Warring States diplomacy

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 31.14

    This is Explanation Six from Han Feizi: Inner Congested Sayings, Part II. Han Fei reveals a political law: a foe’s deadliest attack is not military invasion, but espionage and stratagems to manipulate a ruler’s official appointments. Enemies seek to muddle the ruler’s judgment and steer his decisions astray.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 31.12

    This is Explanation Four from Han Feizi: Inner Congested Sayings, Part II. It collects cases where ministers fabricate anomalies for frame‑ups and private gains. These subtler cases create implausible oddities within official duties, prompting the ruler’s investigation to expose culprits or frame the innocent.

  • Mozi – Chapter 49

    This chapter collects Mozi’s dialogues with lords and craftsmen. It advocates tailored state policies, condemns aggressive wars, stresses righteousness over profit, and argues teaching universal love outweighs manual labor’s limited gains.

  • The chicken-crowers and dog-thieves: Lord Mengchang [Warring States]

    This article examines the controversial life of Lord Mengchang (Tian Wen), one of the “Four Lords” of the Warring States period. It contrasts his self-serving opportunism against the loyalty of his peers, detailing his betrayals of both Qin and his native Qi. The narrative highlights his famous escape from Qin—aided by retainers skilled in…