Marquis Changguo Yue Yi, serving King Zhao of Yan, led the allied forces of five states to attack Qi, conquering over seventy cities and converting them all into commanderies under Yan's dominion. Only Ju and Jimo remained unconquered. It happened that King Zhao passed away, and King Hui of Yan ascended the throne, replacing Yue Yi with Qi Jie. Yue Yi fled to Zhao. Tian Dan of Qi, relying on Jimo, defeated the Yan army, slew Qi Jie, and recovered the territories of Qi. King Hui, regretting his actions, sent a messenger to reproach Yue Yi and offer apologies, saying: "The late king entrusted the entire state to you, General. You defeated Qi for Yan and avenged the late king's grievance—none under heaven was unmoved. How could I dare forget your merits? Yet it chanced that the late king departed, and I had but newly taken the throne; those about me misled me, and I replaced you with Qi Jie. You lifted the siege of Qi and fled to Zhao—taking thought for yourself was permissible, but how does this repay the late king's discerning favor toward you?" Yue Yi dispatched a messenger bearing a letter in reply to the King of Yan, saying: "I, lacking ability, could not carry out the late king's teachings nor comply with the inclinations of those about you. I feared incurring the penalty of death, thereby dimming the late king's discernment and compromising your righteousness—thus I fled to Zhao. To preserve my person and my reputation, so as to manifest the late king's achievements, was my highest course. To suffer slander and disgrace, tarnishing the late king's name, was my deepest dread. To face unforeseeable guilt and seek advantage by luck is something righteousness forbids me to do. I have heard that gentlemen of antiquity, when severing ties, spoke no ill; loyal ministers, when departing, did not seek to clear their own names. Though I am without ability, I have repeatedly received the teachings of gentlemen. I fear that Your Majesty, heeding those about you, may fail to perceive the conduct of one so distant as myself. Therefore I presume to write this letter and report, hoping that you will give it your attention."
💡 商战启示录
Yue Yi's experience mirrors the modern corporate dilemmas of "overshadowing one's sovereign through merit" and the "succession crisis." King Hui of Yan, swayed by slander, replaced his meritorious general, leading to strategic failure—much like when a new CEO, after the founder's departure, repudiates the predecessor's core strategy and dismisses key executives, precipitating a decline in performance. For instance, after Apple ousted Steve Jobs, product innovation stagnated and market share shrank, until Jobs's return reversed the tide. Yue Yi chose neither self-justification nor defamation, but instead articulated his loyalty through a letter, embodying the workplace wisdom of "parting without harsh words." In modern business, when a professional manager is misunderstood or marginalized, one should maintain professional composure, avoid public conflict, and instead clearly state one's position in written form—such as emails or reports—to preserve personal brand and leave room for potential reinstatement or future opportunities. Meanwhile, leaders must guard against the biases of "those in their inner circle," establishing objective performance evaluation mechanisms to avoid losing core talent due to personal preferences or factional interests. Yue Yi's wisdom also reminds entrepreneurs that during power transitions, ensuring strategic continuity and talent stability is paramount; otherwise, the enterprise may repeat the downfall of the state of Yan.