In ancient times, various schools of thought devised bizarre schemes to acquire ill-gotten wealth, among which the 36 heavenly schemes could change the world, and the 72 earthly schemes could lead to wealth. These were later collectively referred to as the 108 schemes of the Thousand Doors.
In this article, I will reveal one of the most cunning schemes among the 108 schemes of the Thousand Doors through a specific case—the "Illusory Sparrow and Bewildered Rabbit Scheme." This scheme is complex and adept at understanding psychology and manipulating human nature, and it has been passed down to this day, with countless victims.
During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a merchant named Xu Rui in Yangzhou who opened a jewelry store, specializing in gold and silver jewelry, jade, and pearls.
Yangzhou experienced rapid development in the mid to late Ming Dynasty due to the relaxation of maritime trade restrictions and the revival of the salt industry, attracting countless merchants from all over the country.
However, Xu Rui was a cunning businessman. If someone came in dressed appropriately, they were definitely a fallen wealthy family; if they were a gambler's prodigal son, even better, as they would surely bring valuable items to negotiate a good price. However, the person before him, dressed like this, surely had no family heirlooms.
Xu Rui impatiently said, "Where did this beggar come from? We don't accept them."
Zhang San remained unperturbed and humbly said, "Please take a look first, then decide whether to accept it." He then took out a rather old wooden box.
Upon seeing the wooden box, Xu Rui felt it was something of age, and his attitude softened.
Zhang San took out a hairpin used by Taoists and said, "To be honest, someone in my family was a servant in Wang Xizhi's household and was fortunate enough to obtain this hairpin used by Wang Xizhi. It has been preserved through generations, but in my generation, we are truly too poor to make ends meet, so I want to sell this hairpin for some money."
Xu Rui examined the hairpin and indeed felt it had an ethereal quality.
Many people know Wang Xizhi from his calligraphy, but he was also a Taoist. During the Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties, many prominent families were Taoist families.
The "Book of Jin" records: "Xizhi liked to wear and eat to nourish his nature" and "He practiced with the Taoist Xu Mai, gathering herbs and stones, not far from a thousand miles." It is evident that Wang Xizhi firmly believed in achieving immortality through nourishment.
Believing in Taoism also had a profound influence on Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, which is characterized by a transcendent heart, a detached thought, and an ethereal desire for immortality.
If this hairpin indeed belonged to Wang Xizhi, it would be priceless. However, Xu Rui was not a fool and immediately said, "I don't believe this is Wang Xizhi's hairpin; I just feel a connection with it. You name your price!"
Seeing that there was hope, Zhang San immediately said, "My father once instructed me that when Wang Xizhi sought immortality, he carried this hairpin with him, which absorbed some celestial energy, so minor ailments would dare not approach. Therefore, he instructed me that unless absolutely necessary, I cannot sell this hairpin. Unfortunately, I have developed a gambling addiction, lost all my family wealth, and owe a lot of money, so I have to sell this hairpin to pay off my debts. If you offer 6,000 taels, this hairpin will be yours."
Seeing Zhang San's mystical words, Xu Rui indeed became interested. However, when he heard the price, he was taken aback: "What a broken hairpin, asking for 6,000 taels? That's more expensive than my shop! The most expensive jewelry in my shop is only a dozen taels."
Seeing Xu Rui's expression, Zhang San immediately became anxious: "If the boss doesn't buy it, I'll just ask another jewelry store."
Xu Rui, however, became interested and pressed down on Zhang San's hand, which was about to take back the hairpin, saying, "How about I offer 20 taels!"
Zhang San's hairpin, which was initially priced at 6,000 taels, was suddenly cut down to 20 taels, making him even angrier. He seemed furious and said, "Don't insult me! Although I have no money, I still have my pride. Today, I will leave the hairpin with you, and you must place it in the most conspicuous position on the counter. No matter who wants to buy it, you must ask for 6,000 taels. If sold, I will give you a 10% commission. If no one recognizes its value and it cannot be sold, I will give you 50 taels as a loss."
What people call a "scheme" can also be referred to as a strategy or a cunning plan. In both Chinese and foreign history, wise individuals have left behind many schemes, each representing the essence of its time. Today, I will introduce three high-end schemes.
- Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the time of Duke Jing of Qi, there were three great generals in Qi: Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi. They all achieved great military successes for Qi but became arrogant and unruly, disregarding the law, and even swore brotherhood with each other. Their actions severely threatened the stability of the state. At this time, the Prime Minister of Qi was the famous Yan Zi, who advised Duke Jing to eliminate these three threats early to prevent them from jeopardizing his position in the future. Duke Jing then asked Yan Zi to arrange a scheme, which became the famous "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors."
Yan Zi knew that the three were extremely honorable warriors, so he had Duke Jing invite them, telling them that Duke Jing had personally planted a peach tree and wanted to prepare a precious peach for each of them. Unfortunately, only two peaches had ripened in the backyard, so they had to be divided according to their merits, with the two most meritorious receiving the peaches. Gongsun Jie first claimed that he had fought wild boars and tigers in the mountains, so he deserved a peach. He boldly took one. Tian Kaijiang said he had repelled invading enemies twice, protecting the people and the land, so he also took a peach. Gu Yezi, seeing that the two had taken all the peaches, became furious and drew his sword to insult them, saying he had once fought a giant turtle in the water to save the king. How could their merits be greater than his? In the end, both Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang, feeling inferior, drew their swords and committed suicide. Gu Yezi, seeing the bodies of his friends, regretted humiliating them and, ashamed of the outcome, also drew his sword and committed suicide. Yan Zi used only two peaches to eliminate three hidden dangers for the state, and the scheme of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" became well-known.
- Gong Shuzuo Drives Wu Qi Away
After the death of the Prime Minister of Wei, Tian Wen, Gong Shuzuo and Wu Qi competed for the position of Prime Minister. Eventually, Gong Shuzuo won and married the daughter of Duke Wei. However, even after ascending to power, Gong Shuzuo remained wary of Wu Qi and hoped to drive him out of Wei. His courtiers devised a scheme for him.
Gong Shuzuo first met with Duke Wei and told him that Wu Qi was exceptionally talented but might not be willing to stay in Wei for long. He suggested that Duke Wei betroth his daughter to Wu Qi. If Wu Qi was willing to stay, he would agree; if not, he would definitely refuse. Duke Wei agreed to Gong Shuzuo's suggestion.
Gong Shuzuo then invited Wu Qi to a banquet, instructing the princess to deliberately show anger and disdain towards him during the feast. When Wu Qi arrived, everything unfolded according to the script. The princess expressed her anger and disdain for Gong Shuzuo, who pretended to be unable to defy her and silently endured it. Wu Qi, seeing the princess's arrogance, was left with a bad impression of her.
Not long after, Duke Wei invited Wu Qi to the palace, hoping he would marry his daughter. However, seeing how the princess treated Gong Shuzuo, Wu Qi politely declined. This incident made Duke Wei increasingly suspicious of him. In the following days, Wu Qi felt neglected and, fearing disaster, fled to the state of Chu.
- Guan Zhong and Economic Warfare
Guan Zhong is regarded as the pioneer of economic warfare. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was able to use economic principles to seek benefits for the state.
At that time, the state of Qi was next to the powerful state of Lu, known for its silk, referred to as "Lu Gao." Guan Zhong suggested that Duke Huan of Qi and the ministers wear clothes made of Lu Gao, which sparked a craze for Lu Gao in Qi. Subsequently, Guan Zhong prohibited the domestic population from weaving cloth while importing large quantities of Lu Gao from Lu, providing subsidies to Lu merchants exporting Lu Gao. As a result, the entire state of Lu fell into a frenzy, with farmers abandoning their fields to join the textile industry. Meanwhile, Guan Zhong purchased large quantities of grain from neighboring states and hoarded it.
Not long after, when Guan Zhong saw the opportunity, he ordered a ban on the import of Lu Gao. Although Lu had hoarded a large amount of Lu Gao, it could not be sold. Due to the abandonment of farmland, there was no grain, and they could only import from abroad, while the surrounding grain had been bought by Qi, which took the opportunity to raise grain prices. As a result, Lu not only lost the money it had previously earned but also suffered significant losses. Guan Zhong's ideas were far ahead of their time, and with his assistance, it was no wonder that Duke Huan of Qi became the dominant power during the Spring and Autumn period.
Wherever there are people, there are conflicts; where there are conflicts, there are schemes. These stories never end, and the most sophisticated schemes are always in the future.
Yan Zi once went on a diplomatic mission to the state of Chu. Because Yan Zi was short in stature, the state of Chu opened a small door next to the large gate to mock him. Yan Zi stood outside the city gate and refused to enter, saying, "If I were to go to a dog country, I should enter through the dog door. Today I am here to visit the state of Chu, so I should not enter through a small door." The people welcoming him had no choice but to open the large gate for Yan Zi to enter the city. After entering the city gate, Yan Zi met with the king of Chu, who asked him, "Doesn't your Qi state have anyone else?" Yan Zi replied, "In our capital Linzi, there are three hundred neighborhoods. If everyone were to spread their arms, it would be like a cloudy day; if everyone were to sweat, it would be like rain. The streets are bustling with people, how can one say there are no people?"
The king of Chu said, "Since there are so many people, why did you send you as an envoy?" Yan Zi replied, "In our Qi state, there is a rule for sending envoys: each person is sent to different places. The virtuous are sent to virtuous rulers, and the unworthy are sent to unworthy rulers. As for me, Yan Ying, I am the least worthy in Qi, so I can only come to the state of Chu."
When Yan Zi was about to reach the state of Chu, King Zhuang of Chu heard the news and said to his close ministers, "I heard that this Yan Ying is a good speaker from Qi. Now that he is coming to our state of Chu, I want to humiliate him. What should I do?" One person suggested, "When he arrives, I will tie up a person and walk past you. Then you can ask who the tied-up person is, and I will say he is from Qi; if you ask why he is tied up, I will say it is because he stole something." When Yan Zi arrived in the state of Chu, the king held a banquet for him. While they were drinking, two officials brought in a tied-up person. The king asked, "Who is this tied-up person?" The officials replied, "He is from Qi, because he stole something here." At this moment, the king looked at Yan Zi and asked, "Are all Qi people good at stealing?" Yan Zi stood up and replied, "I heard that when oranges grow in Huainan, they are oranges, but when they grow in Huabei, they become trifoliate oranges. Although their leaves are similar, the fruits they bear are completely different. Why is that? It is because of the different soil and water. The common people in Qi are law-abiding and do not steal, but when they come to Chu, they steal. Isn't it because the soil and water of Chu make people good at stealing?" The king of Chu laughed and said, "A wise person cannot be mocked; I am humiliating myself!"
The secret of the "局" is that it can also be called strategy, or more bluntly, it is a trap. Throughout history, wise men have left behind many schemes, each representing the essence of its time. Today, I have selected three high-end schemes to introduce to everyone.
- Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the time of Duke Jing of Qi, there were three great generals in Qi: Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi. They all achieved great military successes for Qi but became arrogant and unruly, disregarding the law, and even swore brotherhood with each other. Their actions severely threatened the stability of the state. At this time, the Prime Minister of Qi was the famous Yan Zi, who advised Duke Jing to eliminate these three threats early to prevent them from jeopardizing his position in the future. Duke Jing then asked Yan Zi to arrange a scheme, which became the famous "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors."
Yan Zi knew that the three were extremely honorable warriors, so he had Duke Jing invite them, telling them that Duke Jing had personally planted a peach tree and wanted to prepare a precious peach for each of them. Unfortunately, only two peaches had ripened in the backyard, so they had to be divided according to their merits, with the two most meritorious receiving the peaches. Gongsun Jie first claimed that he had fought wild boars and tigers in the mountains, so he deserved a peach. He boldly took one. Tian Kaijiang said he had repelled invading enemies twice, protecting the people and the land, so he also took a peach. Gu Yezi, seeing that the two had taken all the peaches, became furious and drew his sword to insult them, saying he had once fought a giant turtle in the water to save the king. How could their merits be greater than his? In the end, both Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang, feeling inferior, drew their swords and committed suicide. Gu Yezi, seeing the bodies of his friends, regretted humiliating them and, ashamed of the outcome, also drew his sword and committed suicide. Yan Zi used only two peaches to eliminate three hidden dangers for the state, and the scheme of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" became well-known.
- Gong Shuzuo Drives Wu Qi Away
After the death of the Prime Minister of Wei, Tian Wen, Gong Shuzuo and Wu Qi competed for the position of Prime Minister. Eventually, Gong Shuzuo won and married the daughter of Duke Wei. However, even after ascending to power, Gong Shuzuo remained wary of Wu Qi and hoped to drive him out of Wei. His courtiers devised a scheme for him.
Gong Shuzuo first met with Duke Wei and told him that Wu Qi was exceptionally talented but might not be willing to stay in Wei for long. He suggested that Duke Wei betroth his daughter to Wu Qi. If Wu Qi was willing to stay, he would agree; if not, he would definitely refuse. Duke Wei agreed to Gong Shuzuo's suggestion.
Gong Shuzuo then invited Wu Qi to a banquet, instructing the princess to deliberately show anger and disdain towards him during the feast. When Wu Qi arrived, everything unfolded according to the script. The princess expressed her anger and disdain for Gong Shuzuo, who pretended to be unable to defy her and silently endured it. Wu Qi, seeing the princess's arrogance, was left with a bad impression of her.
Not long after, Duke Wei invited Wu Qi to the palace, hoping he would marry his daughter. However, seeing how the princess treated Gong Shuzuo, Wu Qi politely declined. This incident made Duke Wei increasingly suspicious of him. In the following days, Wu Qi felt neglected and, fearing disaster, fled to the state of Chu.
- Guan Zhong and Economic Warfare
Guan Zhong is regarded as the pioneer of economic warfare. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was able to use economic principles to seek benefits for the state.
At that time, the state of Qi was next to the powerful state of Lu, known for its silk, referred to as "Lu Gao." Guan Zhong suggested that Duke Huan of Qi and the ministers wear clothes made of Lu Gao, which sparked a craze for Lu Gao in Qi. Subsequently, Guan Zhong prohibited the domestic population from weaving cloth while importing large quantities of Lu Gao from Lu, providing subsidies to Lu merchants exporting Lu Gao. As a result, the entire state of Lu fell into a frenzy, with farmers abandoning their fields to join the textile industry. Meanwhile, Guan Zhong purchased large quantities of grain from neighboring states and hoarded it.
Not long after, when Guan Zhong saw the opportunity, he ordered a ban on the import of Lu Gao. Although Lu had hoarded a large amount of Lu Gao, it could not be sold. Due to the abandonment of farmland, there was no grain, and they could only import from abroad, while the surrounding grain had been bought by Qi, which took the opportunity to raise grain prices. As a result, Lu not only lost the money it had previously earned but also suffered significant losses. Guan Zhong's ideas were far ahead of their time, and with his assistance, it was no wonder that Duke Huan of Qi became the dominant power during the Spring and Autumn period.
Wherever there are people, there are conflicts; where there are conflicts, there are schemes. These stories never end, and the most sophisticated schemes are always in the future.
Yan Zi once went on a diplomatic mission to the state of Chu. Because Yan Zi was short in stature, the state of Chu opened a small door next to the large gate to mock him. Yan Zi stood outside the city gate and refused to enter, saying, "If I were to go to a dog country, I should enter through the dog door. Today I am here to visit the state of Chu, so I should not enter through a small door." The people welcoming him had no choice but to open the large gate for Yan Zi to enter the city. After entering the city gate, Yan Zi met with the king of Chu, who asked him, "Doesn't your Qi state have anyone else?" Yan Zi replied, "In our capital Linzi, there are three hundred neighborhoods. If everyone were to spread their arms, it would be like a cloudy day; if everyone were to sweat, it would be like rain. The streets are bustling with people, how can one say there are no people?"
The king of Chu said, "Since there are so many people, why did you send you as an envoy?" Yan Zi replied, "In our Qi state, there is a rule for sending envoys: each person is sent to different places. The virtuous are sent to virtuous rulers, and the unworthy are sent to unworthy rulers. As for me, Yan Ying, I am the least worthy in Qi, so I can only come to the state of Chu."
When Yan Zi was about to reach the state of Chu, King Zhuang of Chu heard the news and said to his close ministers, "I heard that this Yan Ying is a good speaker from Qi. Now that he is coming to our state of Chu, I want to humiliate him. What should I do?" One person suggested, "When he arrives, I will tie up a person and walk past you. Then you can ask who the tied-up person is, and I will say he is from Qi; if you ask why he is tied up, I will say it is because he stole something." When Yan Zi arrived in the state of Chu, the king held a banquet for him. While they were drinking, two officials brought in a tied-up person. The king asked, "Who is this tied-up person?" The officials replied, "He is from Qi, because he stole something here." At this moment, the king looked at Yan Zi and asked, "Are all Qi people good at stealing?" Yan Zi stood up and replied, "I heard that when oranges grow in Huainan, they are oranges, but when they grow in Huabei, they become trifoliate oranges. Although their leaves are similar, the fruits they bear are completely different. Why is that? It is because of the different soil and water. The common people in Qi are law-abiding and do not steal, but when they come to Chu, they steal. Isn't it because the soil and water of Chu make people good at stealing?" The king of Chu laughed and said, "A wise person cannot be mocked; I am humiliating myself!"
The secret of the "局" is that it can also be called strategy, or more bluntly, it is a trap. Throughout history, wise men have left behind many schemes, each representing the essence of its time. Today, I have selected three high-end schemes to introduce to everyone.
- Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the time of Duke Jing of Qi, there were three great generals in Qi: Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi. They all achieved great military successes for Qi but became arrogant and unruly, disregarding the law, and even swore brotherhood with each other. Their actions severely threatened the stability of the state. At this time, the Prime Minister of Qi was the famous Yan Zi, who advised Duke Jing to eliminate these three threats early to prevent them from jeopardizing his position in the future. Duke Jing then asked Yan Zi to arrange a scheme, which became the famous "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors."
Yan Zi knew that the three were extremely honorable warriors, so he had Duke Jing invite them, telling them that Duke Jing had personally planted a peach tree and wanted to prepare a precious peach for each of them. Unfortunately, only two peaches had ripened in the backyard, so they had to be divided according to their merits, with the two most meritorious receiving the peaches. Gongsun Jie first claimed that he had fought wild boars and tigers in the mountains, so he deserved a peach. He boldly took one. Tian Kaijiang said he had repelled invading enemies twice, protecting the people and the land, so he also took a peach. Gu Yezi, seeing that the two had taken all the peaches, became furious and drew his sword to insult them, saying he had once fought a giant turtle in the water to save the king. How could their merits be greater than his? In the end, both Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang, feeling inferior, drew their swords and committed suicide. Gu Yezi, seeing the bodies of his friends, regretted humiliating them and, ashamed of the outcome, also drew his sword and committed suicide. Yan Zi used only two peaches to eliminate three hidden dangers for the state, and the scheme of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" became well-known.
- Gong Shuzuo Drives Wu Qi Away
After the death of the Prime Minister of Wei, Tian Wen, Gong Shuzuo and Wu Qi competed for the position of Prime Minister. Eventually, Gong Shuzuo won and married the daughter of Duke Wei. However, even after ascending to power, Gong Shuzuo remained wary of Wu Qi and hoped to drive him out of Wei. His courtiers devised a scheme for him.
Gong Shuzuo first met with Duke Wei and told him that Wu Qi was exceptionally talented but might not be willing to stay in Wei for long. He suggested that Duke Wei betroth his daughter to Wu Qi. If Wu Qi was willing to stay, he would agree; if not, he would definitely refuse. Duke Wei agreed to Gong Shuzuo's suggestion.
Gong Shuzuo then invited Wu Qi to a banquet, instructing the princess to deliberately show anger and disdain towards him during the feast. When Wu Qi arrived, everything unfolded according to the script. The princess expressed her anger and disdain for Gong Shuzuo, who pretended to be unable to defy her and silently endured it. Wu Qi, seeing the princess's arrogance, was left with a bad impression of her.
Not long after, Duke Wei invited Wu Qi to the palace, hoping he would marry his daughter. However, seeing how the princess treated Gong Shuzuo, Wu Qi politely declined. This incident made Duke Wei increasingly suspicious of him. In the following days, Wu Qi felt neglected and, fearing disaster, fled to the state of Chu.
- Guan Zhong and Economic Warfare
Guan Zhong is regarded as the pioneer of economic warfare. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was able to use economic principles to seek benefits for the state.
At that time, the state of Qi was next to the powerful state of Lu, known for its silk, referred to as "Lu Gao." Guan Zhong suggested that Duke Huan of Qi and the ministers wear clothes made of Lu Gao, which sparked a craze for Lu Gao in Qi. Subsequently, Guan Zhong prohibited the domestic population from weaving cloth while importing large quantities of Lu Gao from Lu, providing subsidies to Lu merchants exporting Lu Gao. As a result, the entire state of Lu fell into a frenzy, with farmers abandoning their fields to join the textile industry. Meanwhile, Guan Zhong purchased large quantities of grain from neighboring states and hoarded it.
Not long after, when Guan Zhong saw the opportunity, he ordered a ban on the import of Lu Gao. Although Lu had hoarded a large amount of Lu Gao, it could not be sold. Due to the abandonment of farmland, there was no grain, and they could only import from abroad, while the surrounding grain had been bought by Qi, which took the opportunity to raise grain prices. As a result, Lu not only lost the money it had previously earned but also suffered significant losses. Guan Zhong's ideas were far ahead of their time, and with his assistance, it was no wonder that Duke Huan of Qi became the dominant power during the Spring and Autumn period.
Wherever there are people, there are conflicts; where there are conflicts, there are schemes. These stories never end, and the most sophisticated schemes are always in the future.
Yan Zi once went on a diplomatic mission to the state of Chu. Because Yan Zi was short in stature, the state of Chu opened a small door next to the large gate to mock him. Yan Zi stood outside the city gate and refused to enter, saying, "If I were to go to a dog country, I should enter through the dog door. Today I am here to visit the state of Chu, so I should not enter through a small door." The people welcoming him had no choice but to open the large gate for Yan Zi to enter the city. After entering the city gate, Yan Zi met with the king of Chu, who asked him, "Doesn't your Qi state have anyone else?" Yan Zi replied, "In our capital Linzi, there are three hundred neighborhoods. If everyone were to spread their arms, it would be like a cloudy day; if everyone were to sweat, it would be like rain. The streets are bustling with people, how can one say there are no people?"
The king of Chu said, "Since there are so many people, why did you send you as an envoy?" Yan Zi replied, "In our Qi state, there is a rule for sending envoys: each person is sent to different places. The virtuous are sent to virtuous rulers, and the unworthy are sent to unworthy rulers. As for me, Yan Ying, I am the least worthy in Qi, so I can only come to the state of Chu."
When Yan Zi was about to reach the state of Chu, King Zhuang of Chu heard the news and said to his close ministers, "I heard that this Yan Ying is a good speaker from Qi. Now that he is coming to our state of Chu, I want to humiliate him. What should I do?" One person suggested, "When he arrives, I will tie up a person and walk past you. Then you can ask who the tied-up person is, and I will say he is from Qi; if you ask why he is tied up, I will say it is because he stole something." When Yan Zi arrived in the state of Chu, the king held a banquet for him. While they were drinking, two officials brought in a tied-up person. The king asked, "Who is this tied-up person?" The officials replied, "He is from Qi, because he stole something here." At this moment, the king looked at Yan Zi and asked, "Are all Qi people good at stealing?" Yan Zi stood up and replied, "I heard that when oranges grow in Huainan, they are oranges, but when they grow in Huabei, they become trifoliate oranges. Although their leaves are similar, the fruits they bear are completely different. Why is that? It is because of the different soil and water. The common people in Qi are law-abiding and do not steal, but when they come to Chu, they steal. Isn't it because the soil and water of Chu make people good at stealing?" The king of Chu laughed and said, "A wise person cannot be mocked; I am humiliating myself!"
The secret of the "局" is that it can also be called strategy, or more bluntly, it is a trap. Throughout history, wise men have left behind many schemes, each representing the essence of its time. Today, I have selected three high-end schemes to introduce to everyone.
- Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the time of Duke Jing of Qi, there were three great generals in Qi: Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi. They all achieved great military successes for Qi but became arrogant and unruly, disregarding the law, and even swore brotherhood with each other. Their actions severely threatened the stability of the state. At this time, the Prime Minister of Qi was the famous Yan Zi, who advised Duke Jing to eliminate these three threats early to prevent them from jeopardizing his position in the future. Duke Jing then asked Yan Zi to arrange a scheme, which became the famous "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors."
Yan Zi knew that the three were extremely honorable warriors, so he had Duke Jing invite them, telling them that Duke Jing had personally planted a peach tree and wanted to prepare a precious peach for each of them. Unfortunately, only two peaches had ripened in the backyard, so they had to be divided according to their merits, with the two most meritorious receiving the peaches. Gongsun Jie first claimed that he had fought wild boars and tigers in the mountains, so he deserved a peach. He boldly took one. Tian Kaijiang said he had repelled invading enemies twice, protecting the people and the land, so he also took a peach. Gu Yezi, seeing that the two had taken all the peaches, became furious and drew his sword to insult them, saying he had once fought a giant turtle in the water to save the king. How could their merits be greater than his? In the end, both Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang, feeling inferior, drew their swords and committed suicide. Gu Yezi, seeing the bodies of his friends, regretted humiliating them and, ashamed of the outcome, also drew his sword and committed suicide. Yan Zi used only two peaches to eliminate three hidden dangers for the state, and the scheme of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" became well-known.
- Gong Shuzuo Drives Wu Qi Away
After the death of the Prime Minister of Wei, Tian Wen, Gong Shuzuo and Wu Qi competed for the position of Prime Minister. Eventually, Gong Shuzuo won and married the daughter of Duke Wei. However, even after ascending to power, Gong Shuzuo remained wary of Wu Qi and hoped to drive him out of Wei. His courtiers devised a scheme for him.
Gong Shuzuo first met with Duke Wei and told him that Wu Qi was exceptionally talented but might not be willing to stay in Wei for long. He suggested that Duke Wei betroth his daughter to Wu Qi. If Wu Qi was willing to stay, he would agree; if not, he would definitely refuse. Duke Wei agreed to Gong Shuzuo's suggestion.
Gong Shuzuo then invited Wu Qi to a banquet, instructing the princess to deliberately show anger and disdain towards him during the feast. When Wu Qi arrived, everything unfolded according to the script. The princess expressed her anger and disdain for Gong Shuzuo, who pretended to be unable to defy her and silently endured it. Wu Qi, seeing the princess's arrogance, was left with a bad impression of her.
Not long after, Duke Wei invited Wu Qi to the palace, hoping he would marry his daughter. However, seeing how the princess treated Gong Shuzuo, Wu Qi politely declined. This incident made Duke Wei increasingly suspicious of him. In the following days, Wu Qi felt neglected and, fearing disaster, fled to the state of Chu.
- Guan Zhong and Economic Warfare
Guan Zhong is regarded as the pioneer of economic warfare. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was able to use economic principles to seek benefits for the state.
At that time, the state of Qi was next to the powerful state of Lu, known for its silk, referred to as "Lu Gao." Guan Zhong suggested that Duke Huan of Qi and the ministers wear clothes made of Lu Gao, which sparked a craze for Lu Gao in Qi. Subsequently, Guan Zhong prohibited the domestic population from weaving cloth while importing large quantities of Lu Gao from Lu, providing subsidies to Lu merchants exporting Lu Gao. As a result, the entire state of Lu fell into a frenzy, with farmers abandoning their fields to join the textile industry. Meanwhile, Guan Zhong purchased large quantities of grain from neighboring states and hoarded it.
Not long after, when Guan Zhong saw the opportunity, he ordered a ban on the import of Lu Gao. Although Lu had hoarded a large amount of Lu Gao, it could not be sold. Due to the abandonment of farmland, there was no grain, and they could only import from abroad, while the surrounding grain had been bought by Qi, which took the opportunity to raise grain prices. As a result, Lu not only lost the money it had previously earned but also suffered significant losses. Guan Zhong's ideas were far ahead of their time, and with his assistance, it was no wonder that Duke Huan of Qi became the dominant power during the Spring and Autumn period.
Wherever there are people, there are conflicts; where there are conflicts, there are schemes. These stories never end, and the most sophisticated schemes are always in the future.
Yan Zi once went on a diplomatic mission to the state of Chu. Because Yan Zi was short in stature, the state of Chu opened a small door next to the large gate to mock him. Yan Zi stood outside the city gate and refused to enter, saying, "If I were to go to a dog country, I should enter through the dog door. Today I am here to visit the state of Chu, so I should not enter through a small door." The people welcoming him had no choice but to open the large gate for Yan Zi to enter the city. After entering the city gate, Yan Zi met with the king of Chu, who asked him, "Doesn't your Qi state have anyone else?" Yan Zi replied, "In our capital Linzi, there are three hundred neighborhoods. If everyone were to spread their arms, it would be like a cloudy day; if everyone were to sweat, it would be like rain. The streets are bustling with people, how can one say there are no people?"
The king of Chu said, "Since there are so many people, why did you send you as an envoy?" Yan Zi replied, "In our Qi state, there is a rule for sending envoys: each person is sent to different places. The virtuous are sent to virtuous rulers, and the unworthy are sent to unworthy rulers. As for me, Yan Ying, I am the least worthy in Qi, so I can only come to the state of Chu."
When Yan Zi was about to reach the state of Chu, King Zhuang of Chu heard the news and said to his close ministers, "I heard that this Yan Ying is a good speaker from Qi. Now that he is coming to our state of Chu, I want to humiliate him. What should I do?" One person suggested, "When he arrives, I will tie up a person and walk past you. Then you can ask who the tied-up person is, and I will say he is from Qi; if you ask why he is tied up, I will say it is because he stole something." When Yan Zi arrived in the state of Chu, the king held a banquet for him. While they were drinking, two officials brought in a tied-up person. The king asked, "Who is this tied-up person?" The officials replied, "He is from Qi, because he stole something here." At this moment, the king looked at Yan Zi and asked, "Are all Qi people good at stealing?" Yan Zi stood up and replied, "I heard that when oranges grow in Huainan, they are oranges, but when they grow in Huabei, they become trifoliate oranges. Although their leaves are similar, the fruits they bear are completely different. Why is that? It is because of the different soil and water. The common people in Qi are law-abiding and do not steal, but when they come to Chu, they steal. Isn't it because the soil and water of Chu make people good at stealing?" The king of Chu laughed and said, "A wise person cannot be mocked; I am humiliating myself!"
The secret of the "局" is that it can also be called strategy, or more bluntly, it is a trap. Throughout history, wise men have left behind many schemes, each representing the essence of its time. Today, I have selected three high-end schemes to introduce to everyone.
- Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the time of Duke Jing of Qi, there were three great generals in Qi: Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi. They all achieved great military successes for Qi but became arrogant and unruly, disregarding the law, and even swore brotherhood with each other. Their actions severely threatened the stability of the state. At this time, the Prime Minister of Qi was the famous Yan Zi, who advised Duke Jing to eliminate these three threats early to prevent them from jeopardizing his position in the future. Duke Jing then asked Yan Zi to arrange a scheme, which became the famous "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors."
Yan Zi knew that the three were extremely honorable warriors, so he had Duke Jing invite them, telling them that Duke Jing had personally planted a peach tree and wanted to prepare a precious peach for each of them. Unfortunately, only two peaches had ripened in the backyard, so they had to be divided according to their merits, with the two most meritorious receiving the peaches. Gongsun Jie first claimed that he had fought wild boars and tigers in the mountains, so he deserved a peach. He boldly took one. Tian Kaijiang said he had repelled invading enemies twice, protecting the people and the land, so he also took a peach. Gu Yezi, seeing that the two had taken all the peaches, became furious and drew his sword to insult them, saying he had once fought a giant turtle in the water to save the king. How could their merits be greater than his? In the end, both Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang, feeling inferior, drew their swords and committed suicide. Gu Yezi, seeing the bodies of his friends, regretted humiliating them and, ashamed of the outcome, also drew his sword and committed suicide. Yan Zi used only two peaches to eliminate three hidden dangers for the state, and the scheme of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" became well-known.
- Gong Shuzuo Drives Wu Qi Away
After the death of the Prime Minister of Wei, Tian Wen, Gong Shuzuo and Wu Qi competed for the position of Prime Minister. Eventually, Gong Shuzuo won and married the daughter of Duke Wei. However, even after ascending to power, Gong Shuzuo remained wary of Wu Qi and hoped to drive him out of Wei. His courtiers devised a scheme for him.
Gong Shuzuo first met with Duke Wei and told him that Wu Qi was exceptionally talented but might not be willing to stay in Wei for long. He suggested that Duke Wei betroth his daughter to Wu Qi. If Wu Qi was willing to stay, he would agree; if not, he would definitely refuse. Duke Wei agreed to Gong Shuzuo's suggestion.
Gong Shuzuo then invited Wu Qi to a banquet, instructing the princess to deliberately show anger and disdain towards him during the feast. When Wu Qi arrived, everything unfolded according to the script. The princess expressed her anger and disdain for Gong Shuzuo, who pretended to be unable to defy her and silently endured it. Wu Qi, seeing the princess's arrogance, was left with a bad impression of her.
Not long after, Duke Wei invited Wu Qi to the palace, hoping he would marry his daughter. However, seeing how the princess treated Gong Shuzuo, Wu Qi politely declined. This incident made Duke Wei increasingly suspicious of him. In the following days, Wu Qi felt neglected and, fearing disaster, fled to the state of Chu.
- Guan Zhong and Economic Warfare
Guan Zhong is regarded as the pioneer of economic warfare. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was able to use economic principles to seek benefits for the state.
At that time, the state of Qi was next to the powerful state of Lu, known for its silk, referred to as "Lu Gao." Guan Zhong suggested that Duke Huan of Qi and the ministers wear clothes made of Lu Gao, which sparked a craze for Lu Gao in Qi. Subsequently, Guan Zhong prohibited the domestic population from weaving cloth while importing large quantities of Lu Gao from Lu, providing subsidies to Lu merchants exporting Lu Gao. As a result, the entire state of Lu fell into a frenzy, with farmers abandoning their fields to join the textile industry. Meanwhile, Guan Zhong purchased large quantities of grain from neighboring states and hoarded it.
Not long after, when Guan Zhong saw the opportunity, he ordered a ban on the import of Lu Gao. Although Lu had hoarded a large amount of Lu Gao, it could not be sold. Due to the abandonment of farmland, there was no grain, and they could only import from abroad, while the surrounding grain had been bought by Qi, which took the opportunity to raise grain prices. As a result, Lu not only lost the money it had previously earned but also suffered significant losses. Guan Zhong's ideas were far ahead of their time, and with his assistance, it was no wonder that Duke Huan of Qi became the dominant power during the Spring and Autumn period.
Wherever there are people, there are conflicts; where there are conflicts, there are schemes. These stories never end, and the most sophisticated schemes are always in the future.
Yan Zi once went on a diplomatic mission to the state of Chu. Because Yan Zi was short in stature, the state of Chu opened a small door next to the large gate to mock him. Yan Zi stood outside the city gate and refused to enter, saying, "If I were to go to a dog country, I should enter through the dog door. Today I am here to visit the state of Chu, so I should not enter through a small door." The people welcoming him had no choice but to open the large gate for Yan Zi to enter the city. After entering the city gate, Yan Zi met with the king of Chu, who asked him, "Doesn't your Qi state have anyone else?" Yan Zi replied, "In our capital Linzi, there are three hundred neighborhoods. If everyone were to spread their arms, it would be like a cloudy day; if everyone were to sweat, it would be like rain. The streets are bustling with people, how can one say there are no people?"
The king of Chu said, "Since there are so many people, why did you send you as an envoy?" Yan Zi replied, "In our Qi state, there is a rule for sending envoys: each person is sent to different places. The virtuous are sent to virtuous rulers, and the unworthy are sent to unworthy rulers. As for me, Yan Ying, I am the least worthy in Qi, so I can only come to the state of Chu."
When Yan Zi was about to reach the state of Chu, King Zhuang of Chu heard the news and said to his close ministers, "I heard that this Yan Ying is a good speaker from Qi. Now that he is coming to our state of Chu, I want to humiliate him. What should I do?" One person suggested, "When he arrives, I will tie up a person and walk past you. Then you can ask who the tied-up person is, and I will say he is from Qi; if you ask why he is tied up, I will say it is because he stole something." When Yan Zi arrived in the state of Chu, the king held a banquet for him. While they were drinking, two officials brought in a tied-up person. The king asked, "Who is this tied-up person?" The officials replied, "He is from Qi, because he stole something here." At this moment, the king looked at Yan Zi and asked, "Are all Qi people good at stealing?" Yan Zi stood up and replied, "I heard that when oranges grow in Huainan, they are oranges, but when they grow in Huabei, they become trifoliate oranges. Although their leaves are similar, the fruits they bear are completely different. Why is that? It is because of the different soil and water. The common people in Qi are law-abiding and do not steal, but when they come to Chu, they steal. Isn't it because the soil and water of Chu make people good at stealing?" The king of Chu laughed and said, "A wise person cannot be mocked; I am humiliating myself!"
The secret of the "局" is that it can also be called strategy, or more bluntly, it is a trap. Throughout history, wise men have left behind many schemes, each representing the essence of its time. Today, I have selected three high-end schemes to introduce to everyone.
- Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the time of Duke Jing of Qi, there were three great generals in Qi: Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi. They all achieved great military successes for Qi but became arrogant and unruly, disregarding the law, and even swore brotherhood with each other. Their actions severely threatened the stability of the state. At this time, the Prime Minister of Qi was the famous Yan Zi, who advised Duke Jing to eliminate these three threats early to prevent them from jeopardizing his position in the future. Duke Jing then asked Yan Zi to arrange a scheme, which became the famous "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors."
Yan Zi knew that the three were extremely honorable warriors, so he had Duke Jing invite them, telling them that Duke Jing had personally planted a peach tree and wanted to prepare a precious peach for each of them. Unfortunately, only two peaches had ripened in the backyard, so they had to be divided according to their merits, with the two most meritorious receiving the peaches. Gongsun Jie first claimed that he had fought wild boars and tigers in the mountains, so he deserved a peach. He boldly took one. Tian Kaijiang said he had repelled invading enemies twice, protecting the people and the land, so he also took a peach. Gu Yezi, seeing that the two had taken all the peaches, became furious and drew his sword to insult them, saying he had once fought a giant turtle in the water to save the king. How could their merits be greater than his? In the end, both Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang, feeling inferior, drew their swords and committed suicide. Gu Yezi, seeing the bodies of his friends, regretted humiliating them and, ashamed of the outcome, also drew his sword and committed suicide. Yan Zi used only two peaches to eliminate three hidden dangers for the state, and the scheme of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" became well-known.
- Gong Shuzuo Drives Wu Qi Away
After the death of the Prime Minister of Wei, Tian Wen, Gong Shuzuo and Wu Qi competed for the position of Prime Minister. Eventually, Gong Shuzuo won and married the daughter of Duke Wei. However, even after ascending to power, Gong Shuzuo remained wary of Wu Qi and hoped to drive him out of Wei. His courtiers devised a scheme for him.
Gong Shuzuo first met with Duke Wei and told him that Wu Qi was exceptionally talented but might not be willing to stay in Wei for long. He suggested that Duke Wei betroth his daughter to Wu Qi. If Wu Qi was willing to stay, he would agree; if not, he would definitely refuse. Duke Wei agreed to Gong Shuzuo's suggestion.
Gong Shuzuo then invited Wu Qi to a banquet, instructing the princess to deliberately show anger and disdain towards him during the feast. When Wu Qi arrived, everything unfolded according to the script. The princess expressed her anger and disdain for Gong Shuzuo, who pretended to be unable to defy her and silently endured it. Wu Qi, seeing the princess's arrogance, was left with a bad impression of her.
Not long after, Duke Wei invited Wu Qi to the palace, hoping he would marry his daughter. However, seeing how the princess treated Gong Shuzuo, Wu Qi politely declined. This incident made Duke Wei increasingly suspicious of him. In the following days, Wu Qi felt neglected and, fearing disaster, fled to the state of Chu.
- Guan Zhong and Economic Warfare
Guan Zhong is regarded as the pioneer of economic warfare. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was able to use economic principles to seek benefits for the state.
At that time, the state of Qi was next to the powerful state of Lu, known for its silk, referred to as "Lu Gao." Guan Zhong suggested that Duke Huan of Qi and the ministers wear clothes made of Lu Gao, which sparked a craze for Lu Gao in Qi. Subsequently, Guan Zhong prohibited the domestic population from weaving cloth while importing large quantities of Lu Gao from Lu, providing subsidies to Lu merchants exporting Lu Gao. As a result, the entire state of Lu fell into a frenzy, with farmers abandoning their fields to join the textile industry. Meanwhile, Guan Zhong purchased large quantities of grain from neighboring states and hoarded it.
Not long after, when Guan Zhong saw the opportunity, he ordered a ban on the import of Lu Gao. Although Lu had hoarded a large amount of Lu Gao, it could not be sold. Due to the abandonment of farmland, there was no grain, and they could only import from abroad, while the surrounding grain had been bought by Qi, which took the opportunity to raise grain prices. As a result, Lu not only lost the money it had previously earned but also suffered significant losses. Guan Zhong's ideas were far ahead of their time, and with his assistance, it was no wonder that Duke Huan of Qi became the dominant power during the Spring and Autumn period.
Wherever there are people, there are conflicts; where there are conflicts, there are schemes. These stories never end, and the most sophisticated schemes are always in the future.
Yan Zi once went on a diplomatic mission to the state of Chu. Because Yan Zi was short in stature, the state of Chu opened a small door next to the large gate to mock him. Yan Zi stood outside the city gate and refused to enter, saying, "If I were to go to a dog country, I should enter through the dog door. Today I am here to visit the state of Chu, so I should not enter through a small door." The people welcoming him had no choice but to open the large gate for Yan Zi to enter the city. After entering the city gate, Yan Zi met with the king of Chu, who asked him, "Doesn't your Qi state have anyone else?" Yan Zi replied, "In our capital Linzi, there are three hundred neighborhoods. If everyone were to spread their arms, it would be like a cloudy day; if everyone were to sweat, it would be like rain. The streets are bustling with people, how can one say there are no people?"
The king of Chu said, "Since there are so many people, why did you send you as an envoy?" Yan Zi replied, "In our Qi state, there is a rule for sending envoys: each person is sent to different places. The virtuous are sent to virtuous rulers, and the unworthy are sent to unworthy rulers. As for me, Yan Ying, I am the least worthy in Qi, so I can only come to the state of Chu."
When Yan Zi was about to reach the state of Chu, King Zhuang of Chu heard the news and said to his close ministers, "I heard that this Yan Ying is a good speaker from Qi. Now that he is coming to our state of Chu, I want to humiliate him. What should I do?" One person suggested, "When he arrives, I will tie up a person and walk past you. Then you can ask who the tied-up person is, and I will say he is from Qi; if you ask why he is tied up, I will say it is because he stole something." When Yan Zi arrived in the state of Chu, the king held a banquet for him. While they were drinking, two officials brought in a tied-up person. The king asked, "Who is this tied-up person?" The officials replied, "He is from Qi, because he stole something here." At this moment, the king looked at Yan Zi and asked, "Are all Qi people good at stealing?" Yan Zi stood up and replied, "I heard that when oranges grow in Huainan, they are oranges, but when they grow in Huabei, they become trifoliate oranges. Although their leaves are similar, the fruits they bear are completely different. Why is that? It is because of the different soil and water. The common people in Qi are law-abiding and do not steal, but when they come to Chu, they steal. Isn't it because the soil and water of Chu make people good at stealing?" The king of Chu laughed and said, "A wise person cannot be mocked; I am humiliating myself!"
The secret of the "局" is that it can also be called strategy, or more bluntly, it is a trap. Throughout history, wise men have left behind many schemes, each representing the essence of its time. Today, I have selected three high-end schemes to introduce to everyone.
- Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the time of Duke Jing of Qi, there were three great generals in Qi: Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi. They all achieved great military successes for Qi but became arrogant and unruly, disregarding the law, and even swore brotherhood with each other. Their actions severely threatened the stability of the state. At this time, the Prime Minister of Qi was the famous Yan Zi, who advised Duke Jing to eliminate these three threats early to prevent them from jeopardizing his position in the future. Duke Jing then asked Yan Zi to arrange a scheme, which became the famous "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors."
Yan Zi knew that the three were extremely honorable warriors, so he had Duke Jing invite them, telling them that Duke Jing had personally planted a peach tree and wanted to prepare a precious peach for each of them. Unfortunately, only two peaches had ripened in the backyard, so they had to be divided according to their merits, with the two most meritorious receiving the peaches. Gongsun Jie first claimed that he had fought wild boars and tigers in the mountains, so he deserved a peach. He boldly took one. Tian Kaijiang said he had repelled invading enemies twice, protecting the people and the land, so he also took a peach. Gu Yezi, seeing that the two had taken all the peaches, became furious and drew his sword to insult them, saying he had once fought a giant turtle in the water to save the king. How could their merits be greater than his? In the end, both Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang, feeling inferior, drew their swords and committed suicide. Gu Yezi, seeing the bodies of his friends, regretted humiliating them and, ashamed of the outcome, also drew his sword and committed suicide. Yan Zi used only two peaches to eliminate three hidden dangers for the state, and the scheme of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" became well-known.
- Gong Shuzuo Drives Wu Qi Away
After the death of the Prime Minister of Wei, Tian Wen, Gong Shuzuo and Wu Qi competed for the position of Prime Minister. Eventually, Gong Shuzuo won and married the daughter of Duke Wei. However, even after ascending to power, Gong Shuzuo remained wary of Wu Qi and hoped to drive him out of Wei. His courtiers devised a scheme for him.
Gong Shuzuo first met with Duke Wei and told him that Wu Qi was exceptionally talented but might not be willing to stay in Wei for long. He suggested that Duke Wei betroth his daughter to Wu Qi. If Wu Qi was willing to stay, he would agree; if not, he would definitely refuse. Duke Wei agreed to Gong Shuzuo's suggestion.
Gong Shuzuo then invited Wu Qi to a banquet, instructing the princess to deliberately show anger and disdain towards him during the feast. When Wu Qi arrived, everything unfolded according to the script. The princess expressed her anger and disdain for Gong Shuzuo, who pretended to be unable to defy her and silently endured it. Wu Qi, seeing the princess's arrogance, was left with a bad impression of her.
Not long after, Duke Wei invited Wu Qi to the palace, hoping he would marry his daughter. However, seeing how the princess treated Gong Shuzuo, Wu Qi politely declined. This incident made Duke Wei increasingly suspicious of him. In the following days, Wu Qi felt neglected and, fearing disaster, fled to the state of Chu.
- Guan Zhong and Economic Warfare
Guan Zhong is regarded as the pioneer of economic warfare. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was able to use economic principles to seek benefits for the state.
At that time, the state of Qi was next to the powerful state of Lu, known for its silk, referred to as "Lu Gao." Guan Zhong suggested that Duke Huan of Qi and the ministers wear clothes made of Lu Gao, which sparked a craze for Lu Gao in Qi. Subsequently, Guan Zhong prohibited the domestic population from weaving cloth while importing large quantities of Lu Gao from Lu, providing subsidies to Lu merchants exporting Lu Gao. As a result, the entire state of Lu fell into a frenzy, with farmers abandoning their fields to join the textile industry. Meanwhile, Guan Zhong purchased large quantities of grain from neighboring states and hoarded it.
Not long after, when Guan Zhong saw the opportunity, he ordered a ban on the import of Lu Gao. Although Lu had hoarded a large amount of Lu Gao, it could not be sold. Due to the abandonment of farmland, there was no grain, and they could only import from abroad, while the surrounding grain had been bought by Qi, which took the opportunity to raise grain prices. As a result, Lu not only lost the money it had previously earned but also suffered significant losses. Guan Zhong's ideas were far ahead of their time, and with his assistance, it was no wonder that Duke Huan of Qi became the dominant power during the Spring and Autumn period.
Wherever there are people, there are conflicts; where there are conflicts, there are schemes. These stories never end, and the most sophisticated schemes are always in the future.
Yan Zi once went on a diplomatic mission to the state of Chu. Because Yan Zi was short in stature, the state of Chu opened a small door next to the large gate to mock him. Yan Zi stood outside the city gate and refused to enter, saying, "If I were to go to a dog country, I should enter through the dog door. Today I am here to visit the state of Chu, so I should not enter through a small door." The people welcoming him had no choice but to open the large gate for Yan Zi to enter the city. After entering the city gate, Yan Zi met with the king of Chu, who asked him, "Doesn't your Qi state have anyone else?" Yan Zi replied, "In our capital Linzi, there are three hundred neighborhoods. If everyone were to spread their arms, it would be like a cloudy day; if everyone were to sweat, it would be like rain. The streets are bustling with people, how can one say there are no people?"
The king of Chu said, "Since there are so many people, why did you send you as an envoy?" Yan Zi replied, "In our Qi state, there is a rule for sending envoys: each person is sent to different places. The virtuous are sent to virtuous rulers, and the unworthy are sent to unworthy rulers. As for me, Yan Ying, I am the least worthy in Qi, so I can only come to the state of Chu."
When Yan Zi was about to reach the state of Chu, King Zhuang of Chu heard the news and said to his close ministers, "I heard that this Yan Ying is a good speaker from Qi. Now that he is coming to our state of Chu, I want to humiliate him. What should I do?" One person suggested, "When he arrives, I will tie up a person and walk past you. Then you can ask who the tied-up person is, and I will say he is from Qi; if you ask why he is tied up, I will say it is because he stole something." When Yan Zi arrived in the state of Chu, the king held a banquet for him. While they were drinking, two officials brought in a tied-up person. The king asked, "Who is this tied-up person?" The officials replied, "He is from Qi, because he stole something here." At this moment, the king looked at Yan Zi and asked, "Are all Qi people good at stealing?" Yan Zi stood up and replied, "I heard that when oranges grow in Huainan, they are oranges, but when they grow in Huabei, they become trifoliate oranges. Although their leaves are similar, the fruits they bear are completely different. Why is that? It is because of the different soil and water. The common people in Qi are law-abiding and do not steal, but when they come to Chu, they steal. Isn't it because the soil and water of Chu make people good at stealing?" The king of Chu laughed and said, "A wise person cannot be mocked; I am humiliating myself!"
The secret of the "局" is that it can also be called strategy, or more bluntly, it is a trap. Throughout history, wise men have left behind many schemes, each representing the essence of its time. Today, I have selected three high-end schemes to introduce to everyone.
- Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the time of Duke Jing of Qi, there were three great generals in Qi: Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi. They all achieved great military successes for Qi but became arrogant and unruly, disregarding the law, and even swore brotherhood with each other. Their actions severely threatened the stability of the state. At this time, the Prime Minister of Qi was the famous Yan Zi, who advised Duke Jing to eliminate these three threats early to prevent them from jeopardizing his position in the future. Duke Jing then asked Yan Zi to arrange a scheme, which became the famous "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors."
Yan Zi knew that the three were extremely honorable warriors, so he had Duke Jing invite them, telling them that Duke Jing had personally planted a peach tree and wanted to prepare a precious peach for each of them. Unfortunately, only two peaches had ripened in the backyard, so they had to be divided according to their merits, with the two most meritorious receiving the peaches. Gongsun Jie first claimed that he had fought wild boars and tigers in the mountains, so he deserved a peach. He boldly took one. Tian Kaijiang said he had repelled invading enemies twice, protecting the people and the land, so he also took a peach. Gu Yezi, seeing that the two had taken all the peaches, became furious and drew his sword to insult them, saying he had once fought a giant turtle in the water to save the king. How could their merits be greater than his? In the end, both Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang, feeling inferior, drew their swords and committed suicide. Gu Yezi, seeing the bodies of his friends, regretted humiliating them and, ashamed of the outcome, also drew his sword and committed suicide. Yan Zi used only two peaches to eliminate three hidden dangers for the state, and the scheme of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" became well-known.
- Gong Shuzuo Drives Wu Qi Away
After the death of the Prime Minister of Wei, Tian Wen, Gong Shuzuo and Wu Qi competed for the position of Prime Minister. Eventually, Gong Shuzuo won and married the daughter of Duke Wei. However, even after ascending to power, Gong Shuzuo remained wary of Wu Qi and hoped to drive him out of Wei. His courtiers devised a scheme for him.
Gong Shuzuo first met with Duke Wei and told him that Wu Qi was exceptionally talented but might not be willing to stay in Wei for long. He suggested that Duke Wei betroth his daughter to Wu Qi. If Wu Qi was willing to stay, he would agree; if not, he would definitely refuse. Duke Wei agreed to Gong Shuzuo's suggestion.
Gong Shuzuo then invited Wu Qi to a banquet, instructing the princess to deliberately show anger and disdain towards him during the feast. When Wu Qi arrived, everything unfolded according to the script. The princess expressed her anger and disdain for Gong Shuzuo, who pretended to be unable to defy her and silently endured it. Wu Qi, seeing the princess's arrogance, was left with a bad impression of her.
Not long after, Duke Wei invited Wu Qi to the palace, hoping he would marry his daughter. However, seeing how the princess treated Gong Shuzuo, Wu Qi politely declined. This incident made Duke Wei increasingly suspicious of him. In the following days, Wu Qi felt neglected and, fearing disaster, fled to the state of Chu.
- Guan Zhong and Economic Warfare
Guan Zhong is regarded as the pioneer of economic warfare. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was able to use economic principles to seek benefits for the state.
At that time, the state of Qi was next to the powerful state of Lu, known for its silk, referred to as "Lu Gao." Guan Zhong suggested that Duke Huan of Qi and the ministers wear clothes made of Lu Gao, which sparked a craze for Lu Gao in Qi. Subsequently, Guan Zhong prohibited the domestic population from weaving cloth while importing large quantities of Lu Gao from Lu, providing subsidies to Lu merchants exporting Lu Gao. As a result, the entire state of Lu fell into a frenzy, with farmers abandoning their fields to join the textile industry. Meanwhile, Guan Zhong purchased large quantities of grain from neighboring states and hoarded it.
Not long after, when Guan Zhong saw the opportunity, he ordered a ban on the import of Lu Gao. Although Lu had hoarded a large amount of Lu Gao, it could not be sold. Due to the abandonment of farmland, there was no grain, and they could only import from abroad, while the surrounding grain had been bought by Qi, which took the opportunity to raise grain prices. As a result, Lu not only lost the money it had previously earned but also suffered significant losses. Guan Zhong's ideas were far ahead of their time, and with his assistance, it was no wonder that Duke Huan of Qi became the dominant power during the Spring and Autumn period.
Wherever there are people, there are conflicts; where there are conflicts, there are schemes. These stories never end, and the most sophisticated schemes are always in the future.
Yan Zi once went on a diplomatic mission to the state of Chu. Because Yan Zi was short in stature, the state of Chu opened a small door next to the large gate to mock him. Yan Zi stood outside the city gate and refused to enter, saying, "If I were to go to a dog country, I should enter through the dog door. Today I am here to visit the state of Chu, so I should not enter through a small door." The people welcoming him had no choice but to open the large gate for Yan Zi to enter the city. After entering the city gate, Yan Zi met with the king of Chu, who asked him, "Doesn't your Qi state have anyone else?" Yan Zi replied, "In our capital Linzi, there are three hundred neighborhoods. If everyone were to spread their arms, it would be like a cloudy day; if everyone were to sweat, it would be like rain. The streets are bustling with people, how can one say there are no people?"
The king of Chu said, "Since there are so many people, why did you send you as an envoy?" Yan Zi replied, "In our Qi state, there is a rule for sending envoys: each person is sent to different places. The virtuous are sent to virtuous rulers, and the unworthy are sent to unworthy rulers. As for me, Yan Ying, I am the least worthy in Qi, so I can only come to the state of Chu."
When Yan Zi was about to reach the state of Chu, King Zhuang of Chu heard the news and said to his close ministers, "I heard that this Yan Ying is a good speaker from Qi. Now that he is coming to our state of Chu, I want to humiliate him. What should I do?" One person suggested, "When he arrives, I will tie up a person and walk past you. Then you can ask who the tied-up person is, and I will say he is from Qi; if you ask why he is tied up, I will say it is because he stole something." When Yan Zi arrived in the state of Chu, the king held a banquet for him. While they were drinking, two officials brought in a tied-up person. The king asked, "Who is this tied-up person?" The officials replied, "He is from Qi, because he stole something here." At this moment, the king looked at Yan Zi and asked, "Are all Qi people good at stealing?" Yan Zi stood up and replied, "I heard that when oranges grow in Huainan, they are oranges, but when they grow in Huabei, they become trifoliate oranges. Although their leaves are similar, the fruits they bear are completely different. Why is that? It is because of the different soil and water. The common people in Qi are law-abiding and do not steal, but when they come to Chu, they steal. Isn't it because the soil and water of Chu make people good at stealing?" The king of Chu laughed and said, "A wise person cannot be mocked; I am humiliating myself!"
The secret of the "局" is that it can also be called strategy, or more bluntly, it is a trap. Throughout history, wise men have left behind many schemes, each representing the essence of its time. Today, I have selected three high-end schemes to introduce to everyone.
- Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
During the Spring and Autumn period, in the time of Duke Jing of Qi, there were three great generals in Qi: Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi. They all achieved great military successes for Qi but became arrogant and unruly, disregarding the law, and even swore brotherhood with each other. Their actions severely threatened the stability of the state. At this time, the Prime Minister of Qi was the famous Yan Zi, who advised Duke Jing to eliminate these three threats early to prevent them from jeopardizing his position in the future. Duke Jing then asked Yan Zi to arrange a scheme, which became the famous "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors."
Yan Zi knew that the three were extremely honorable warriors, so he had Duke Jing invite them, telling them that Duke Jing had personally planted a peach tree and wanted to prepare a precious peach for each of them. Unfortunately, only two peaches had ripened in the backyard, so they had to be divided according to their merits, with the two most meritorious receiving the peaches. Gongsun Jie first claimed that he had fought wild boars and tigers in the mountains, so he deserved a peach. He boldly took one. Tian Kaijiang said he had repelled invading enemies twice, protecting the people and the land, so he also took a peach. Gu Yezi, seeing that the two had taken all the peaches, became furious and drew his sword to insult them, saying he had once fought a giant turtle in the water to save the king. How could their merits be greater than his? In the end, both Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang, feeling inferior, drew their swords and committed suicide. Gu Yezi, seeing the bodies of his friends, regretted humiliating them and, ashamed of the outcome, also drew his sword and committed suicide. Yan Zi used only two peaches to eliminate three hidden dangers for the state, and the scheme of "Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors" became well-known.
- Gong Shuzuo Drives Wu Qi Away
After the death of the Prime Minister of Wei, Tian Wen, Gong Shuzuo and Wu Qi competed for the position of Prime Minister. Eventually, Gong Shuzuo won and married the daughter of Duke Wei. However, even after ascending to power, Gong Shuzuo remained wary of Wu Qi and hoped to drive him out of Wei. His courtiers devised a scheme for him.
Gong Shuzuo first met with Duke Wei and told him that Wu Qi was exceptionally talented but might not be willing to stay in Wei for long. He suggested that Duke Wei betroth his daughter to Wu Qi. If Wu Qi was willing to stay, he would agree; if not, he would definitely refuse. Duke Wei agreed to Gong Shuzuo's suggestion.
Gong Shuzuo then invited Wu Qi to a banquet, instructing the princess to deliberately show anger and disdain towards him during the feast. When Wu Qi arrived, everything unfolded according to the script. The princess expressed her anger and disdain for Gong Shuzuo, who pretended to be unable to defy her and silently endured it. Wu Qi, seeing the princess's arrogance, was left with a bad impression of her.
Not long after, Duke Wei invited Wu Qi to the palace, hoping he would marry his daughter. However, seeing how the princess treated Gong Shuzuo, Wu Qi politely declined. This incident made Duke Wei increasingly suspicious of him. In the following days, Wu Qi felt neglected and, fearing disaster, fled to the state of Chu.
- Guan Zhong and Economic Warfare
Guan Zhong is regarded as the pioneer of economic warfare. During the Spring and Autumn period, he was able to use economic principles to seek benefits for the state.
At that time, the state of Qi was next to the powerful state of Lu, known for its silk, referred to as "Lu Gao." Guan Zhong suggested that Duke Huan of Qi and the ministers wear clothes made of Lu Gao, which sparked a craze for Lu Gao in Qi. Subsequently, Guan Zhong prohibited the domestic population from weaving cloth while importing large quantities of Lu Gao from Lu, providing subsidies to Lu merchants exporting Lu Gao. As a result, the entire state of Lu fell into a frenzy, with farmers abandoning their fields to join the textile industry. Meanwhile, Guan Zhong purchased large quantities of grain from neighboring states and hoarded it.
Not long after, when Guan Zhong saw the opportunity, he ordered a ban on the import of Lu Gao. Although Lu had hoarded a large amount of Lu Gao, it could not be sold. Due to the abandonment of farmland, there was no grain, and they could only import from abroad, while the surrounding grain had been bought by Qi, which took the opportunity to raise grain prices. As a result, Lu not only lost the money it had previously earned but also suffered significant losses. Guan Zhong's ideas were far ahead of their time, and with his assistance, it was no wonder that Duke Huan of Qi became the dominant power during the Spring and Autumn period.
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