A proverb says: “The leper pities the king.” Though irreverent, ancient proverbs are never groundless and must be examined. It refers to rulers seized, murdered, and brought to death by ministers.
If a ruler lacks law and statecraft to control his ministers, even if he is aged and talented, powerful ministers will seize authority, monopolize state affairs, and pursue private interests. Fearing that the ruler’s kin and heroes will use royal power to restrain and punish them, ministers kill wise elder rulers to install weak young ones, and discard legitimate heirs to elevate illegitimate pretenders.
The Spring‑and‑Autumn Annals records: “Prince Wei of Chu was to visit Zheng. Before crossing the border, he heard the king was ill and returned. Entering to inquire after his health, he strangled the king with his hat‑strap and seized the throne himself.”
In Qi, Cui Zhu had a beautiful wife with whom Duke Zhuang had an affair, visiting her repeatedly. When the duke came again, Jia Ju, Cui Zhu’s follower, led his men to attack him. The duke fled into a chamber, begging to divide Qi with Cui Zhu, who refused. He begged to commit suicide in the ancestral temple, which was also denied. Fleeing over the northern wall, he was shot in the thigh by Jia Ju, fell down, and was slain by Cui Zhu’s men. Cui Zhu then installed Duke Jing, the duke’s younger brother.
In recent times: Li Dui controlled Zhao and starved Lord Fu to death in a hundred‑day confinement; Zhuo Chi controlled Qi, ripped out King Min’s tendons, hung him from a temple beam, and let him die overnight.
Though a leper suffers from boils and sores, compared with Spring‑and‑Autumn rulers, he is not strangled or shot in the thigh; compared with modern rulers, he is not starved or tendon‑ripped. Therefore rulers killed by ministers endure far greater inner fear and physical agony than lepers. Seen from this, the proverb “the leper pities the king” is reasonable.
Note
This final segment delivers a grim political lesson: ruthless ministerial betrayal brings far worse suffering than physical illness. Rulers must master statecraft and law to prevent violent overthrow and assassination.
Late Warring‑States Legalist philosopher. This passage concludes Traitors, Usurpers, and Assassins (Jian Jie Shi Chen), using extreme cases of regicide to warn rulers of ministerial usurpation.
Prince Wei of Chu
Originally named Xiong Wei, he was the son of King Gong of Chu. He murdered King Kang of Chu and became King Ling of Chu. Known for his extravagance, cruelty, and grandiose ambitions, he constructed the magnificent Zhanghua Terrace and waged numerous wars. In his later years, he was forced to commit suicide due to a domestic rebellion. His reign marks the decline of Chu from its peak.
Cui Zhu & Duke Zhuang of Qi
Cui Zhu, a Qi minister, killed Duke Zhuang over an adulterous affair, a famous regicide event recorded in the Spring‑and‑Autumn Annals.
Li Dui
Zhao minister who trapped and starved Lord Fu (King Wuling of Zhao), a renowned reformer‑king, to death.
Zhuo Chi
Qin‑born minister in Qi who cruelly executed King Min of Qi after his failed hegemonic ambitions.
Proverb “The Leper Pities the King”
A dark ancient saying adopted by Han Fei: physically diseased people suffer less than rulers tormented and killed by treacherous ministers.
Regicide in Spring‑and‑Autumn & Warring‑States Periods
Ministerial usurpation and regicide were common in the chaotic pre‑Qin era, proving Han Fei’s theory that unchecked ministerial power endangers the throne.
Core Legalist Warning
Without strict law and statecraft, even capable rulers fall victim to violent ministerial coups.
諺曰：「厲憐王。」此不恭之言也。雖然，古無虛諺，不可不察也。此謂劫殺死亡之主言也。人主無法術以御其臣，雖長年而美材，大臣猶將得勢擅事主斷，而各為其私急。而恐父兄豪傑之士，借人主之力，以禁誅於己也，故弒賢長而立幼弱，廢正的而立不義。故春秋記之曰：「楚王子圍將聘於鄭，未出境，聞王病而反，因入問病，以其冠纓絞王而殺之，遂自立也。齊崔杼，其妻美，而莊公通之，數如崔氏之室，及公往，崔子之徒賈舉率崔子之徒而攻公，公入室，請與之分國，崔子不許，公請自刃於廟，崔子又不聽，公乃走踰於北牆，賈舉射公，中其股，公墜，崔子之徒以戈斫公而死之，而立其弟景公。」近之所見：李兌之用趙也，餓主父百日而死；卓齒之用齊也，擢湣王之筋，懸之廟梁，宿昔而死。故厲雖癰腫疕瘍，上比於春秋，未至於絞頸射股也；下比於近世，未至餓死擢筋也。故劫殺死亡之君，此其心之憂懼、形之苦痛也，必甚於厲矣。由此觀之，雖「厲憐王」可也。
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