During the reign of King Li of Zhou, he seized many trades that common people relied on for their livelihood, making them royal property. This caused widespread hardship and public grievances.

King Li ignored advice and resorted to oppressive tactics, employing spies. He sent people to the State of Wei to invite many sorcerers, who ceaselessly patrolled the streets of the capital, Haojing, eavesdropping on conversations. Anyone identified by them as rebellious or slanderous was immediately imprisoned and executed.

Soon, no criticism of King Li could be heard in Haojing. Later, people even stopped talking altogether; relatives and friends would only exchange silent glances (道路以目) when meeting on the road, as a sign of their dissatisfaction with King Li. King Li was delighted, saying, “How about that? I’ve finally put an end to slander!”

His minister, Duke Zhao, cautioned him, “Blocking people’s mouths is like blocking a river. Once a river breaches its banks, it causes immense disaster; the harm caused by silencing the people is far greater than a flood. When managing water, one should dredge and guide it; when governing people, one should allow everyone to speak freely and then adopt the good suggestions. This way, the Son of Heaven will make fewer mistakes in state affairs.”

King Li ignored the advice and persisted in his tyrannical rule, causing the whole nation to be filled with anger but dare not speak. Three years later (842 BC), the common people, unable to bear it any longer, spontaneously organized and stormed the royal palace, exiling the tyrant to a place called Zhi (modern-day Shanxi). This event is known in history as the “Guo Ren Bao Dong” (the national people's uprising).

The posthumous name “Li” (厉), meaning cruel or severe, given to King Li of Zhou, encapsulates this period of his history marked by killings and the suppression of criticism.