This excerpt comes from Explanation One in Han Feizi · Inner Congeries of Sayings I. It states rulers must never rely on a single information source. Multi‑party cross‑checks should break ministers’ information monopoly. Otherwise, the ruler will be deceived by confidants and reduced to a manipulated puppet.
Chen Chengzi (also known as Chen Heng) assassinated Duke Jian of Qi. Upon hearing this, Confucius bathed, dressed in formal court attire, and went to court to report to Duke Ai of Lu: “Chen Heng has murdered his ruler. I request that you launch a punitive expedition against him.”Duke Ai replied, “Report this to…
3.21 Duke Ai asked Zai Yu about the Holy Ground. Zai Yu replied, “The Xia sovereigns marked theirs with a pine, the men of Yin used a cypress, the men of Zhou used a chestnut-tree, saying, this will cause the common people to be in fear and trembling.”
Duke Ai asked, “What can I do in order to get the support of the common people?”