Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature
This excerpt is from Canon Five: Deceptive Commands in Han Feizi. Han Fei contends rulers should employ covert stratagems to create information asymmetry and psychological suspense. Keeping ministers guessing about his true intentions compels them to expose themselves and suspect one another, deterring reckless conduct.
This excerpt is from Han Feizi · Inner Congeries of Sayings I, featuring Han Fei’s famous Seven Tactics for controlling ministers. Offering a systematic toolkit in concise language, he argues rulers must resolve information asymmetry and interest conflicts via multi‑source verification, strict rewards‑penalties and covert psychological probes to secure absolute sway over subordinates.