Lü Buwei

Author: Ru Mu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Unbeatable in the official, high, and romantic arenas—Tao Zhu Gong Fan Li conquers his rivals . Fan Li's business strategies are the Sun Tzu Art of War in the human commercial world, a precious legacy left for future generations. Even today, those who navigate the business sea still follow his principles, remaining invincible in fierce competition. Tang Dynasty's Liu Zixu once praised Fan Yuan: "He moved skillfully between the official and commercial worlds, pursuing the times and trends, tasting the flavors of prosperity and decline, and experiencing the joys and sorrows of life and relationships.
Fan Li, styled Shaobo, was a Chu native. A statesman and great merchant of the late Spring and Autumn period. Born into a "declined and humble" family, he initially served as a renowned scholar in Chu. When Wen Zong was appointed as the commandant of Wan, Fan Li and Wen Zong became close friends. Later, believing that only nobles could hold official positions in Chu and that the political climate was dark, they together went to Yue, where they were appointed as ministers and served under King Goujian of Yue. King Goujian often discussed statecraft with Fan Li.
When Goujian ascended the throne, he fought against Wu and defeated its army, wounding the King of Wu with an arrow. When the King of Wu died, he instructed his son, Fuchai, to avenge him. Fuchai, upon ascending the throne, trained his army and harbored thoughts of revenge against Yue. Learning of this, Goujian ignored Fan Li's advice and preemptively launched an attack on Wu, only to be soundly defeated. After the defeat, Goujian followed Fan Li's strategy, sending Wen Zong to Wu to seek peace and secretly bribing Wu's Grand Minister with beautiful women and treasures, persuading the King of Wu to forgive Goujian and allowing the king and his wife to go to Wu as hostages.
Fan Li accompanied Goujian to Wu as a hostage, enduring humiliation on behalf of his lord, acting cautiously, and deceiving Fuchai, allowing the king and his ministers to return to Yue. Upon returning to Yue, he assisted Goujian in strengthening the state through hard work and perseverance, enduring hardships and tasting bitterness. Following his advice, Goujian and his wife personally farmed and wove, showed respect to the worthy, and provided relief to the poor, eventually bringing peace and prosperity to Wu.
After Yue became prosperous, Goujian repeatedly sought to attack Wu, but Fan Li consistently dissuaded him. Only when the King of Wu listened to slander and executed the loyal minister Wu Zixu, weakening the state, did Fan Li lead an attack on Wu, conquering it and helping Goujian achieve his 20-year deep strategic plan to avenge the humiliation at Huji, becoming the Supreme General. Later, he assisted Goujian in advancing northward, allying with feudal lords, and ultimately making Goujian a hegemon.
Afterward, Fan Li believed that fame was hard to sustain for long, and that Goujian, though capable of sharing hardship, was not fit for sharing prosperity. Refusing to accept Fan Li's resignation, Goujian left a letter, sailed to the sea, and fled to Qi, changing his name to Chi Yin Zi Pi. He farmed, salted seawater, and accumulated wealth of tens of millions. The people of Qi, hearing of his virtue, appointed him as prime minister. Yet he lamented, "To amass a fortune at home is a matter of great desire, and to reach the rank of minister is also sought after by the world. But enduring long fame is not without its perils!" Thus, he resigned, distributed all his wealth, and retired to Tao (northwest of Dingtao in Shandong), where he styled himself Tao Zhu Gong, dedicating himself to business and accumulating immense wealth. He died in Tao.
He also wrote the Treatise on Fish Farming during his lifetime, one of the earliest documents on fish farming in the world. (Recorded in The Records of the Yue and The Records of the Grand Historian.)