Han Feizi tells an elder chides a conceited Chu prince bent on attacking Chen. Citing Goujian’s decade-long grueling preparation to revive Yue, the elder mocks his blind overconfidence; great conquests demand persistent hard work instead of rash optimism.
Han Feizi rejects superstition and foreign alliances. He argues states thrive only through clear laws and self-reliance, as Goujian’s story shows.