Bo Pi vs Gongsun Hong

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.

Gongsun Hong advocated for the creation of the Imperial Academy (Taixue) to train officials in Confucian classics. This institution became the model for China's civil service examination system and standardized Confucian education.

As prime minister, Gongsun Hong instituted policies that favored Confucian scholars for official appointments. He established quotas for recruiting scholars from the provinces and emphasized moral cultivation in governance.

Gongsun Hong became the first commoner to be appointed as prime minister (chengxiang) of the Han dynasty. His rise from a humble background as a pig herder to the highest office exemplified the meritocratic ideals of the Han examination system.

Gongsun Hong counseled Emperor Wu against aggressive military campaigns against the Xiongnu, advocating for a defensive strategy. His advice was often overruled, but he remained a trusted advisor known for his cautious approach.