The method of cross-examination proceeds as follows: use multiple comparisons to broaden planning, and use cross-checking to hold people accountable for faults. When making multiple comparisons, the ruler must break up collusion; when cross-checking, he must be severe. If collusion is not broken, ministers will treat the ruler with contempt; if severity is not applied, they will shield one another. Once collusion is broken, signs will reveal who is numerous and who is few, who is truthful and who is false. Before expressing anger, the ruler must not let the crowd know his intentions.
In observing and listening, the key sign is factional bonding. The ruler should reward faction members differently to divide them, and punish those who act without reporting as sharing the same guilt. When gathering statements from many people, he must measure them against the land, deliberate them against Heaven’s timing, verify them against things, and compare them against human dispositions. Only when these four signs agree can he form a sound judgment.
He compares statements to test sincerity, changes his manner of observation to expose disguises, and holds to his own view in order to detect what is abnormal. He employs close attendants in a unified way to observe their daily conduct, and uses stern words to keep distant envoys in awe. He examines past conduct to know what came before, observes what is near to know what is within, and places someone at a distance to learn how he behaves externally. He uses what he knows to question what he does not know, and sends secret or irregular missions to prevent insolence and leakage. He uses reversed words to test suspects, and argues from the opposite to uncover hidden treachery. He sets up remonstrance to restrain arbitrary action, and makes moves to observe treacherous behavior. He speaks clearly to induce others to avoid faults, and lowers himself to see whether they are upright or flattering. He spreads news to reach matters not yet visible, and creates contention to break up factions. He probes deeply into one matter to warn many hearts, and leaks differing accounts to change their calculations.
When cases resemble one another, he brings comparisons together; when faults are laid out, their stubborn patterns become clear. He makes ministers know that evading punishment undermines the ruler’s authority, and so stops their intimidation. He secretly sends agents to inspect their true feelings. He gradually rotates posts to separate those who have formed close bonds.
He also binds superiors through their subordinates: the chief minister binds court ministers; court ministers bind their officials; soldiers bind military officers; envoys bind their attendants; county magistrates bind their clerks; palace attendants bind those around them; consorts bind the women of the inner palace. This is called the way of thorough and orderly control. If the ruler’s words and affairs are leaked, his techniques will not work.
Note
This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 48.4 explains the cross‑verification statecraft. It lists manipulative investigative tactics to break ministerial cliques, verify truth, deploy subordinates to monitor superiors, and keep state techniques strictly confidential.
The system of verification (参伍之道):
“参” means comparing multiple sources; “伍” means cross-checking in groups. Han Fei treats governance as a system of verification, not as trust in individuals.
Heaven, earth, things, and human dispositions (天地人物):
These are four standards for testing claims. A proposal must fit geography, timing, material evidence, and predictable human motives.
Reversed words (倒言):
The ruler may say the opposite of what he thinks to see how ministers react. This is part of his technique for detecting hidden intentions.
Creating contention (作斗):
Han Fei does not value harmony for its own sake. If factions grow strong, the ruler may deliberately create rivalry to weaken them.
Binding superiors through subordinates:
Lower-ranking people are made responsible for checking higher-ranking ones. This prevents any single minister from controlling access to the ruler.
Secrecy (术不行):
Legalist “technique” depends on concealment. If ministers know how the ruler tests them, they can prepare false performances.
四、立道
参伍之道：行参以谋多，揆伍以责失。行参必拆，揆伍必怒。不拆则渎上，不怒则相和。拆之征足以知多寡，怒之前不及其众。观听之势，其征在比周而赏异也，诛毋谒而罪同。言会众端，必揆之以地，谋之以天，验之以物，参之以人。四征者符，乃可以观矣。参言以知其诚，易视以改其泽，执见以得非常。一用以务近习，重言以惧远使。举往以悉其前，即迩以知其内，疏置以知其外。握明以问所暗，诡使以绝黩泄。倒言以尝所疑，论反以得阴奸。设谏以纲独为，举错以观奸动。明说以诱避过，卑适以观直謟。宣闻以通未见，作斗以散朋党。深一以警众心，泄异以易其虑。似类则合其参，陈过则明其固。知辟罪以止威，阴使时循以省衷。渐更以离通比。下约以侵其上：相室，约其廷臣；廷臣，约其官属；兵士，约其军吏；遣使，约其行介；县令，约其辟吏；郎中，约其左右；后姬，约其宫媛。此之谓条达之道。言通事泄，则术不行。
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