The prime minister of Song held high rank and dominated all state decisions. Ji Zi planned an audience with the Lord of Song. Learning of this, Liang Zi warned him: “Your speech must be proper enough for the prime minister to sit through three hearings without objection; otherwise you cannot escape disaster.” For that reason, Ji Zi persuaded the lord to honor powerful ministers while diminishing royal authority over the state.
Note
When ministers overpower the sovereign, officials dare not speak the truth and have to alter their opinions to cater to domineering dignitaries.
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher, uses the story to criticize arbitrary powerful ministers and abnormal court politics.
Prime Minister of Song
Dominant senior official who seized governing power and restrained the monarch.
Ji Zi
A traveling counselor who adjusted his argument out of fear of the powerful prime minister.
Liang Zi
A knowledgeable adviser familiar with Song’s political risks.
Lord of Song
Monarch whose ruling power was restricted by his prime minister.
Powerful minister monopolizing state affairs
In Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, many nobles seized sovereign power, resulting in weak kings and domineering high officials.
Typical examples include: Cui Zhu of the State of Qi, who killed the ruler and monopolized power; Wei Ran, the Marquis of Rang of the State of Qin, who dominated the government as a powerful consort relative; the Ruo’ao family of the State of Chu, who controlled the court; the Six Ministers of the State of Jin (such as the Zhao, Han, and Wei clans), who divided state power among themselves; and the Tian clan (Chen clan) of the State of Qi, who gradually usurped the Jiang Qi ruling house.
Restrained remonstrance
Lobbyists and courtiers had to tailor their viewpoints to avoid offending dominant ministers to preserve personal safety.
Legalist core opinion
Han Fei upheld centralized imperial power and opposed powerful ministers’ arbitrary usurpation of authority.
宋太宰貴而主斷。季子將見宋君，梁子聞之曰：「語必可與太宰三坐乎，不然，將不免。」季子因說以貴主而輕國。
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