Yan Sui was on bad terms with the Lord of Zhou, who lived in anxiety. Feng Ju said: “Yan Sui holds the post of prime minister, while Han Gui stands high in your favor. You had better send assassins to kill Han Gui. Everyone will surely suspect the Yan clan of committing the murder.”
Note
This text is excerpted from Han Feizi, Chapter: The Forest of Persuasions (Part I).
Intense power struggles in ancient officialdom gave rise to cruel plots like assassination and framing. People would take advantage of existing rifts to harm opponents and remove threats.
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher. He records this plot to reveal political intrigues.
Lord of Zhou
Ruler of the State of Zhou, troubled by his feud with Yan Sui.
Yan Sui (Yan Zhongzi)
Prime minister of the state, a powerful senior official hostile to the lord.
Feng Ju (Feng Qie)
A scheming advisor who proposed the frame-up plan.
Han Gui (Xia Lei)
A high-ranking official trusted by the lord, who became the target of the conspiracy.
Official Rivalry
Powerful ministers often competed for influence and favor in ancient courts, forming opposing factions.
Assassination and Frame-up
Violent assassination and false accusation were vicious tactics used in political struggles to eliminate rivals.
Interpersonal Alienation
Advisors exploited existing conflicts between officials to stir up trouble and shift blame.
嚴遂不善周君，患之，馮沮曰：「嚴遂相，而韓傀貴於君，不如行賊於韓傀，則君必以為嚴氏也。」
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