The Rise of Lord Xinling and His Network of Retainers

In the tumultuous Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when rival kingdoms clashed for supremacy, Lord Xinling of Wei emerged as one of the most celebrated noblemen of his time. Born into the Wei royal family as a younger brother of King Anxi, Xinling distinguished himself not through birthright alone but through his extraordinary ability to cultivate a vast network of retainers—men of talent who would shape the course of history.

Unlike other aristocrats who hoarded wealth, Xinling invested in people. His reputation for generosity and discernment attracted thousands of retainers, though only three—Hou Ying, Zhu Hai, and Zhang Er—left indelible marks on history. These men were not mere followers; they were strategists, warriors, and political operators who embodied the spirit of the xia (knight-errant) tradition, where loyalty and honor outweighed life itself.

Hou Ying: The Mastermind Behind the Rescue of Zhao

Hou Ying, a 70-year-old recluse serving as a gatekeeper in Wei’s capital Daliang, was the unlikely architect of one of the era’s most daring military operations. His humble position belied his influence—a man who moved effortlessly between high nobility and the common folk, respected as a leader in the underground networks of the time.

Xinling’s courtship of Hou Ying reveals much about the politics of the era. Despite already commanding a retinue of thousands, Xinling humbled himself, personally driving a carriage through the city’s markets to recruit Hou Ying. This was no mere gesture; it was a calculated move to consolidate power. By securing Hou Ying’s allegiance, Xinling gained access to the hidden currents of Wei’s civil society.

Hou Ying’s brilliance shone during the crisis of 257 BCE, when Qin forces besieged the state of Zhao. With Wei’s king refusing to intervene, Xinling and Hou Ying devised a plan to steal the royal tiger tally—a symbol of military authority—to mobilize Wei’s army. The operation succeeded, but Hou Ying, bound by his code of honor, chose a dramatic end: calculating the day Xinling would reach the front, he committed ritual suicide facing north, his final act of loyalty.

Zhu Hai: The Silent Warrior

If Hou Ying was the strategist, Zhu Hai was the executioner. A butcher by trade, Zhu Hai belonged to the tradition of warrior-artisans who populated the margins of society. Like the legendary assassin Nie Zheng, who worked in a dog slaughterhouse before his famous killing of a Han minister, Zhu Hai’s profession concealed his lethal skills.

Hou Ying introduced Zhu Hai to Xinling, but the butcher initially rebuffed the nobleman’s overtures—a typical xia gesture, where true loyalty was never declared lightly. When the moment came, however, Zhu Hai stepped forward without hesitation. At the critical juncture of the rescue mission, he slew General Jin Bi, the reluctant Wei commander, ensuring the army’s march to save Zhao. Unlike Hou Ying, Zhu Hai’s fate after the campaign remains a mystery, a fitting end for a man who lived by the creed of anonymity.

Zhang Er: The Bridge Between Eras

The youngest of the trio, Zhang Er, represents a living link between the Warring States and the Han dynasty. Joining Xinling’s retinue as a youth, he absorbed the lord’s ethos of patronage and knightly virtue. After Xinling’s death in 243 BCE, Zhang Er drifted into the life of a wandering knight, eventually finding refuge in the town of Waihuang.

There, his fortunes changed dramatically. A wealthy divorcée, unimpressed by her first husband, sought Zhang Er as a replacement—a testament to the social mobility of the era. With her resources, Zhang Er transformed into a patron himself, mirroring Xinling’s model. His influence grew until he became Waihuang’s magistrate, straddling the worlds of government and the underworld. Notably, one of his later admirers was Liu Bang, the future founder of the Han dynasty.

Cultural Impact: The Xia Ideal in Chinese History

The stories of Xinling’s retainers encapsulate the xia ethos that permeated Chinese culture. These men operated outside conventional hierarchies, valuing personal honor above institutional loyalty. Their deeds inspired countless later narratives, from Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian to Jin Yong’s martial arts novels.

Hou Ying’s suicide, Zhu Hai’s lethal efficiency, and Zhang Er’s reinvention all reflect a worldview where individual agency could alter the fate of nations. This tension between personal honor and state authority would echo through Chinese history, resurfacing in tales of rebellion and heroism.

Legacy: From Ancient Strategy to Modern Inspiration

Xinling’s reliance on retainers rather than formal institutions offers a timeless lesson in leadership. His ability to identify and empower talent—regardless of social station—prefigured meritocratic ideals. Today, his story resonates in discussions of network-building and unconventional problem-solving.

Moreover, the trio’s legacy endures in popular culture. Hou Ying’s strategic genius is studied in military academies; Zhu Hai embodies the archetype of the “hidden hero”; Zhang Er’s rise mirrors modern stories of underdog success. Their lives remind us that history is often shaped not by faceless systems, but by extraordinary individuals operating in the margins.

In the end, the tale of Xinling and his retainers is more than a historical episode—it is a meditation on loyalty, strategy, and the enduring power of human connections.