Explanation VI
Duke Wen of Jin attacked Yuan. He took provisions for ten days and made an agreement with his ministers for ten days. When ten days had passed at Yuan and it had not surrendered, he sounded the gong and withdrew, ending the campaign. A soldier who came out of Yuan said, “Yuan would have fallen within three days.” The ministers and attendants remonstrated: “Yuan’s food is exhausted and its strength is spent. My lord, please wait a little longer.” The duke said, “I agreed with my officers for ten days. If I do not leave, I lose my trustworthiness. To gain Yuan at the cost of losing trust is something I will not do.” He therefore withdrew his troops. The people of Yuan heard this and said, “With a ruler so trustworthy, how can we refuse to submit?” They surrendered to the duke. The people of Wei heard this and said, “With a ruler so trustworthy, how can we refuse to follow him?” They also surrendered to the duke. Confucius heard of this and recorded: “He attacked Yuan and gained Wei because of trustworthiness.”
Duke Wen asked Ji Zheng, “How should one deal with famine?” Ji Zheng answered, “By trustworthiness.” The duke asked, “How does trustworthiness help?” He said, “Be trustworthy in names, in affairs, and in righteousness. If names are trustworthy, ministers will keep to their duties, good and bad will not be confused, and affairs will not be neglected. If affairs are trustworthy, the seasons will not be missed and the people will not transgress. If righteousness is trustworthy, close kin will be encouraged, and those far away will submit.”
Wu Qi went out and met an old friend. He invited him to stay for a meal. The friend said, “Very well. I will return and eat with you.” Wu Qi said, “I will wait for you before eating.” The friend did not come by evening, yet Wu Qi did not eat and waited for him. The next morning, he sent someone to fetch the friend. Only when the friend arrived did he eat with him.
Marquis Wen of Wei made an appointment with a forester to hunt. The next day, a strong wind arose. His attendants tried to stop him, but he refused, saying, “I cannot break my promise because of strong wind. I will not do it.” He then drove his carriage himself, braved the wind, and dismissed the forester from the appointment.
The wife of Zengzi went to the market. Her child followed her, weeping. His mother said, “Go back. When I return, I will kill a pig for you.” When Zengzi’s wife returned from the market, Zengzi wanted to catch a pig and kill it. His wife stopped him, saying, “I was only joking with the child.” Zengzi said, “A child is not someone to be joked with. A child has no independent knowledge; he learns from his parents and listens to their teachings. If you deceive him now, you are teaching him to deceive. If a mother deceives her child, the child will not trust his mother. This is not the way to educate him.” He then cooked the pig.
King Li of Chu had an alarm drum to warn the people. Once, drunk, he passed by and beat it. The people were greatly alarmed. He then sent someone to tell them, “I was drunk and joking with my attendants when I beat it.” The people dispersed. Some months later, when there was a real alarm, he beat the drum, but the people did not come. He therefore issued new orders and clear signals, and only then did the people trust them again.
Li Kui warned his two flanks: “Be on your guard against the enemy. They will come morning or evening to attack you.” He repeated this several times, yet no enemy came. The two flanks grew slack and no longer trusted Li Kui. Some months later, the Qin attacked by surprise and nearly destroyed his army. This was the disaster caused by lack of trust.
Another version says: Li Kui fought the Qin. He said to the left flank, “Advance quickly! The right flank has already advanced.” He then rode to the right flank and said, “The left flank has already advanced.” Both flanks said, “We will advance.” Thus they all vied to go forward. The following year, when fighting the Qin, the Qin made a surprise attack and nearly destroyed his army. This was the disaster caused by lack of trust.
There were people engaged in a lawsuit. Zi Chan separated them and did not allow them to communicate with each other. By hearing out their statements, he came to know the case.
Lord Si of Wei sent someone to pose as a traveler at a border market. The market official rebuked and obstructed him. The traveler then offered the official gold, and the official let him pass. Lord Si said to the market official, “At such-and-such a time, a traveler passed and gave you gold. I therefore punish you.” The official was greatly afraid and regarded Lord Si as penetrating and observant.
Note
This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter32.12 Legalist excerpt presents multiple tales. It highlights political trustworthiness’ governance value and also covers investigation and surveillance techniques for handling litigation and official corruption.
Han Feizi / Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE):
A Legalist philosopher of the Warring States period. He values trustworthiness as a tool of governance, but he also warns that rulers must control information, verify reports, and enforce law.
Duke Wen of Jin:
Duke Wen of Jin was one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period. He is often portrayed as a ruler who kept promises to build political credibility.
Yuan (原):
A small state or town attacked by Jin. The story shows that credibility can sometimes achieve what force cannot.
Ji Zheng (箕郑):
A minister of Jin. His “trust in names, affairs, and righteousness” links credibility to administrative order.
Trust in names (信名):
Means keeping titles, ranks, and responsibilities consistent with reality. In Legalist thought, this prevents confusion in government.
Wu Qi (吴起):
A famous Warring States general and reformer. His waiting for a friend shows personal promise-keeping.
Marquis Wen of Wei (魏文侯):
An early Warring States ruler known for recruiting talented ministers. His hunting appointment shows that rulers should not break promises even for convenience.
Forester (虞人):
An official in charge of hunting grounds. The episode stresses that even minor appointments matter for a ruler’s credibility.
Zengzi (曾子):
A disciple of Confucius. Zengzi’s father, Zeng Dian (Zeng Xi), was also a disciple of Confucius. Both father and son studied under Confucius. Later generations regard Zengzi as an important inheritor of Confucius’ teachings. He occupies a connecting position in the transmission of Confucian orthodoxy.
“Zengzi kills a pig” is a well-known Chinese story about keeping promises to children.
King Li of Chu (楚厉王):
A Chu ruler who misused an alarm drum. The drum was an early warning system; abusing it destroyed public trust.
Li Kui (李悝):
A Wei statesman associated with early Legalist reforms. Here he appears as a commander whose false alarms weaken military discipline.
Left and right flanks (左和,右和):
Military units on either side of an army. The story shows how false orders can ruin coordination.
Zi Chan (子产):
A famous minister of Zheng. He separates litigants to prevent them from coordinating false stories, an early example of investigative procedure.
Lord Si of Wei (卫嗣公):
A ruler of Wei. He tests a border official with a fake bribe to expose corruption, showing Legalist suspicion and surveillance.
Border market official (关市):
An official who collected taxes and inspected travelers at borders. Such posts were prone to bribery.
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