秦穆公 / Duke Mu of Qin

秦穆公 / Duke Mu of Qin appears in 《资治通鉴·周纪》24丨商鞅曰：我咋裂了 through the 百里奚 comparison. The episode says he hears of Baili Xi’s reputation, avoids making Chu suspicious with an extravagant ransom, and redeems him at the ordinary slave price of five black ram skins.

The source uses Qin Mu Gong as the earlier Qin greatness that later rulers look back toward. After talking with Baili Xi for three days, he appoints him as a great officer; under that remembered ministerial partnership, Qin grows strong enough for Qin Mu Gong to be counted among the Spring and Autumn hegemons.

That precedent matters because 秦孝公’s political ideal is framed as restoring Qin Mu Gong’s achievement. 公孙鞅 / 商鞅 helps Qin Xiao Gong exceed that goal, but the episode contrasts his fate with Baili Xi’s more fortunate outsider-minister story.

《资治通鉴·周纪》25丨赵良对商鞅说：你不配 adds the reason that precedent wounds 公孙鞅 / 商鞅 rather than flattering him. In 赵良’s rebuke, Qin Mu Gong’s partnership with 百里奚 leads to durable public regard: Baili Xi can serve without conspicuous guards and is mourned across Qin after death. Qin Mu Gong therefore anchors the positive contrast for 民心型政治安全.

Connections

• 百里奚 - minister he redeems and appoints.
• 秦国 - state he strengthens in the episode’s retrospective frame.
• 秦孝公 - later Qin ruler said to want restoration of Qin Mu Gong’s greatness.
• 公孙鞅 / 商鞅 - later minister compared against the Baili Xi precedent.
• Talent Attraction Through Respect / 礼贤下士式人才吸附, 民心型政治安全, and 权力退场困境 - recognition, support, and contrast frames.