During the Warring States period, Su Qin and Zhang Yi were both students of Guiguzi. The difference was that when Zhang Yi graduated, his senior brother Su Qin was already a world-renowned figure. Leveraging his extraordinary talent, Su Qin successfully persuaded the six states to form a vertical alliance to counter the Qin State, earning immense fame.
Newly graduated, Zhang Yi also wished to build a career through his own abilities, believing his talents were no inferior to Su Qin's. However, reality fell short of his ideals; months passed, and he remained unemployed. In desperation, he decided to seek help from his illustrious senior brother, Su Qin. He traveled to the State of Zhao, presented his credentials, and requested an audience, hoping Su Qin would grant him a decent position out of respect for their master.
Upon hearing of Zhang Yi's arrival, Su Qin repeatedly declined to see him, using his busy schedule as an excuse. Although Zhang Yi felt unsettled, he patiently waited, knowing he was the one in need of assistance.
After several days, Su Qin finally received Zhang Yi. To his surprise, Su Qin not only failed to provide a satisfactory job but also arranged for him to live with the servants and eat the same food as the slaves. Furthermore, Su Qin frequently insulted him in public, saying, "With your talent, you have allowed yourself to fall into such poverty that you must rely on friends for employment. Someone like you is not worthy of my recruitment!" Having said this, he heartlessly dismissed Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi had come seeking help but was met with humiliation instead, leaving him filled with resentment. He vowed to rise to greatness and make Su Qin pay for the insult. Realizing the six states were already under Su Qin's influence, Zhang Yi decided to head to the State of Qin, as it was the only power capable of threatening Zhao.
On his journey to Qin, a disciple of Su Qin volunteered to follow him. This disciple was quite wealthy and gifted Zhang Yi much money, property, and carriages. When Zhang Yi asked why, the man replied, "Mr. Zhang is a man destined for greatness; I am investing in the future. Once you have attained power and influence, I shall share in your prosperity." Deeply moved, Zhang Yi, with the disciple's assistance, endured many hardships and finally reached Qin to meet King Hui of Qin.
At the time, the powerful vertical alliance of the six states made Qin wary, and King Hui was struggling for a solution. Zhang Yi's arrival was a welcome relief, especially since his "horizontal alliance" strategy offered a way to break the six states' unity. Zhang Yi was soon highly valued. Over the next decade, Zhang Yi risked his life to persuade the six states, eventually dismantling the vertical alliance that Su Qin had painstakingly built.
Having achieved fame and success, Zhang Yi felt a sense of pride, believing his decade of effort had finally avenged the humiliation he suffered from Su Qin. However, unexpectedly, the disciple who had stayed by his side requested to leave. Perplexed, Zhang Yi asked, "I was just about to repay your kindness; why do you leave now?" The disciple replied, "This was all arranged by Mr. Su Qin. He once said that your talent far exceeded his own. Had he given you a comfortable position back then, you might have lost your drive to strive and lived a mediocre life. Therefore, he chose to humiliate you to ignite your fighting spirit."
Hearing this, Zhang Yi finally understood the profound intention behind Su Qin's actions. It was all a meticulously designed plan. Without that initial humiliation, he might never have achieved his current greatness. It turns out that not all humiliation is meant to harm.
