Brief: This article tells the tragic story of Chu Ni, an assassin who chose death over killing the virtuous minister Zhao Dun. Set during the Spring and Autumn period, it depicts the tyranny of Duke Ling of Jin, who amused himself by randomly shooting civilians with a slingshot. When Chu Ni infiltrated Zhao Dun’s home, he was moved by the minister’s humility and integrity, refusing to commit the murder and instead sacrificing himself. The narrative further details the heroic resistance of Zhao Dun’s guard, Ti Ming, and the eventual coup led by Zhao Chuan, which ended the tyrant’s reign and restored moral order to the state of Jin.
A boy king and a tyrant in the making
After a series of military defeats by Qin and the deaths of several senior ministers, Zhao Dun – son of the revered Zhao Cui – rose as chief minister of Jin. In 620 BCE, Duke Xiang of Jin died, leaving his seven-year-old son to ascend the throne as Duke Ling of Jin.
As Duke Ling grew, he proved reckless and indulgent – obsessed with games and pleasure. Only one man dared restrain him: Zhao Dun, whose stern presence terrified the young ruler. In contrast, the ever-smiling Tu’an Gu – a cunning courtier – flattered the duke endlessly, becoming his closest confidant.
The Cruelty of the Peach Garden
Tu’an Gu built the Peach Garden, a lavish estate filled with peach trees and crowned by a high viewing platform. From there, Duke Ling and Tu’an Gu amused themselves – shooting birds with slingshots, watching dances, and drinking wine.
But their cruelty escalated. One day, bored with birds, Duke Ling proposed a new game:
“Let’s shoot people outside the wall! Ten points for an eye, eight for an ear, five for the head…”
They fired into the crowd. Men screamed, bled, and fled – while the duke laughed hysterically.
When Zhao Dun and Shi Hui learned of this, they rushed to the palace. There, they saw a basket dragged by maids – a dismembered corpse inside, the royal cook executed for undercooking bear’s paw.
Shi Hui confronted the duke, who feigned repentance:
“I’ll change.”
But within days, he returned to the Peach Garden.
Zhao Dun blocked the gate, pleading:
“This path leads to ruin – for you and Jin.”
Reluctantly, he let them pass after Tu’an Gu intervened.
The assassin who chose death over murder
Enraged, Duke Ling whispered to Tu’an Gu:
“I can’t stand this old man anymore.”
Tu’an Gu replied:
“I have a strongman – Chu Ni. He’ll kill Zhao Dun tonight.”
That night, Chu Ni infiltrated Zhao Dun’s courtyard and hid beneath a big locust tree. Before dawn, he saw the minister already dressed in court robes, sitting quietly in a sparsely furnished hall – humble, disciplined, and loyal. (In ancient China, senior officials of the imperial court had to enter the palace before dawn to discuss national events with the emperor.)
Torn, Chu Ni thought:
“How can I kill such a righteous man””
Yet failing meant death. In agony, he rushed to the door and cried:
“Someone sent me to assassinate you – but I cannot harm a virtuous minister! Beware – others may come.”
Then he dashed his head against the big tree, dying instantly – his blood soaking the roots.
The next morning, Zhao Dun appeared at court unharmed. Duke Ling and Tu’an Gu were stunned.
The savage dog and the loyal guard
Undeterred, Tu’an Gu trained a ferocious hunting dog to attack a dummy dressed as Zhao Dun, stuffing its chest with mutton. After days of conditioning, the dog lunged on sight.
Soon, Duke Ling invited Zhao Dun to a banquet. His loyal guard, Ti Ming, accompanied him but was forced to wait below. When the duke demanded Zhao Dun draw his sword – a capital offense – Ti Ming shouted a warning from the hall, exposing the trap.
As they fled, Tu’an Gu unleashed the dog. Ti Ming kicked it down, snapped its neck, and fought off pursuing guards – slaying several before falling in battle.
Just as Zhao Dun collapsed in despair, a soldier named Ling Zhe – a lowly palace guard – swept him up and carried him to safety.
At that moment, Zhao Dun’s son, Zhao Shuo, arrived with the household guards to rescue his father. The warrior placed Zhao Dun in the carriage, then turned to fight desperately against the pursuers. Seeing that Zhao’s men now outnumbered them, the pursuers finally turned back.
Zhao Dun asked the warrior,
“They all came to harm me—why did you instead save me? Who are you?”
He replied,
“My name is Ling Zhe. I am a guard. But I could not stand by and watch Tu’an Gu’s schemes. Chief Minister, you must leave quickly—do not ask more. To draw one’s sword in aid of the wronged—that is not so rare a thing.”
Zhao Dun and his son had no choice but to flee abroad to seek refuge. Though he wished to take Ling Zhe with him, the man had already slipped away.
The Fall of a Tyrant
At the western gate, they met Zhao Chuan – Zhao Dun’s cousin, Duke Ling’s brother-in-law, and a skilled hunter.
“Don’t leave Jin!” Zhao Chuan urged. “I’ll bring you back!”
He returned to the palace, feigning guilt:
“Punish me too – I’m of the Zhao clan.”
Duke Ling reassured him, then confided his grievances about Zhao Dun’s strictness.
Seizing the moment, Zhao Chuan flattered the duke:
“A true ruler should enjoy life! Look at Duke Huan of Qi – he had hundreds of consorts and became hegemon!”
He suggested sending Tu’an Gu to scour the land for beauties.
Once Tu’an Gu was dispatched, Zhao Chuan replaced the duke’s guards with his own men. During a routine bird-hunting session in the Peach Garden, he assassinated Duke Ling.
The people rejoiced. The tyrant was dead.
Restoration and Restraint
Zhao Dun returned to Jin. Since Duke Ling did not have any child, the ministers installed Duke Wen’s youngest son as Duke Cheng of Jin in 606 BCE.
To cement loyalty, Duke Cheng married his daughter Lady Zhuang Ji to Zhao Shuo, son of Zhao Dun – uniting the ruling house and the Zhao clan.
Tu’an Gu, hearing of the coup, crept back and groveled before the Zhao family. Zhao Chuan urged:
“Kill him – he corrupted the late duke!”
But Zhao Dun rebuked him:
“You escaped punishment for regicide – don’t press your luck!”
Later, Zhao Chuan asked for promotion, citing his “service”, Zhao Dun refused:
“Merit comes first!”
When Zhao Chuan’s son Zhao Zhan sought inheritance of his father’s post, Zhao Dun again insisted on earned rank.
His impartiality earned widespread respect. Under Duke Cheng and Zhao Dun’s guidance, Jin regained stability and moral authority.
Note
Chu Ni
A professional assassin hired to kill Zhao Dun. He chose to kill himself rather than murder a virtuous minister, becoming a symbol of conscience and morality.
Zhao Dun
Chief minister of Jin, known for loyalty, diligence, and integrity. He was the only one who dared to oppose the tyrant Duke Ling.
Duke Ling of Jin
Cruel, childish tyrant who shot people for fun, killed cooks for trivial mistakes, and plotted to murder his loyal minister.
Tu’an Gu
Evil courtier who flattered the tyrant and arranged assassinations to eliminate political opponents.
Ti Ming
Loyal bodyguard of Zhao Dun who sacrificed his life to save his master from a trap and a killer dog.
Ling Zhe
Anonymous palace guard who rescued Zhao Dun out of a sense of justice.
Zhao Chuan
Zhao Dun’s cousin who assassinated the tyrant Duke Ling to end the terror.
Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BCE)
An era when rulers were expected to be moral; tyrants often lost their legitimacy and lives.
Virtuous minister (Junchen)
A loyal official who serves the state bravely and honestly, even at risk of death.
Assassin morality
In ancient China, some assassins refused to harm good people, valuing righteousness over money or orders.
Court discipline
Senior officials had to dress formally and arrive at the palace long before dawn to serve the ruler.
The assassin who chose death over murder
The moral legend of Chu Ni, representing choosing righteousness over duty.
Killer dog trap
A common palace trick: training a dog to attack a specific target as an assassination method.
Peach Garden cruelty
Symbol of a tyrant’s pointless, playful violence against ordinary people.
Righteous revenge
Killing a tyrant is seen as moral and justified, not a crime.
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