The Case of Ji Liang's Admonition to Pursue the Chu Army

In 704 BCE, King Wu of Chu invaded the state of Sui. Ji Liang, a Sui minister, advised the duke first to seek peace and avoid rash action. The Chu army feigned retreat and disorder, but Ji Liang warned against pursuit, arguing that Chu's elite troops remained intact and that the maneuver was a trap. The Duke of Sui ignored this counsel and ordered an attack, resulting in a crushing defeat and the siege of the Sui capital. After the battle, the repentant duke turned to Ji Liang, who proposed a strategy of internal reform, frugality, and alliance with neighboring states. The state of Sui was saved by adopting these policies. The case illustrates a critical decision-making failure and its correction.

No formal trial took place. The Duke of Sui suffered military defeat, acknowledged his error, and subsequently entrusted Ji Liang with governance. Ji Liang's policies restored stability and deterred further Chu aggression, effectively vindicating his counsel.

Whether the Duke of Sui should have pursued the retreating Chu army against Ji Liang's explicit warning; the tension between a ruler's impulsive military judgment and a minister's strategic advice based on observation of the enemy's true strength.

Ji Liang's argument that "the people are the masters of the spirits" became a foundational expression of early Chinese people-centered political philosophy. The incident is celebrated in the *Zuo Tradition* as a model of loyal remonstrance and prudent statecraft, influencing Confucian thought on the primacy of popular welfare over ritual sacrifice and the duty of ministers to speak truth to power.