1. Falling out of favor: The Reversal of Discourse Orientation

Han Fei Tse_Liao
Therefore, if you talk about great men to him, he thinks you are intimating his defects. If you talk about small men to him, he thinks you are showing off your superiority. If you discuss an object of his love, he thinks you are expecting a special favor from him. If you discuss an object of his hate, he thinks you are testing his temper. If you simplify your discussion, he thinks you are unwise and will spurn you. If your discussion is lucidly wayward and extensively refined, he thinks you are superficial and flippant. If you omit details and present generalizations only, he thinks you are cowardly and incomplete. If you trace the principles of facts and use wide illustrations, he thinks you are rustic and arrogant. These are difficulties in the way of persuasion, which every persuader should know.
Han Fei Tse_Liao Ch. XII Difficulties in the Way of Persuasion, p. 78-79

In by-gone days, Mi Tzŭ-hsia was in favour with the Ruler of Wei. According to the Law of the Wei State, « whoever in secret rides in the Ruler’s coach shall have his feet cut off. » Once Mi Tzŭ-hsia’s mother fell ill. Somebody, hearing about this, sent a message to Mi Tzŭ late at night. Thereupon Mi Tzŭ on the pretence of the Ruler’s order rode in the Ruler’s coach. At the news of this, the Ruler regarded his act as worthy, saying: « How dutiful he is! For his mother’s sake he even forgot that he was committing a crime making him liable to lose his feet. » Another day, when taking a stroll with the Ruler in an orchard, he ate a peach. It being so sweet, he did not finish it, but gave the Ruler the remaining half to eat. So, the Ruler said: « You love me so much indeed, that you would even forget your own saliva taste and let me eat the rest of the peach. »

When the colour of Mi Tzŭ faded, the Ruler’s love for him slackened. Once he happened to offend the Ruler, the Ruler said: « This fellow once rode in my coach under pretence of my order and another time gave me a half-eaten peach. » The deeds of Mi Tzŭ had themselves never changed. Yet he was at first regarded as worthy and later found guilty because his master’s love turned into hate.

Id., p. 80.

 ♦

 … et dangereux
Le monarque stupide peut mettre à mort son  conseiller; « tranformé en hachis, il marine dans la saumure ».

En effet, pour juste que soit votre jugement, pour sensés que soient vos arguments, seront-ils pour autant entendus ? Et ne peut-on craindre d’être au mieux calomnié et mis à mort?
Wou Tse Hsiu eut la tête tranchée malgré son astuce, l’éloquence de Confucius ne lui évita pas d’être assiégé à K’ouang . […] Était-ce parce que ces personnages manquaient de vertu ? Nullement, mais leurs maîtres n’étaient pas des monarques éclairés.

Le marquis de Yi fut rôti, celui de Kouei salé et séché ; le prince Pi-kan eut le cœur arraché ; Mei Po transformé en hachis, marina dans la saumure ; Kouan Yi-wou fut emprisonné, Tchao Ki dut s’enfuit à Tch’en, Po-li tse mendia sur les chemins