King Xiang of Wei

  • Mencius – Chapter 1.6 The vision of peace in an age of bloodshed

    Mencius went to see King Xiang of Liang. Coming out from the interview, he said to his companion, “When I looked at him from a distance, he did not appear to be a sovereign; when I came up to him, I found nothing about him that inspired respect. “

  • Ru Er’s web of deception [Warring States]

    Brief: This article recounts the ingenious stratagem of Ru Er, a scholar of the Warring States period, who single-handedly saved the small kingdom of Wey from annihilation by Wei in 311 BCE. Facing a superior army, Ru Er employed a masterful three-stage psychological operation. He first convinced the warmongering minister, Chengling Jun, that mercy…

  • The Master of Deceit: Zhang Yi [Warring States]

    Introduction: This article details the masterful deception of Zhang Yi, Chancellor of Qin, during the Warring States period. It recounts his infamous “Sting” against King Huai of Chu, where he falsely promised 600 li of land to break the Chu-Qi alliance, only to renege and provoke a war that cost Chu its territory and…