The "Inner Chapters, Admonitions II" of the Spring and Autumn Annals of Yan Zi recorded:
Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Guyezi were all warriors of Qi, arrogant and overbearing on the strength of their achievements.
Seeing this, Yan Zi wished to be rid of them. He therefore asked Duke Jing to bestow two peaches upon the three men, saying:
"Why do you three not weigh your achievements and eat the peaches accordingly?"
Gongsun Jie spoke of his achievements first, took a peach, and rose.
Tian Kaijiang then spoke of his achievements, likewise took a peach, and rose.
Guyezi spoke last, claiming the greatest achievements. He cried angrily, "Why do you two not return the peaches?" Then he drew his sword and rose.
Ashamed, Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang returned the peaches and slit their own throats.
Guyezi then said, "For those two to die while I alone live would be inhumane."
He too slit his own throat.
Thus, two peaches killed three warriors.
Once, Yan Zi used two peaches to kill three warriors. Now, Wei Zi sought to use Suzhou Silver to destroy the Qing Faction.
Such were Xu Bingwen's words.
He had neither refuted Wei Nisheng's plan nor discussed the division between the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, nor had he cited the classics to debate the flaws in the institutions.
He imagined himself a hidden needle sinking into an acupuncture point, painless yet deep. In truth, it was all empty talk.
Kou Yuan at least knew to argue "principle," and Qi Zhao knew to argue "the Statute." What Xu Bingwen argued was "people."
Principles could be dismantled, institutions could be repaired, but people...
The currents of human hearts had never been something a single memorial or Imperial Decree could redirect.
Still, the Upright Officials'