Zhao Jianzi besieged the outer walls of Wei. Holding rhinoceros-hide shields and large shields, he stood beyond the reach of arrows and stones, beat the drum, and his soldiers did not rise. Jianzi threw down his drumstick and said, “Alas! My soldiers are worn out and corrupt.” The herald Zhu Guo removed his helmet and replied, “I have heard that there are only rulers who cannot employ their men; there are no men who are inherently worn out. In the past, our former lord Duke Xian of Jin annexed seventeen states, brought thirty-eight states into submission, and won twelve campaigns. He relied on these very people. After Duke Xian died, Duke Hui succeeded him. He was licentious and violent, fond of jade and women. The people of Qin invaded at will, until their forces were only seventeen li from Jiang. Yet he too relied on these very people. After Duke Hui died, Duke Wen succeeded him. He besieged Wei, took Ye, and in the Battle of Chengpu defeated the Chu forces five times, winning an honored name throughout the world. He too relied on these very people. There are only rulers who cannot employ their men; there are no men who are inherently corrupt.” Jianzi then cast aside his shields, stood within reach of arrows and stones, beat the drum, and his soldiers charged, winning a great victory. Jianzi said, “If I were to gain a thousand chariots, it would not equal hearing this one word from the herald Zhu Guo.”
Someone says: The herald offered no real explanation. He merely said that Duke Hui was defeated with these people and Duke Wen became hegemon with these people, yet he did not show how to employ men. Jianzi should not have so quickly discarded his shields. When one’s parents are surrounded in danger, risking arrows and stones to rescue them is how a filial son shows love for his parents. But filial sons who love their parents in this way are rare, perhaps one in a hundred. To suppose that, because the ruler places himself in danger, the masses can still be made to fight, is to assume that all the people serve their ruler as filial sons serve their parents. This is the herald’s exaggeration. To seek advantage and avoid harm is common to all people. If rewards are generous and trustworthy, men will treat the enemy lightly; if punishments are heavy and certain, men will not dare to defect. To march long and sacrifice oneself for one’s superior is something not even one man in several hundred may do; to delight in profit and fear punishment is something no one fails to do. A commander of multitudes should not abandon the reliable pattern that all men follow, and instead rely on conduct so rare that not one man in a hundred can be counted on. Such a person does not yet know the way of commanding the many.
Note
This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 37.7 challenges Zhu Guo’s military advice to Zhao Jianzi. It rejects relying on rare loyal devotion, holding commanders should depend on reliable systems of generous rewards and strict punishments to motivate troops.
Han Feizi and the “Nan” chapters:
The Han Feizi is a major Legalist text from the late Warring States period. The Nan chapters often challenge admired stories by showing that good intentions or dramatic gestures are not enough for stable governance.
Zhao Jianzi:
Also known as Zhao Yang, a powerful minister of the state of Jin in the late Spring and Autumn period. The Zhao family later became one of the three families that partitioned Jin and founded the state of Zhao.
Outer city wall:
Ancient Chinese cities often had an inner city and an outer wall. Besieging the outer wall was usually the first stage of attacking a fortified city.
Rhino-hide shields:
Shields made from rhinoceros or other thick hides were valued for their strength. They symbolize the ruler’s personal protection in battle.
The herald Zhu Guo:
A court official responsible for diplomatic messages and ceremonial communication. Here he advises Zhao Jianzi by appealing to historical precedent.
Duke Xian, Duke Hui, and Duke Wen of Jin:
Successive rulers of Jin. Duke Xian expanded Jin’s power; Duke Hui suffered military setbacks; Duke Wen became one of the most famous hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period.
A major battle in 632 BCE in which Jin defeated Chu. It became a classic example of hegemonic leadership in the Spring and Autumn period.
Filial love as a political analogy:
Zhu Guo tries to inspire soldiers by suggesting that the ruler’s personal risk will move them. Han Fei rejects this, arguing that filial devotion is too rare to serve as a general principle of command.
Legalist view of human nature:
Han Fei assumes that most people are motivated by reward and punishment. A ruler should not depend on exceptional loyalty, but on reliable systems of incentive and discipline.
Drum in battle:
In ancient Chinese warfare, drums signaled advance. A ruler or commander who beat the drum was publicly urging his troops to move forward.
七
赵简子围卫之郛郭，犀盾、犀橹，立于矢石之所不及，鼓之而士不起。简子投枹曰：“乌乎！吾之士数弊也。”行人烛过免胄而对曰：“臣闻之：亦有君之不能士耳，士无弊者。昔者吾先君献公并国十七，服国三十八，战十有二胜，是民之用也。献公没，惠公即位，淫衍暴乱，身好玉女，秦人恣侵，去绛十七里，亦是人之用也。惠公没，文公授之，围卫，取邺，城濮之战，五败荆人，取尊名于天下，亦此人之用也。亦有君不能士耳，士无弊也。”简子乃去盾、橹，立矢石之所及，鼓之而士乘之，战大胜。简子曰：“与吾得革车千乘，不如闻行人烛过之一言也。”
或曰：行人未有以说也，乃道惠公以此人是败，文公以此人是霸，未见所以用人也。简子未可以速去盾、橹也。严亲在围，轻犯矢石，孝子之所爱亲也。孝子爱亲，百数之一也。今以为身处危而人尚可战，是以百族之子于上皆若孝子之爱亲也，是行人之诬也。好利恶害，夫人之所有也。赏厚而信，人轻敌矣；刑重而必，失人不比矣。长行徇上，数百不一失；喜利畏罪，人莫不然。将众者不出乎莫不然之数，而道乎百无失人之行，人未知众之道也。
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