Aristides vs Bo Pi

Aristides commanded the Athenian contingent at the Battle of Plataea, the final land battle of the second Persian invasion of Greece. The Greek victory decisively ended Persian ambitions in Greece and secured Greek independence.

Aristides was instrumental in founding the Delian League, an alliance of Greek city-states against Persia. He was appointed to assess the initial contributions (tribute) from member states, earning a reputation for fairness and justice.

Aristides helped establish the administrative and financial structure of the Delian League. He set the initial tribute quotas for member states, which were considered fair and equitable, contributing to the league's early stability and growth.

Aristides supported the ostracism of Themistocles, his political rival. Themistocles was exiled from Athens for ten years, reducing the influence of the populist faction and strengthening the aristocratic faction led by Aristides and Cimon.

Bo Pi, a minister of Wu, accepted bribes from the state of Yue during negotiations after Wu's victory over Yue. This led him to persuade King Fuchai of Wu to spare Yue rather than annex it, a decision that later contributed to Wu's destruction.

Bo Pi continued to undermine Wu's defenses by slandering loyal generals like Wu Zixu and providing intelligence to Yue. When Yue invaded Wu, Bo Pi's actions facilitated the fall of the Wu capital, leading to King Fuchai's suicide and Wu's annexation by Yue.

After Yue conquered Wu, King Goujian of Yue executed Bo Pi for his disloyalty to his own state. Goujian considered Bo Pi a treacherous minister who could not be trusted, ending his life as a traitor to both Wu and Yue.