This is Explanation Three from Han Feizi: Inner Congested Sayings, Part II. It compiles cases of political assassination: ministers exploit the ruler’s suspicion to eliminate rivals. These domestic power‑struggle cases use frame‑ups and false appearances to trigger the ruler’s wrath against political foes.
*Jiè dāo shā rén* is one of China’s Thirty‑Six Stratagems. Literally “borrow a knife to kill”, it refers to the manipulative trick of making a third party eliminate your opponent. The schemer stays hidden and avoids blame. It applies to military, political and real‑world scenarios, corresponding to “use someone as a cat’s‑paw” in English.
This essay compares Cheng Xian (Becoming an Immortal) with Water Margin’s Cui‑ping Mountain episode. It explores how friends push men into irreversible choices, contrasting worldly outlawdom with Taoist immortality and questioning noble‑intentioned cruelty.
In the turbulent twilight of the Eastern Han dynasty, power was not won by virtue, but by cunning, force, and betrayal. Chapter 8 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms unveils one of the most iconic political intrigues in Chinese history: Wang Yun’s Chain Strategy—a meticulously crafted plot that exploited the volatile relationship between the…
Originally, Li Jue and Guo Si shared a close bond. They were both native to Liang Province and had served under Dong Zhuo for many years. When defeated Lü Bu using the guerrilla tactics of Peng Yue, and captured Chang’an, they seized control of the Han court. Li Jue often hosted grand banquets for…