Undermine Enemy Advisor

Overview

A counterintelligence procedure to neutralize talented advisors serving rival states by creating distrust between them and their rulers. Based on Qin's handling of You Yu serving the Rong king.

Steps

1. Recognize the Threat

   • Identify capable advisors in rival states
   • Acknowledge that talented enemies are dangerous

2. Assess the Advisor's Value

   • Engage the advisor in conversation
   • Learn about their knowledge of geography and military affairs
   • Understand their relationship with their ruler

3. Deploy Distraction Tactics

   • Send entertainment (music, performers) to the rival ruler
   • Aim to occupy the ruler's attention and reduce governance focus

4. Create Suspicion

   • Request the advisor stay longer than planned
   • Make the rival ruler question the advisor's loyalty
   • Create apparent closeness between yourself and the advisor

5. Exploit the Breach

   • When suspicion takes hold, the advisor may be dismissed or flee
   • Offer refuge if the advisor seeks to defect

6. Integrate the Defector

   • Treat the defector with honor as a guest
   • Acquire their strategic knowledge of the former state

Decision Points

• If the rival ruler is isolated and unfamiliar with your culture, they are more vulnerable
• If the advisor is already frustrated with their ruler, defection is more likely

Expected Outcomes

• Removal of capable enemy advisor
• Potential gain of strategic intelligence
• Weakened rival state governance

Validation

• Verify that the advisor's strategic value and relationship with their ruler were assessed before deploying distraction tactics
• Confirm that suspicion was created through indirect means (extended stays, apparent closeness) rather than direct accusations
• Check that the defector was treated with honor and their strategic knowledge of the former state was systematically acquired