During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Xian of Wei was so tyrannical that his people seethed with resentment. Led by ministers Sun Linfu and Ning Zhi, the people of Wei drove Duke Xian out of the state, forcing him to flee to Qi.
After Duke Xian of Wei was driven out, Gongsun Piao became the new ruler of Wei, with Sun Linfu and Ning Zhi serving as his loyal advisors.
Twelve years later, Ning Zhi regretted his actions—after all, driving away a ruler was an unforgivable offense. On his deathbed, he told his successor Ning Xi, "Expelling Duke Xian was never my intention, but Sun Linfu was adamant, and I couldn't stop him. I hope you will welcome the duke back." Ning Xi agreed.
For over a decade, Duke Xian of Wei lived in exile in Qi, watching Wei closely and dreaming of a comeback. When he heard that Ning Zhi had died and his son Ning Xi had become a minister, the Duke rushed to Yiyi, a town in Zheng near Wei's border, for better intelligence. Soon, he sent an envoy to contact Ning Xi.
However, Ning Xi knew Duke Xian of Wei well—this ruler had no regard for trust or honor. If he were allowed back into the state, it would stir unrest among the people, who feared his revenge. Seeking a safe solution, Ning Xi devised a clever plan: he demanded that Duke Xian have his younger brother, Zixian, publicly pledge that no retaliation would occur upon his return. Zixian held great credibility in Wei, and his word could ease the people's doubts. Duke Xian then begged Zixian to speak on his behalf, and Zixian, unable to refuse, reluctantly agreed.
After some time, Ning Xi believed the moment was ripe, so he killed the ruler, Gongsun Piao, and allowed Duke Xian of Wei to return to his state. Zi Xian, as Ning Xi had demanded, made a promise on behalf of Duke Xian. At this point, Sun Linfu, knowing that Duke Xian would never forgive him, secretly fled from the state of Wei.
After Duke Xian of Wei returned to his state, his advisors, including Gongsun Mianyu, grew dissatisfied with Ning Xi's monopoly on power. They launched a coup, killed Ning Xi, and plunged Wei into chaos once more.
Ning Xi was killed, which infuriated Zi Xian, the younger brother of Duke Xian of Wei. He said to the duke, "Sun Linfu drove you away, yet you let him escape; Ning Xi welcomed you back, yet you had him killed. Your rewards and punishments have no basis—where is your integrity?"
Zixian felt utterly deceived by his elder brother and could no longer face the people of Wei, so he took his wife and children and fled to the state of Jin, swearing never to set foot in Wei again.
"Rewards and punishments without standards" means rewards and punishments lack a basis, referring to arbitrary and inappropriate allocation.
Source: *Zuo Zhuan*, "Duke Xiang's 27th Year"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "赏罚无章" came to describe Rewards and punishments lack a basis, referring to arbitrary and inappropriate allocation.