Zhang Yi sought to entrap Chu Li Ji by deliberately elevating his status and dispatching him on a mission to the state of Chu. Subsequently, Zhang Yi secretly induced the King of Chu to petition the King of Qin on Chu Li Ji's behalf, requesting that he be appointed as the prime minister of Qin. Zhang Yi then said to the King of Qin: "The reason I held Chu Li Ji in high regard and sent him on this mission was to strengthen the alliance between Qin and Chu. Now that he is in Chu, the King of Chu has petitioned for him to serve as Qin's prime minister. I have heard that Chu Li Ji once said to the King of Chu: 'Does Your Majesty wish to see Zhang Yi trapped in difficulties within Qin? I can assist you in this matter.' The King of Chu, taking this to heart, has thus made the request on his behalf. If Your Majesty now accedes to the King of Chu's plea, Chu Li Ji will surely, in the days to come, act in the interests of Chu and to the detriment of Qin." Upon hearing this, the King of Qin flew into a rage, and Chu Li Ji was compelled to flee from the state of Qin.
💡 商战启示录
Zhang Yi's stratagem was a masterful combination of "praise to destroy" and "sowing discord." By elevating Shu Liji's status (entrusting him with crucial diplomatic missions) and then having a third party—the King of Chu—voice requests favorable to Shu Liji, he planted in the Qin king's mind the suspicion that Shu Liji was colluding with external forces. This teaches us that in modern commercial competition, one need not directly attack a rival; instead, through clever maneuvering, one can make the opponent appear "too brilliant for their master" or "entangled with outside interests" in the eyes of superiors or partners, thereby triggering a crisis of trust. For instance, a corporate executive seeking to edge out a competitor might deliberately recommend that rival to lead a project deeply tied to a major external client, then arrange for that client to suggest to senior management that they wish to poach the rival—casting doubt on the rival's loyalty. The core of this strategy lies in exploiting information asymmetry and the human tendency toward suspicion, fabricating a seemingly plausible "chain of evidence" that leaves the opponent unable to defend themselves. However, it must be noted that this tactic carries immense risk; if the scheme is not meticulously laid or the opponent reacts swiftly, it may backfire. In modern business, the emphasis should instead be on fostering transparent communication mechanisms and a healthy competitive culture, rather than relying on Machiavellian maneuvering—otherwise, short-term gains will inevitably erode team cohesion and the very foundations of the enterprise in the long run.