Zhang Yi, a man from the state of Wei, once studied statecraft alongside Su Qin under the legendary master Guiguzi. After completing his studies, Zhang Yi set out to persuade the feudal lords of various states.
Once, Zhang Yi went to the state of Han and urged the King of Han to submit to Qin, saying, "Han's terrain is treacherous, its land barren, its people destitute, and its soldiers number less than 300,000. Excluding those guarding post stations and border fortresses, the current army amounts to only 200,000."
Zhang Yi continued, "The Qin army has over a million soldiers, a thousand chariots, and ten thousand warhorses. The troops are unmatched in bravery. Attacking a weak, disobedient state with such warriors is like dropping thirty thousand jin of weight on a bird's egg. There will certainly be no lucky outcome."
Zhang Yi continued, "As for those ministers and feudal lords, they fail to measure the narrowness of their own lands yet heed others' sweet words. They form cliques to cover for each other, all confidently claiming, 'Follow my strategy, and you can dominate the world.' Without considering the long-term interests of their states, they listen to short-sighted advice—nothing is more harmful to a ruler than this."
Zhang Yi warned the King of Han, "If Your Majesty refuses to serve the State of Qin, Qin will dispatch its army to seize Yiyang, cutting off the Shangdang region of Han. Then, advancing east to capture Chenggao and Xingyang, your kingdom will be split in two, and your palaces and imperial hunting grounds will no longer be yours. Serving Qin brings security; defying Qin invites peril. Turning against Qin to ally with Chu will inevitably lead to your nation's ruin, no matter what. Thus, for Your Majesty's sake, the best course is to assist Qin. What Qin desires most is to weaken Chu, and the state best positioned to weaken Chu is Han—not because Han is stronger than Chu, but due to geography. If Your Majesty now serves Qin and attacks Chu, the King of Qin will be greatly pleased. Seizing territory from Chu to gain advantage, shifting your own calamity to bring joy to Qin—truly, no better strategy exists."
The King of Han followed Zhang Yi's strategy, and later, King Huiwen of Qin rewarded Zhang Yi with five towns and granted him the title of Lord of Wu Xin.
Later, the idiom "sweet words and honeyed phrases" came to describe speech as sweet as honey, often used for flattery or seduction.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of Zhang Yi"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "甜言蜜语" came to describe how speech as sweet as honey, often used for flattery or seduction.