Master Wei, living in seclusion, had a keen eye for character. When he met Li Mi, a fugitive general in disguise, he noticed his distracted gaze and hesitant speech. Instead of exposing him directly, Wei gently teased him, revealing his hidden identity.
Wei saw that Li Mi lacked the bearing of a true leader or the strategy of a great commander—he was merely a hero of troubled times. He advised Li Mi to seek a worthy ruler, but Li Mi, offended by the truth, stormed away.
Li Mi later raised an army, only to be defeated repeatedly. He surrendered to the Tang dynasty but rebelled again, eventually meeting his end.
The lesson is clear: true wisdom lies not in seeing through others, but in knowing oneself. Without humility, even the boldest ambition leads to ruin.