A Ruler’s Dawn Ritual and Growing Frustration

Duke Xiao of Qin rose before daybreak, his morning routine unchanged – sword practice followed by hours of study in his expanded library. For three months since issuing his famous decree seeking talented advisors, doubt gnawed at him. He had imagined scholars from eastern states would be moved by his sincerity to help strengthen Qin. Instead, he encountered men preoccupied with comfort, wealth and status.

The young ruler’s hands tightened around a bamboo scroll as he recalled their condescending glances. He could tolerate criticism of Qin’s weaknesses, even malicious curses, but never contempt. The memory of six states excluding Qin from alliances still burned as his greatest shame, commemorated in blood on stone. Now even job-seeking scholars dared look down on his kingdom?

Duke Xiao expanded his library threefold, ordering his chancellor Gongsun Jia to collect every practical text available. His daily routine now included two hours of night reading and an extra morning study session before dawn. No interruptions were permitted until the appointed hour for state affairs.

The Arrival of an Unconventional Talent

The quiet morning study was interrupted by Chancellor Jing Jian’s urgent request. With visible excitement, Jing recounted meeting a remarkable man named Wei Yang in Wei State. This scholar had secretly observed Qin for months, traveling through its poorest regions with extraordinary dedication.

Duke Xiao listened impassively. “So you believe Wei Yang is the great talent we’ve sought?”

“Your Majesty, with Wei Yang’s arrival, the recruitment decree has borne fruit!”

The duke smiled faintly. “Don’t credit the decree yet. Many rulers seek talent in vain. What do you propose?”

“I beg Your Majesty to grant Wei Yang an audience to present his strategies.”

“Of course. Any scholar who investigates Qin so thoroughly deserves respect, regardless of his proposals. Tomorrow in the council hall with full ceremony.”

A Disastrous First Audience

The next morning, Wei Yang arrived in an ox-drawn carriage escorted by four armored guards. Duke Xiao personally helped him alight and escorted him to the seat of honor in the council hall, drawing frowns from senior ministers.

Wei Yang launched into a flowery discourse on “the Kingly Way” of virtuous rule – benevolent governance, moral transformation, and treating criminals like friends. As the speech continued:

– Chancellor Gan Long and others nodded approvingly
– Generals Ying Qian and Zi’an dozed off loudly
– Duke Xiao’s face became expressionless – a sign Jing Jian recognized as suppressed disdain

Finally, the duke interrupted: “What exactly is this Kingly Way?”

Wei Yang described an idealized rule through moral virtue alone. When asked how this would work in Qin, he suggested emulating Lu State – implementing well-field systems, reducing punishments, and abandoning military ambitions.

Duke Xiao stood abruptly. “We’ll stop here. Chancellor Jing, see our guest out.” He departed without another word, leaving Wei Yang alone in the empty hall.

Crisis at the Talent Recruitment Center

That night, scholars at the recruitment center erupted in protest. Angry that a “mediocre Confucian” received royal audience while they waited, fifty threatened to leave Qin unless granted immediate meetings with the duke.

Duke Xiao arrived personally at the moonlit courtyard gathering. After scholar Tian Chang presented his “Ten Charges Against Qin’s Evil Governance” – including militarism, poor administration, and cultural backwardness – he dramatically committed suicide with his sword, declaring: “When a ruler treats someone as a national treasure, that person should respond as a national treasure!”

The duke, deeply moved, ordered Tian buried with high honors and offered all critics positions in Qin’s government. Many were shamed into staying, while about thirty left with gifts of gold and transportation.

The Strategic Test of a Ruler

Two days later, Wei Yang returned for a second audience in the palace garden. This time he proposed Confucian ritual governance, then when rejected, Laozi’s Daoist non-intervention – small government, demilitarization, and passive rule.

Duke Xiao laughed scornfully: “These teachings only produce empty reputations, not real achievements! Should rulers watch their nations perish while chasing fame?” He walked out again.

To Jing Jian’s astonishment, Wei Yang burst into delighted laughter afterward. Over wine at an inn, he explained his method: “When selling rare treasures, don’t immediately show your best. First display inferior goods to identify true connoisseurs. I tested the duke with failed strategies to confirm his discernment.”

Jing Jian finally understood – Wei Yang had been evaluating Qin’s ruler as much as the ruler evaluated him. The real discussion of governance could now begin in earnest.

The Cultural Clash of Reform

The encounters revealed fundamental tensions:

1. Eastern scholars carried prejudices against Qin’s “barbarian” culture
2. Many promoted impractical philosophies divorced from Qin’s desperate circumstances
3. Duke Xiao’s pragmatism clashed with idealistic theories
4. The suicide of Tian Chang showed the extreme passions involved

Yet the duke demonstrated remarkable tolerance for criticism while maintaining clear standards for useful counsel. His handling of the recruitment center crisis proved both flexible and principled.

The Legacy of Persistent Leadership

Duke Xiao’s determination through:

– Personal study and self-improvement
– Willingness to endure humiliation
– Clear-eyed assessment of Qin’s needs
– Patient pursuit of genuine talent

Created conditions for Wei Yang’s eventual transformative reforms. The testing process ensured mutual understanding between ruler and advisor – crucial for the sweeping changes to come.

This episode exemplifies how Duke Xiao’s leadership turned Qin from a scorned backwater into a rising power. His combination of cultural openness, personal resilience, and practical focus on results laid foundations for China’s eventual unification. The recruitment struggles show that institutional transformation begins with the quality of human relationships at the top.