What means seeking trivial profits? In ancient times, Duke Xian of Jin intended to borrow a passage through Yu to attack Guo.
Xun Xi said: “Your Highness, present Duke Yu with fine jade from Chui Ji (Chui‑ji or Chuiji) and fine horses from Quchan (Qu‑chan) to bribe him for passage. He will surely grant it.”
Duke Xian replied: “The jade is a treasure of my former rulers; the horses are my finest steeds. If he accepts my gifts yet refuses passage, what shall we do?”
Xun Xi answered: “If he refuses passage, he will dare not take our gifts. If he accepts them and grants passage, the treasure merely moves from our inner storehouse to an outer one, and the horses from our inner stable to an outer stable. Do not worry.”
Duke Xian agreed. He sent Xun Xi with the jade and horses to bribe Duke Yu and request passage.
Duke Yu, tempted by the jade and horses, intended to consent.
Gong Zhi Qi (Gong Zhiqi) remonstrated: “Do not agree. Yu depends on Guo as a cart relies on its side‑planks. The planks support the cart and the cart supports the planks – such is the bond between Yu and Guo. If you grant passage, Guo will fall in the morning and Yu will perish in the evening. Do not consent.”
Duke Yu ignored the warning and allowed passage.
Xun Xi conquered Guo. Three years later, he attacked and conquered Yu as well.
Xun Xi returned with the horses and jade to report to Duke Xian, who joyfully said: “The jade remains the same, though the horses have grown older.”
Why did Duke Yu suffer military defeat and territorial loss? Because he craved trivial gains and overlooked fatal dangers. Hence it is said: seeking trivial profits ruins great long‑term benefits.
Note
This anecdote delivers a timeless Legalist warning: short‑sighted greed for trivial material gains blinds rulers to existential national risks, leading to state collapse.
Core Legalist thinker of the late Warring‑States Period. This story comes from The Ten Faults (Shi Guo), illustrating the second fatal political mistake: short‑sighted greed for small gains destroys major interests.
Duke Xian of Jin
Powerful ruler of the State of Jin in the Spring‑and‑Autumn Period, strategist behind the conquest of Yu and Guo.
Duke Yu
Short‑sighted ruler of the State of Yu, ruined by greed for jade and horses.
Xun Xi
Wise minister of Jin who devised the bribery‑and‑passage strategy.
Gong Zhi Qi (Gong Zhiqi)
Loyal minister of Yu who warned of the “lip‑and‑tooth” interdependence of Yu and Guo.
Lip and Teeth Interdependence
Borrowing Passage to Attack a State (Jia Tu Fa Guo)
Classic political stratagem: using gifts to gain access through a weaker ally to conquer another state, then conquering the ally afterward.
Trivial vs Long‑term Interests
A key Legalist lesson: rulers must prioritize national survival over material luxuries and immediate small profits.
奚謂顧小利？昔者晉獻公欲假道於虞以伐虢。荀息曰：「君其以垂棘之璧、與屈產之乘，賂虞公，求假道焉，必假我道。」君曰：「垂棘之璧，吾先君之寶也；屈產之乘，寡人之駿馬也。若受吾幣不假之道將奈何？」荀息曰：「彼不假我道，必不敢受我幣。若受我幣而假我道，則是寶猶取之內府而藏之外府也，馬猶取之內廄而著之外廄也。君勿憂。」君曰：「諾。」乃使荀息以垂棘之璧、與屈產之乘，賂虞公而求假道焉。虞公貪利其璧與馬而欲許之。宮之奇諫曰：「不可許。夫虞之有虢也，如車之有輔，輔依車，車亦依輔，虞、虢之勢正是也。若假之道，則虢朝亡而虞夕從之矣。不可，願勿許。」虞公弗聽，遂假之道。荀息伐虢之，還反處三年，興兵伐虞，又剋之。荀息牽馬操璧而報獻公，獻公說曰：「璧則猶是也。雖然，馬齒亦益長矣。」故虞公之兵殆而地削者何也？愛小利而不慮其害。故曰：顧小利則大利之殘也。
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