Citing six heroes elevated from hardship, Mencius states adversity tempers character and builds capability. People grow through mistakes and struggles; states without critics or external threats collapse. Thus hardship sustains life, ease brings ruin.
Mencius refutes the rumor that Baili Xi sold himself for sheepskins to herd cattle and seek office. He praises Baili Xi’s wisdom in abandoning a doomed lord and serving Duke Mu honorably, arguing virtuous men would never degrade themselves for power.
This article interprets Sun Tzu’s view on strategists choosing lords. It highlights their independent spirit to pick wise rulers or leave incompetent ones, citing ancient figures. It also reflects the scholar-strategists’ philosophy of mutual selection in the Spring and Autumn Period.
Han Feizi tells similar actions may hide different motives. Judge people by their true intentions, not just deeds.
Baili Xi (c. 725–621 BCE) was a virtuous minister of Duke Mu of Qin during the Spring and Autumn period. His courtesy name was Ziming, and he was from Wan in the state of Chu (present-day Nanyang, Henan).
This article tells the remarkable story of Xian Gao, a humble cattle merchant who single-handedly saved the State of Zheng from invasion in 627 BCE. When he discovered the Qin army marching to attack his unprepared nation, Xian Gao impersonated an envoy and presented the Qin general, Meng Mingshi, with twelve oxen to feign…
This article recounts the legendary recruitment of Baili Xi by Duke Mu of Qin. It details how Duke Mu, seeking talent, discovered Baili Xi was herding horses in Chu. To avoid alerting the Chu king to Baili Xi’s value, Duke Mu ransomed him for merely five sheepskins, pretending he was just a fugitive slave.…