Chinese history is filled with tales of kings and ministers who played the fool to disguise their intelligence. When in a disadvantaged position, they would hide their brilliance, biding their time. But at the right moment, they would strike decisively, defeating their rivals to either seize power or avenge their honor.
King Goujian: A story of revenge and patience
When King Goujian of Yue was defeated by the state of Wu, he sent his beloved concubine Xi Shi as a gift to King Fuchai of Wu. Goujian, along with his queen, went to Wu to serve King Fuchai, tending to the king’s needs and being wholly submissive. Once, when Fuchai fell ill, Goujian tasted the king’s feces to diagnose the ailment. Moved by this gesture, Fuchai ignored his ministers’ advice and let Goujian return to Yue three years later.
Acting the fool
Upon his return, Goujian swore to exact revenge on Wu. Fearing that he might become complacent and lose his will for revenge, he chose to live in hardship. He slept without a mattress, laying only on some firewood. Inside his room, he hung a gall bladder, tasting its bitterness regularly to never forget the humiliation he had suffered. The king and queen worked the fields, urging production, and labored with their people to make Yue prosperous and strong.
One year, Yue gifted Wu with cooked seeds. The gift of cooked seeds cleverly ensured Wu couldn’t plant them, leading to an unexpected famine and weakening the state. Later, taking advantage of King Fuchai’s absence in a northern alliance, Goujian led an army of 50,000 to attack the Wu capital, killing the Wu crown prince. After besieging the city for three years, Yue finally prevailed. King Fuchai, with no options left, took his own life.
Guo Ziyi: The Grand Minister with a subtle strategy
Guo Ziyi, who quelled the Anshi Rebellion, served the Tang Dynasty across four reigns, enjoying both wealth and a large, happy family. Historical records praise him for his ability to possess unmatched power without arousing envy or suspicion. How did he achieve this?
The Tao Te Ching states that you should dull your sharpness, untangle any knots, dim your glare, and become one with the dust of the world. Guo Ziyi lived by these words, embracing the world with a magnanimous spirit and keen understanding of human nature.
The emperor’s favored minister, Yu Chao’en, was incredibly envious of Guo Ziyi and sought to harm him. On one occasion, while Guo was away on a military campaign, Yu secretly desecrated Guo’s ancestral graves. Upon hearing of this upon his return, Guo defended Yu, saying that his own soldiers had also desecrated others’ graves over the years. This was just karma, he argued, and no further action was needed. Through this act, Guo averted a bloody confrontation and offered the emperor a way out of a tricky situation.
Guo Ziyi’s residence was always open to everyone, a fact his son found puzzling. Guo explained: “Our family owns 500 horses fed by the state and over 1,000 servants on the state payroll. If we built high walls and isolated ourselves, those with ulterior motives could easily spread rumors about us, potentially leading to our downfall. By keeping our doors open, there’s no excuse to accuse us of wrongdoing.”
It became clear that every seemingly foolish act of Guo’s either averted a major disaster, earned royal favors, or strengthened ties with other influential figures. This was true wisdom in disguise.
Translated by cecilia
