During the Warring States Period, Su Qin was active in the political arena of various countries with his unique political strategy and diplomatic skills. However, he had suffered a serious crisis, which stemmed from the discovery of an affair between him and the wife of Duke Yan Wen by King Yan Yi. Faced with the threat of punishment, Su Qin sought to protect himself in a unique way, that is, by encouraging the king of Qi to spend extravagantly in order to weaken Qi's financial power and serve his native Yan state.
First of all, we must understand the historical background in which Su Qin lived. During the Warring States period, political struggles and power schemes were rife among countries. For a lobbyist, using various means to achieve their ends is the key to their survival and success. Su Qin's loyalty to the Yan State was unquestionable, and he was even willing to sacrifice his reputation to protect the interests of the country. His actions were morally controversial, but they were a natural choice for him as a counselor.
When King Yan Yi found out about Su Qin's fornication, Su Qin's sense of fear arose. He knew that King Yan Yi would not let him go easily, so he chose a very strategic way to seek survival. He said to King Yan Yi: "My stay in Yan State cannot make Yan Kingdom important, and if I am in Qi State, I can try to increase the power of Yan Kingdom." This sentence not only expresses his self-knowledge, but also shows his grand vision and unique strategy. Staying in Yan Kingdom, he can only become a thorn in King Yi's side;And in the Qi Kingdom, he can take the opportunity to strengthen the power of the Yan Kingdom, so as to find a glimmer of life for himself.
So, Su Qin disguised himself as offending Yan and fled to Qi and became the guest of King Xuan of Qi. He encouraged the king of Qi to increase the palace and expand the forest garden, showing the status of the king of Qi, so as to weaken the financial power of the state of Qi. This action of his was undoubtedly beneficial to the Yan State, but it had a negative impact on the Qi State. This behavior reveals the essence of his strategist: the greatest benefit at the least cost.
However, does this strategy really work?History is not clearly documented, but we can infer Su Qin's motives and purposes from his actions. As a strategist, Su Qin was well aware of the operation of power and the conflict of interests of various countries. He used his wisdom and eloquence to skillfully manipulate the behavior of the King of Qi in order to achieve the goal of weakening the Qi State and strengthening the Yan State.
However, we must recognize the limitations of this strategy. Although Su Qin may have had an impact on the Qi State in the short term, he was unable to change the basic pattern between the states during the Warring States Period. His actions may have only briefly affected the foreign policy of some countries, but could not fundamentally change the course of the entire war.
At the same time, we should also take into account the complexity of Su Qin's personal motivations. As a strategist, he had to think not only about the interests of the country, but also about his own survival and status. His actions may have encompassed both loyalty to his homeland and concern for his own safety.
Overall, Su Qin's actions reveal both his resourcefulness and courage as a strategist, as well as the complex diplomatic relations and power struggles between the states during the Warring States period. His story gives us a glimpse into the political realities of that era and the complexity of human nature. While his actions may have sparked controversy and questioning, we must acknowledge the unique charisma and wisdom he displayed in those turbulent times.