King Huai of Chu wanted to banish Zhang Yi, when Chen Zhen asked, "Why is Your Majesty so eager to banish Zhang Yi?" The King replied, "Zhang Yi caused me to sever our alliance with Qi, subjected me to great humiliation, and slew my most trusted minister to gratify his own spite—therefore I wish to banish him." Chen Zhen said, "Allow me to offer a parable. In former times, Wu Zixu was loyal to his sovereign, and all the states of the realm vied to have him as their minister; Zeng Shen was filial to his parents, and all the world wished for such a son. Thus a loyal minister and a filial son are what all under heaven desire to possess. Now, if Your Majesty banishes Zhang Yi, it is to cast away a loyal minister. Moreover, when Zhang Yi came to Chu, he came solely to seek advantage for Qin on Your Majesty's behalf. When Qin makes a request of Your Majesty, and Your Majesty instead banishes its envoy, this is to sever friendly relations with Qin. It would be better for Your Majesty to treat him generously while the opportunity offers, so as to win the goodwill of Qin. If Qin is pleased, Chu will have no calamity. But if you banish him, Qin will surely be angered, and Chu will be imperiled. Does Your Majesty prefer to stand in peril by banishing him, or to rest in safety by retaining him?" The King said, "Well spoken." And so he ceased his intention to banish Zhang Yi.
💡 商战启示录
The essence of this strategy lies in "turning adversaries into assets," replacing emotional decisions with calculated interests. When the King of Chu, stung by personal humiliation, sought to expel Zhang Yi, Chen Zhen perceived instead the strategic value of the Qin resources and leverage that Zhang Yi represented. In modern commerce, such cases abound. Apple and Samsung, for instance, have long been both rivals and partners—locked in fierce patent litigation while Apple remained dependent on Samsung for screens and chips. Had Apple severed ties in a fit of pique, its own supply chain would have suffered grievous harm. Chen Zhen's counsel serves as a reminder to entrepreneurs: business decisions should rest upon long-term interests and the broader ecosystem, not personal sentiment or transient conflicts. When an opponent or partner holds strategic leverage, the wiser course is not expulsion but generous accommodation—maintaining equilibrium and even converting the relationship into one's own advantage. Huawei, facing American sanctions, never wholly abandoned technological collaboration with certain U.S. firms, instead maneuvering with flexibility to ensure critical links were never severed. This strategy also underscores the maxim that "securing Qin's goodwill spares Chu from peril"—in commercial terms, sustaining key partnerships shields one from the plight of isolation. True masters of the business arena do not cut off their own retreat in a moment of anger. Like Chen Zhen, they discern the latent value of every piece upon the board, transforming crises into opportunities, advancing by yielding, and thereby maximizing gain.