Bai Gui spoke to the prime minister of Song: “If the lord grows mature and takes full charge of governance, your power will vanish. The young ruler now craves a reputation of filial piety. Persuade Chu to send envoys congratulating his filial conduct. Then the lord will never strip your office, hold you in high esteem, and you may permanently administer Song.”
Note
Veteran officials cater to the ruler’s pursuit of fame via external help to safeguard their own official power and position.
Late Warring States Legalist, cites the dialogue to expose the intrigues of senior officials preserving power.
Bai Gui
Famous Warring States merchant and political strategist.
Prime Minister of Song (Lingyin)
Top civil official of Song worrying about being deprived of authority by young monarch.
Young lord of Song
New ruler eager for a fine repute of filial piety.
State of Chu
Powerful adjacent kingdom used as external diplomatic leverage.
Lingyin
Top minister title of Song and Chu in Spring and Autumn & Warring States periods, in charge of domestic administration.
Warring States official intrigue
Senior bureaucrats often use external diplomatic affairs to cater to sovereign’s vanity for self-preservation.
Filial piety culture
Filial virtue was core moral standard for ancient monarchs; receiving neighboring state’s congratulation boosted royal prestige greatly.
白圭謂宋令尹曰：「君長自知政，公無事矣。今君少主也而務名，不如令荊賀君之孝也，則君不奪公位，而大敬重公，則公常用宋矣。」
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