Whenever you are near the king, be sure to cover your mouth.” When the beautiful woman entered the king’s presence, she drew near and covered her mouth. The king asked the reason. Zheng Xiu said: “She finds your odor offensive.” Later, when the king, Zheng Xiu, and the beautiful woman were seated together, Zheng Xiu first instructed the attendants: “If the king gives an order just now, you must carry it out immediately.” The beautiful woman then stepped forward, drew very close to the king, and repeatedly covered her mouth. The king, enraged, cried: “Cut off her nose!” The attendants drew their knives and cut off the beauty’s nose.
Another version: The King of Wei presented a beautiful woman to the King of Chu. The king was greatly pleased with her. Lady Zheng Xiu, knowing that the king delighted in her, also showed great fondness for her – even more than the king himself. She chose garments, trinkets, and amusements according to the newcomer’s every desire. The king said: “My lady knows that I love this new woman, and her fondness for her exceeds even my own. This is how a filial son provides for his parents, and how a loyal minister serves his ruler.” When Lady Zheng Xiu knew that the king did not suspect her of jealousy, she said to the newcomer: “The king is very fond of you, but he dislikes your nose. Whenever you see the king, always cover your nose, and he will favor you for a long time.” The newcomer followed this advice, and every time she saw the king, she covered her nose. The king asked Lady Zheng Xiu: “This new woman always covers her nose when she sees me – why?” She replied: “I do not know.” The king pressed her, and she said: “Not long ago, she said she found your odor repulsive.” The king was furious: “Cut off her nose!” Lady Zheng Xiu had already instructed the attendants beforehand: “If the king gives an order, you must obey.” The attendants drew their knives and cut off the beauty’s nose.
Fei Wuji was a close associate of the Chancellor of Chu. Xi Yuan had recently entered the chancellor’s service, and the chancellor was very fond of him. Fei Wuji said to the chancellor: “You are so fond of Yuan – why not hold a banquet at his residence?” The chancellor said: “Good.” He then ordered Fei Wuji to make the arrangements at Xi Yuan’s home. Fei Wuji instructed Yuan: “The chancellor is exceedingly proud and fond of military display. You must be very respectful – first, hasten to array armed men in the courtyard and at the gates.” Yuan did so. When the chancellor arrived, he was greatly alarmed and said: “What is the meaning of this?” Fei Wuji said: “My lord, you are in danger! Leave at once! The matter cannot be foretold.” The chancellor flew into a rage, mobilized his troops, and attacked Xi Yuan, ultimately killing him.
Xi Shou and Zhang Shou were enemies. Chen Xu, a recent arrival, was on bad terms with Xi Shou. He secretly sent someone to assassinate Zhang Shou. The King of Wei assumed it was Xi Shou’s doing, and had him executed.
In Zhongshan, there was a prince of humble status whose horse was very thin and whose carriage was very dilapidated. Among his attendants, there were some who privately disliked him. They went to the king and said: “The prince is very poor, and his horse is very thin. Why does Your Majesty not increase his horse’s feed?” The king refused. The attendants then secretly arranged for the fodder stable to be set on fire at night. The king assumed it was the humble prince’s doing, and had him executed.
In Wei, there was an old Confucian scholar who was on bad terms with Lord Jiyang. A guest who had a private grudge against the old scholar attacked and killed him, then presented this as a favor to Lord Jiyang, saying: “Because he was disrespectful to you, I killed him on your behalf.” Lord Jiyang, without investigation, rewarded him.
Another version: Lord Jiyang had a young concubine-born son who was not recognized by the lord, and who wished to gain the lord’s favor. The state of Qi had sent an old Confucian to gather medicinal herbs on the Mountain of Ma Li. The young son of Jiyang wished to make this into an achievement. He entered and said to the lord: “Qi has sent this old Confucian to gather herbs on the Mountain of Ma Li – but the name of ‘gathering herbs’ is a cover; in truth, he is spying on your state. If you kill him, you will be able to present Lord Jiyang as having rendered a service to Qi in settling the matter. I request permission to assassinate him.” The lord said: “Proceed.” And so, the next day, the old man was found in the city and assassinated. Lord Jiyang returned and grew even closer to the young son.
Note
This is Explanation Three from Han Feizi: Inner Congested Sayings, Part II. It compiles cases of political assassination: ministers exploit the ruler’s suspicion to eliminate rivals. Unlike cross‑border tactics in Explanation Two, these domestic power‑struggle cases use frame‑ups and false appearances to trigger the ruler’s wrath against political foes.
Yi She (夷射):
A Grand Master (中大夫) of the state of Qi. He appears only in this anecdote as a cautionary tale – a high-ranking official brought down not by a rival’s power, but by a mutilated gatekeeper’s clever fabrication. His story illustrates Han Fei’s principle that the lowest person in the hierarchy can destroy the highest, if he can manipulate the ruler’s perception.
Lord Jiyang (济阳君):
A nobleman of Wei who appears in two separate anecdotes. In the first, he stages a fake assassination attempt on himself to frame two political enemies. In the second variant, his young concubine-born son assassinates a Qi envoy under the pretext of counter-espionage to gain favor. Lord Jiyang serves as a recurring example of how rulers are manipulated by fabricated crises.
Sima Xi (司马喜):
A minister of the small state of Zhongshan (中山). In this passage, he secretly arranges the assassination of Yuan Qian to frame his rival Ji Xin. (Note: This is a different episode from the Sima Xi who leaked Zhongshan’s plans to Zhao, which appeared in “Explanation 2.”)
Zheng Xiu (郑袖):
One of the most infamous consorts in Chinese political history. She was a favorite concubine of King Huai of Chu (楚怀王). Her “nose-covering stratagem” is one of the most celebrated examples of political manipulation in ancient Chinese literature. She appears in multiple historical sources, including the Strategies of the Warring States (战国策), where her cunning and ruthlessness are consistently emphasized.
Fei Wuji (费无极):
A notorious minister of Chu, infamous for his role in the political intrigues of the late Spring and Autumn period. He is best known for his manipulation of Chancellor Zi Chang (子常/囊瓦), which led to the destruction of the loyal minister Xi Yuan (郄宛). Fei Wuji’s methods – fabricating evidence, manipulating both sides simultaneously, and exploiting the ruler’s paranoia – made him a byword for treachery in Chinese political thought.
Other than that, Fei Wuji sowed discord between King Ping of Chu and the crown prince, framed loyal general Wu She, and triggered Wu Zixu’s flight to Wu. His vicious intrigues brought great turmoil to Chu and eventually led to his own death.
Xi Yuan (郄宛):
A loyal minister of Chu who was newly favored by the chancellor. His trusting nature made him vulnerable to Fei Wuji’s double manipulation – he followed Fei Wuji’s advice to display weapons as a sign of respect, not realizing this would be interpreted as a prelude to rebellion.
Xi Shou (犀首):
Also known as Gongsun Yan (公孙衍), a prominent political figure of the Warring States period. He was a strategist who advocated the “Vertical Alliance” (合纵) against Qin. In this anecdote, he is the victim of a frame-up by Chen Xu.
Chen Xu (陈需):
A newly arrived minister of Wei who was on bad terms with Xi Shou. He secretly assassinated Xi Shou’s enemy Zhang Shou, knowing the king would naturally suspect Xi Shou.
Amputation of the Feet:
One of the Five Punishments in ancient Chinese law. The gatekeeper in the opening story had suffered this punishment, which is why he is called “a person remaining after punishment,” i.e., a convict. His lowly status makes his triumph over the Grand Master all the more striking.
Killing with a Borrowed Knife:
The overarching strategy in every anecdote in this passage. The conspirator never acts directly – instead, he creates circumstances that lead the ruler to kill on his behalf. This is one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems of ancient Chinese military thought.
Forging the King’s Decree:
Appearing in the Lord Jiyang anecdote, this refers to the act of fabricating or falsifying a royal command. In ancient Chinese law, forging a royal decree was among the gravest crimes, as it struck at the very foundation of sovereign authority.
The Nose-Covering Stratagem:
Zheng Xiu’s method has become a Chinese idiom for any scheme in which the victim is tricked into performing the very action that leads to their destruction. The beauty covered her nose out of trust in Zheng Xiu’s advice, and that very act was presented as evidence of her contempt for the king.
说三
齐中大夫有夷射者，御饮于王，醉甚而出，倚于郎门。门者刖跪请曰：”足下无意赐之余沥乎？”夷射叱曰：”去！刑余之人，何事乃敢乞饮长者！”刖跪走退。及夷射去，刖跪因捐水郎门霤下，类溺者之状。明日，王出而呵之，曰：”谁溺于是？”刖跪对曰：”臣不见也。虽然，昨日中大夫夷射立于此。”王因诛夷射而杀之。
魏王臣二人不善济阳君，济阳君因伪令人矫王命而谋攻己。王使人问济阳君曰：”谁与恨？”对曰：”无敢与恨。虽然，尝与二人不善，不足以至于此。”王问左右，左右曰：”固然。”王因诛二人者。
季辛与爰骞相怨，司马喜新与季辛恶，因微令人杀爰骞，中山之君以为季辛也，因诛之。
荆王所爱妾有郑袖者。荆王新得美女，郑袖因教之曰：”王甚喜人之掩口也，为近王，必掩口。”美女入见，近王，因掩口。王问其故，郑袖曰：”此固言恶王之臭。”及王与郑袖、美女三人坐，袖因先诫御者曰：”王适有言，必亟听从王言。”美女前，近王甚，数掩口。王悖然怒曰：”劓之。”御因揄刀而劓美人。
一曰：魏王遗荆王美人，荆王甚悦之。夫人郑袖知王悦爱之也，亦悦爱之，甚于王，衣服玩好择其所欲为之。王曰：”夫人知我爱新人也，其悦爱之甚于寡人，此孝子所以养亲，忠臣之所以事君也。”夫人知王之不以己为妒也，因为新人曰：”王甚悦爱子，然恶子之鼻，子见王，常掩鼻，则王长幸子矣。”于是新人从之，每见王，常掩鼻。王谓夫人曰：”新人见寡人常掩鼻，何也？”对曰：”不知也。”王强问之，对曰：”顷尝言恶闻王臭。”王怒曰：”劓之。”夫人先诫御者曰：”王适有言，必可从命。”御者因揄刀而劓美人。
费无极，荆令尹之近者也。郄宛新事令尹，令尹甚爱之。无极因谓令尹曰：”君爱宛甚，何不一为酒其家？”令尹曰：”善。”因令之为具于郄宛之家。无极教宛曰：”令尹甚傲而好兵，子必谨敬，先亟陈兵堂下及门庭。”宛因为之。令尹往而大惊，曰：”此何也？”无极曰：”君殆，去之！事未可知也。”令尹大怒，举兵而诛郄宛，遂杀之。
犀首与张寿为怨，陈需新入，不善犀首，因使人微杀张寿。魏王以为犀首也，乃诛之。
中山有贱公子，马甚瘦，车甚弊。左右有私不善者，乃为之请王曰：”公子甚贫，马甚瘦，王何不益之马食？”王不许。左右因微令夜烧刍厩。王以为贱公子也，乃诛之。
魏有老儒而不善济阳君。客有与老儒私怨者，因攻老儒杀之，以德于济阳君，曰：”臣为其不善君也，故为君杀之。”济阳君因不察而赏之。
一曰：济阳君有少庶子者，不见知，欲入爱于君者。齐使老儒掘药于马梨之山。济阳少庶子欲以为功，入见于君曰：”齐使老儒掘药于马梨之山，名掘药也，实间君之国。君杀之，是将以济阳君抵罪于齐矣。臣请刺之。”君曰：”可。”于是明日得之城阴而刺之，济阳君还，益亲之。
Leave a Reply