Much of what we know of Lord Mengchang comes from the Chan-kuo Ts’e (Intrigues of the Warring States), a collection of stories, fables, and anecdotes from the Warring States period, compiled between the third and first centuries B.C.E. As the title suggests, many of the pieces included in the collection center on complicated, often duplicitous, political relationships. The fracturing of centralized authority and the near constant military conflicts of the period made for an extremely fluid political landscape. Alliances between states were never more than temporary truces, and the bonds of loyalty between rulers and their subordinates were equally fragile. Under these circumstances, men like Lord Mengchang faced a daunting challenge. On the one hand, they were always under pressure from wary kings to prove their loyalty. On the other, their survival often depended on knowing how and when to transfer their allegiance from one master to another.

The excerpts from the Chan-kuo Ts’e included in this activity explore this central tension in the lives of rulers and their subordinates during the Warring States period. As you read them, reflect on the lessons they offered to readers. Did their authors advocate a ruthless approach, celebrating any and all actions that produced the desired ends? If not, what role did the authors assign virtue and personal morality in politics and warfare? In their view, was it possible to survive and prosper while keeping one’s honor intact? If so, how?