The King of Chu intended to have Zhang Zi leave the state of Chu, yet he feared that Zhang Zi might undermine his interests. He therefore said to his attendants, "Zhang Zi wishes to leave me; surely he will plot against me with the various feudal lords. I desire to expel him—what shall be done?" His attendants replied, "We shall expel him on your behalf." Thereupon they said to Zhang Zi, "The King wishes to honor you with high office—would you not rather depart?" Zhang Zi answered, "If the King desires my departure, I shall go at once. But should the King truly wish to banish me, let me go to the state of Qi as a hostage." The King of Chu consented. When Zhang Zi arrived in Qi, the King of Qi asked him, "Having left Chu, where do you intend to go?" Zhang Zi replied, "I have heard that Your Majesty holds certain demands against the state of Chu, and that the King of Chu is displeased. I am willing to offer the precious treasures of Chu, and to convey that the King of Chu desires amity with Your Majesty." The King of Qi, greatly pleased, treated Zhang Zi with lavish generosity. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Zi persuaded the King of Qi, saying, "The King of Chu is now aged, his heir apparent is young and weak, and the state lacks worthy ministers. If Your Majesty should wish to attack Chu, I would gladly serve as your agent from within." The King of Qi, deeming this sound, began to scheme with Zhang Zi against Chu. When the King of Chu learned of this, he summoned Zhang Zi back to his court. Upon Zhang Zi's return, the King of Chu not only refrained from reproach but treated him with even greater honor.
💡 商战启示录
Facing the crisis of expulsion, Zhangzi did not resist head-on. Instead, he volunteered to go to the State of Qi as a hostage, turning passivity into initiative. Having penetrated the enemy's camp, he won the trust of the King of Qi by offering "precious treasures" and "pledges of amity" as bait, and then persuaded the King of Qi to scheme against the State of Chu under the guise of serving as an "internal ally." In the end, the King of Chu was compelled to recall him and treat him with great favor.
This offers a profound lesson for modern business: when faced with marginalization or layoffs, one should not resist passively but, like Zhangzi, proactively create one's own irreplaceability. For instance, if a senior executive is removed from a core position, he might volunteer to pioneer a new market or tackle key clients. On the surface, this appears to be compliance with the arrangement, but in reality, he gains control over external resources and information, becoming a pivotal node in the company's external collaborations. This mirrors Zhangzi's journey to Qi—nominally a "hostage," yet in truth a bridge of intelligence between Chu and Qi. Ultimately, the King of Chu, wary of Zhangzi's "internal ally" ties with Qi, felt compelled to appease him instead.
In the arena of business warfare, this strategy resembles "retreating in order to advance." By leveraging external alliances or commanding critical resources, one can inversely strengthen one's internal bargaining power. Apple Inc., for example, has historically exploited competition among its suppliers to position itself at the center of negotiations. Likewise, a professional manager can accumulate client relationships or industry connections, making the company realize that his value far exceeds any single role. Zhangzi's wisdom lies not in direct confrontation, but in harnessing external forces to reshape the internal landscape—this is the very essence of "leveraging momentum" and "strategic maneuvering" in modern commerce.