Legend has it that the ancestor of Qin Shihuang was a descendant of the ancient Emperor Ku and had a daughter named Nüxiu. One day, while Nüxiu was weaving, a magical black bird's egg fell from the sky, which she swallowed. Miraculously, she gave birth to a son named Daye. Daye married the daughter of Shaodian, named Nühua, who then gave birth to a son named Dafei. Dafei, along with Dayu, pulled off a miracle by controlling the waters. After their success, Emperor Ku rewarded him with a jade scepter, symbolizing the highest honor. Dafei humbly said, "This achievement was not accomplished by me alone; Dayu was essential!" Later, Emperor Shun said, "Dafei, your assistance to Dayu has been significant. I grant you the position of Zaoyou (a high-ranking official), and your descendants will prosper!" Emperor Shun then married him off to a stunning Yao woman. Dafei accepted the orders and assisted Emperor Shun in taming the animals. The animals obeyed him implicitly, so people called him Baiyi. Emperor Shun also granted him the surname Ying. Dafei had two sons: one named Dalian, whose descendants worshipped birds and were called the Bird Clan; and the other named Ruomu, whose descendants were known as the Fei clan. One of his great-grandsons, Feichang, left the Xia dynasty during the reign of Jie and joined the Shang dynasty, becoming an official under King Tang and helping him defeat Jie at Mingtiao. The great-grandsons of Dalian, named Mengxi and Zhongyan, were a sight to behold – bird bodies, but able to speak like humans! When the Shang King Taiwu heard of this, he checked their horoscopes and saw it was a good omen, so he appointed them as officials and married them into the royal family. From Taiwu on, the Ying clan were big shots in the Shang dynasty, producing loads of talent and becoming proper nobles.
So, the story goes that the descendants of Fei Lian included his great-grandson Zhong Yu, who was responsible for defending the western borderlands. Zhong Yu's son, Fei Lian, fathered E Lai. E Lai possessed great strength, while his father Fei Lian was exceptionally fast, and both father and son served King Zhou of Yin, using their skills to great effect.
Later, King Wu of Zhou defeated King Zhou of Yin and killed E Lai. At that time, Fei Lian was working for King Zhou in the north, and when he returned, he came back empty-handed. He then went to Mount Huotai, where he built an altar to make sacrifices. There he found a stone coffin with the inscription: "Heaven decreed that your father, Chu Fu, should not be involved in the Yin and Shang turmoil. This stone coffin is a gift to honor your family." Fei Lian was buried on Mount Huotai. He also had a son named Ji Sheng, who had a son named Meng Zeng. Meng Zeng won King Cheng of Zhou's favor and was enfeoffed in Gaolang.
Gaolang was the father of Hengfu, who in turn fathered Zaofu. Zaofu was a superb charioteer and was greatly loved by King Mu of Zhou, who gifted him four fine horses: Ji, Wenli, Hua Liu, and Lu Er. One time, King Mu went hunting in the west, and Zaofu, having lost track of time, returned late. As a result, Xu Yanwang rebelled, and Zaofu, driving the chariot, raced back to Zhou with King Mu, covering a thousand miles in a day to quell the rebellion. To show his gratitude, King Mu granted Zhao Cheng to Zaofu, and his descendants all took the surname Zhao. From Fei Lian's son Ji Sheng to Zaofu, a total of five generations lived in Zhao. The famous Zhao Cui is one of their descendants.
By the way, E Lai had a brother, E Lai Ge, who unfortunately died young. He had a son named Nü Fang, who had a son named Pang Gao, who had a son named Tai Ji, who had a son named Da Luo, who had a son named Fei Zi. Thanks to Zaofu's influence, they too settled in Zhao Cheng and took the Zhao name.
It is said that Feizi, this guy, lived in Quanqiu and particularly liked raising horses, and he raised them very well. The people of Quanqiu told King Zhou Xiao about this, and as soon as Xiao Wang heard about it, he called Feizi over and asked him to be in charge of raising horses in the Qianwei area. As a result, the number of horses kept increasing and breeding rapidly! Xiao Wang thought, why not designate Feizi's descendant, Da Luo, to continue raising horses. Later, Shenhou's daughter married Da Luo and gave birth to a son named Cheng. Shenhou said to King Zhou Xiao, "Way back when, the daughter of my ancestor Lishan Shi married Rong Xuxuan and gave birth to Zhongju. Due to this family relationship, Zhongju returned to the Zhou Dynasty, guarding the Xichui region, which then became peaceful. Now, I have married my daughter to Da Luo and had Cheng; Shen and Luo are now allied, and all those Western Rong folks are obedient. This is all for you, Your Highness! Think about this carefully." Xiao Wang listened and thought it made sense, so he said, "Once upon a time, Boyi raised livestock for Emperor Shun, and the livestock multiplied greatly, so Emperor Shun gave him land and the surname Ying. Now Feizi's descendants are helping me raise horses; I should also give him land and make him my vassal." So, Xiao Wang gave Feizi the land of Qin, so he could keep worshipping his Ying ancestors and called him Qin Ying. To keep the peace with the Western Rong, Xiao Wang did not abolish Shenhou's daughter remaining Da Luo's wife.
Qin Ying gave birth to Qin Hou. Qin Hou became king for ten years before he died, leaving behind his son Gong Bo. Gong Bo ruled for three years before he died, leaving behind his son Qin Zhong. Qin Zhong ruled for three years, encountering the incompetent King Li of Zhou, whose corrupt rule led to many vassal rebellions. The Western Rong also rebelled and destroyed the Qunqiu Daluo clan. Later, King Xuan of Zhou ascended the throne and reinstated Qin Zhong as an official, sending him to attack the Western Rong. As a result, Qin Zhong was killed by the Western Rong after ruling for twenty-three years. Qin Zhong had five sons, with the eldest named Zhuang Gong. King Xuan of Zhou summoned Zhuang Gong and his four brothers, giving them seven thousand soldiers and horses to fight the Western Rong. And they won! King Xuan of Zhou returned Qin Zhong's title and the land of Daluo in Qunqiu to them, appointing them as officials of the Western border. Zhuang Gong lived in the original Xiqunqiu and had three sons, with the eldest named Shifu. Shifu said, "The Rongdi killed my grandpa! I can't go home without getting revenge!" So he planned to attack Rongdi and passed this opportunity to his brother Xiang Gong. Xiang Gong became the crown prince. After ruling as king for 44 years, Zhuang Gong died, and Crown Prince Xiang Gong succeeded to the throne.
In the first year of Duke Xiang's rule, he married his younger sister, Miao Ying, to Prince Feng. In the second year, the Rong Di surrounded Quanqiu, and his father went to war but was captured by the Rong Di. After more than a year, he was finally released. In the spring of the seventh year, King You of Zhou believed the words of Bao Si and deposed the crown prince, replacing him with Bao Si's son, who frequently oppressed the vassal states, leading many to betray him. The Western Rong, Quanrong, and Lord Shen attacked the Zhou dynasty, killing King You at Li Mountain. Duke Xiang of Qin led troops to rescue the Zhou dynasty and fought hard, really making a name for himself. To escape the Rong Di, the Zhou dynasty moved to Luo Yi, and Duke Xiang even sent troops to escort King Ping of Zhou. King Ping of Zhou enfeoffed Duke Xiang as a vassal, granting him the lands west of Mount Qi, saying, "The Rong Di have been brutal and unjust, seizing Mount Qi and Feng. Since Qin defeated them, these lands are now yours." King Ping of Zhou also made a covenant with him and formally invested him.
From then on, the Qin state was officially established, beginning diplomatic relations and conducting various ceremonies with other vassal states. Duke Xiang used three bay horses, three yellow oxen, and three rams to sacrifice to God at the Western Altar. In his twelfth year, he led troops against the Rong Di, reaching the foot of Mount Qi, before passing away and leaving behind his son, Duke Wen.
In the first year of Duke Wen's reign, he lived in the Western Palace. In the third year, he took a hunting party of seven hundred men to the east. In the fourth year, they arrived at the confluence of the Qian and Wei Rivers. Duke Wen said, "Our Qin ancestors of the Ying clan were here in the Zhou Dynasty's fiefdoms. Eventually, we finally achieved vassal status." So he divined there, and the divination was auspicious, prompting them to begin building cities. In the tenth year, they started building the ancestral temple at Fu, offering sacrificial animals. In the thirteenth year, they established historiographers to record history, and civilization advanced among the populace. In the sixteenth year, Duke Wen led troops to attack the Rong and Di, who were defeated and fled. He then absorbed the remaining Zhou subjects, expanding their territory to Qishan, which was given to the Zhou Dynasty. In the nineteenth year, they obtained the Chen treasure. In the twentieth year, laws began to specify punishments for crimes affecting three generations. In the twenty-seventh year, they cut down the large mulberry trees on the southern mountain and had a bountiful harvest of local specialties. In the forty-eighth year, Duke Wen's crown prince passed away and was posthumously named Duke Jing. His eldest son, who would later be known as Duke Jing, inherited the position of crown prince; he was Duke Wen's grandson. In the fiftieth year, Duke Wen passed away and was buried in Xishan. Jing's son succeeded him, becoming Duke Ning.
In the second year of Duke Ning's reign, he moved to Pingyang. He sent troops to attack Dangshe. In the third year, they fought with Bo, and the King of Bo fled to the Rong and Di, resulting in the destruction of Dangshe. In the fourth year, the prince of Lu, Hui, killed his own ruler, Duke Yin. In the twelfth year of Duke Ning's reign, they attacked Dangshi and took it over. Duke Ning ascended the throne at the age of ten, ruled for twelve years, and was buried in Xishan. He had three sons, with his eldest son, Duke Wu, being appointed as crown prince. Duke Wu's brother, Duke De, was born to the same mother, Lady Lu. There was also a son named Chuzi. After Duke Ning's death, powerful ministers Fei Ji, Weilei, and Sanfu deposed Crown Prince Wu and installed Chuzi as the ruler.
"Chu Zi" was king for six years before Fu Ji, Wei Lei, San Fu, and others had him assassinated. "Chu Zi" ascended the throne at the age of five and died after six years. Fu Ji, Wei Lei, San Fu, and others then put Wu Gong, the former crown prince, on the throne.
In the first year of Wu Gong's reign, he attacked Peng Xi Shi, made it to the foot of Mount Hua, settled in Pingyang, and built a palace. In the third year, Wu Gong killed Fu Ji, Wei Lei, San Fu, and others, and wiped out their entire families for killing "Chu Zi." Prince Gao Qumi of Zheng killed his own king, Zhao Gong. In the tenth year, Wu Gong attacked Gui and Ji Rong and began to establish counties. In the eleventh year, he established the Du and Zheng counties and destroyed the minor state of Xiao Guo.
In the thirteenth year, the ministers Guan Zifu, Lian Cheng, and others killed their king, Xiang Gong, and made Gong Sun Wu Zhi the new ruler. Jin destroyed the three states of Huo, Wei, and Geng. Yong Ling of Qi killed Wu Zhi, Guan Zifu, and others, and installed Qi Huan Gong as the new ruler. Qi and Jin became the most powerful states at that time.
In the nineteenth year, Qu Wo of Jin began to reign. Huan Gong of Qi stayed in Juandi.
In the twentieth year, Wu Gong passed away and was buried in Yong Pingyang. They still did those big burial ceremonies back then, with sixty-six people buried with him. Wu Gong left behind a son named Bai, who did not inherit the throne and was made lord of Pingyang. Wu Gong's brother, Duke De, was then made the ruler.
In the first year of Duke De's reign, he resided in Zheng Palace in Yongcheng and sacrificed 300 head of cattle at Fuzhi. After divination, it was decided to stay in Yongdi. Later, his descendants were able to water their horses by the Yellow River. Liang Bo and Rui Bo came to visit Duke De. In the second year, the ritual system of the Fuxi clan era was implemented, using dogs to get rid of evil spirits. Duke De ascended the throne at the age of thirty-three and died after two years. He had three sons: his oldest son, Xuan Gong, took over.
In the first year of Duke Xuan's reign, the states of Wei and Yan attacked the Zhou dynasty, driving away King Hui and installing Prince Jue as king. In the third year, the Duke of Zheng and the Viscount of Guo killed Prince Jue and restored King Hui to the throne. In the fourth year, they built Mi Zhi. They fought and won against the state of Jin at Heyang. In the twelfth year, Duke Xuan passed away. He had nine sons, none of whom became king, so his brother Cheng Gong succeeded him.
In the first year of Cheng Gong's reign, the rulers of Liang and Rui came to see him. Duke Huan of Qi attacked the Mountain Rong and stationed at Guzhu.
Cheng Gong died after four years in power. He had seven sons, none of whom were up to the job, so his brother Miao Gong became king.
In the first year of Miao Gong's reign, he personally led the army to attack Maojing and won. Four years later, he married a princess from the state of Jin, who was the sister of Crown Prince Shen. That same year, Duke Huan of Qi attacked Chu, reaching as far as Shaoling.
In the fifth year, Duke Xian of Jin destroyed the states of Yu and Guo, capturing the ruler and minister of Yu, Baili Xi, having bribed Yu with jade and horses. After capturing Baili Xi, Duke Xian of Jin gave him to Lady Mu of Qin as a dowry slave. Baili Xi escaped to the land of Wan but was caught by the Chu border officials. Hearing of Baili Xi's wisdom, Lady Mu wanted to buy him back, but fearing Chu wouldn't let him go for a high price, she offered five sheepskins instead. Chu agreed. Baili Xi was already in his seventies. Lady Mu released him, and they discussed state affairs. Baili Xi declined, saying, "I am a subject of a fallen state; what qualifications do I have to discuss these matters?" Lady Mu insisted on asking and discussed with him for three days. Lady Mu was very pleased and entrusted state affairs to him, calling him "Master Wu" (Minister of Five Sheepskins). Baili Xi humbly said, "I am not as good as my friend Jian Shu, who is very wise but unknown to the world. I was flat broke in Qi, begging for scraps, until Jian Shu took me in. Later, I wanted to serve the ruler of Qi, but Jian Shu stopped me, saving me from the disaster in Qi, and then I went to Zhou. Prince Tui of Zhou loved cows, so I got in his good graces by raising them. Prince Tui wanted to promote me, but Jian Shu stopped me again, so I left and escaped death. Even in Yu, Jian Shu talked me out of it. I knew the ruler of Yu would not promote me, and if I sought personal gain and title, I would stay. I followed his advice twice and survived, but when I didn't listen, I encountered the disaster of Yu's destruction. That's why I know his wisdom." So Lady Mu sent people with lavish gifts to fetch Jian Shu and made him a high-ranking official. This story illustrates the value of wise counsel and the importance of humility in the face of power.
In autumn, Duke Miao personally led his army against Jin, clashing with them at Hequ. In Jin, Li Ji's machinations led to the death of Crown Prince Shen at Xincheng, forcing Chong'er and Yi Wu to flee.
In the ninth year, Duke Huan of Qi convened a meeting of the feudal lords at Kuiqiu.
Duke Xian of Jin died. He installed Li Ji's son, Xi Qi, only to have him assassinated by his minister, Li Ke. Xun Xi then put Zhuo Zi on the throne, but he too was murdered by Li Ke, along with Xun Xi himself. Yi Wu appealed to Qin for help, aiming to seize the Jin throne. Duke Mu of Qin agreed and sent Bai Li Mi to escort Yi Wu. Yi Wu said: "If I become king, I'll give Qin the eight western river cities." But once king, he sent Pi Zheng to Qin to apologize, breaking his promise, keeping the cities, and even having Li Ke executed.
After hearing about this, Pi Zheng was afraid and discussed with Duke Mu of Qin, saying: "The Jin people don't want Yi Wu—they want Chong'er. Yi Wu's betrayal of Qin and murder of Li Ke were all Lü Sheng and Xi Rui's doing. Get Lü Sheng and Xi Rui here, and we'll put Chong'er back on the throne." Duke Mu of Qin agreed, sent Pi Zheng back, and summoned Lü Sheng and Xi Rui. Lü Sheng and Xi Rui suspected Pi Zheng's motives and claimed Yi Wu had killed him. Pi Zheng's son, Pi Bao, fled to Qin, telling Duke Mu, "Jin's king is a weakling, the people hate him. We should attack!" Duke Mu said: "If the people were really suffering, they wouldn't have killed his ministers. The fact they did shows Jin still has some order." Duke Mu ignored Pi Bao, but used him anyway.
Twelve years later, Qi lost both Guan Zhong and Xi Peng.
The state of Jin suffered from a drought and sought help from the state of Qin, requesting food. Pi Bao advised Duke Mu of Qin not to give aid but to attack Jin while they were starving. Duke Mu of Qin asked Gong Sun Zhi for advice, and Gong Sun Zhi said, "You can't expect a bumper crop every year; we cannot refuse to help." He also asked Bai Li Mei, who said, "If Yi Wu's done you wrong, what've the people of Jin done to deserve this?" Therefore, Duke Mu of Qin listened to the advice of Bai Li Mei and Gong Sun Zhi and ultimately provided food to Jin. They shipped the grain by boat and cart, all the way from Yongzhou to Jiangdu – quite a sight!
Fourteen years ago, Qin suffered from a famine and sought help from Jin for food relief. The king of Jin discussed this matter with his ministers. A minister named Guo She proposed, "Let's hit 'em while they're starving! This is our chance to make a name for ourselves!" The king of Jin agreed with his suggestion.
Fifteen years later, Jin prepared to attack Qin. Duke Mu of Qin personally led his troops, appointing Pi Bao as the general to face the Jin army. In September, on Renxu day, the Qin army clashed with the Jin army led by Duke Hui of Jin at the border of Han territory. Then Duke Hui of Jin, the chump, hightailed it – leaving his army to fend for themselves! Duke Mu of Qin pursued but failed to catch Duke Hui of Jin and instead found himself surrounded by the Jin army. Three hundred guys who'd shared Duke Mu's horse meat at the foot of Qishan charged into the fray, saving his bacon. The Jin army was scattered, and Duke Mu of Qin was able to escape danger and capture the fleeing Duke Hui of Jin.
So the story goes, several of Duke Mu of Qin's good horses died. The common people at the foot of Mount Qi secretly ate the horse meat, totaling more than three hundred people. The officials arrested them, ready to punish them. Duke Mu of Qin said, "A gentleman doesn't punish people for the loss of animals. I hear eating horse meat dry'll make you sick." So, he not only pardoned them but also rewarded them with wine. When these three hundred people heard that Qin was at war with Jin, they volunteered to fight alongside Duke Mu of Qin. When they saw the Duke surrounded, they bravely fought the enemy, paying him back for his previous kindness. In the end, Duke Mu of Qin captured Duke Hui of Jin and said, "I will hold a feast in the country and thank the heavens for allowing me to capture Duke Hui of Jin!" When King Zhou heard this, he said, "Jin and we share the same surname," and interceded for Duke Hui of Jin. What's more, Duke Hui of Jin's sister was Duke Mu of Qin's wife. When Duke Mu of Qin's wife heard about this, she was in mourning, barefoot, wailing, "My brother and husband are at war, my brother has been captured, how am I supposed to explain this to my husband?" Duke Mu of Qin said, "Capturing Duke Hui of Jin is a great achievement, and now the king is pleading for him; what's the big deal, hon?" So, Duke Mu of Qin made a treaty with Duke Hui of Jin, promising to let him go, arranging for him to stay in the best accommodation, and they threw a feast for him with seven kinds of animals. In November, Duke Mu of Qin sent Duke Hui of Jin back to Jin. In exchange, Duke Hui of Jin offered the land west of the river to Qin and sent Crown Prince Yu to Qin as a hostage. Qin also married a princess to Crown Prince Yu. From then on, Qin's territory extended all the way to the Yellow River in the east. Eighteen years later, Duke Huan of Qi died; twenty years after that, Qin conquered the states of Liang and Rui.
In 655 BC, Prince Hu of Jin heard that Duke Hui of Jin was sick, and he was thinking, "Liang State is my mother's family, but it was destroyed by Qin State. I have so many siblings. If Duke Hui of Jin were to live a long time, Qin State would definitely value me, while Jin State might feel that my position is unstable and replace me with someone else." So, Prince Hu secretly ran back to Jin State.
In 654 BC, Duke Hui of Jin passed away, and Prince Hu smoothly ascended to the position of ruler. Qin State still had it in for him for fleeing, so they fetched Jin Prince Chong'er from Chu State and married him to the wife originally belonging to Prince Hu. Chong'er initially declined, but later agreed. Duke Mu of Qin bent over backward to be nice to him. In the spring of 653 BC, Qin State let the Jin ministers know that they wanted to send Chong'er back to Jin State. Jin State agreed and sent people to escort Chong'er back. In the second month, Chong'er became the ruler of Jin State, later known as Duke Wen of Jin. Duke Wen immediately had Prince Hu taken out, who became known as "Huaigong."
That autumn, King Xiang's brother led the troops of Zhai State to attack King Xiang, forcing him to seek refuge in Zheng State. In 652 BC, King Xiang sent people to seek help from Jin State and Qin State. Duke Mu of Qin led troops to help Duke Wen of Jin attack King Xiang, resulting in the death of King Xiang's brother. In 647 BC, Duke Wen of Jin defeated Chu State in the Battle of Chengpu. In 645 BC, Duke Mu of Qin helped Duke Wen of Jin besiege Zheng State. Zheng State sent someone to Qin Mu to say, "Knocking off Zheng would be a huge win for Jin, but Qin State would gain nothing. If Jin State becomes too powerful, it would be a big problem for Qin State!" Duke Mu of Qin heard that, figured it made sense, and pulled his troops out. Jin did the same. In the winter of 643 BC, Duke Wen of Jin passed away.
A guy from Zheng went to Qin and said to the people of Qin, "I know the Zheng city gates like the back of my hand. Zheng is really easy to attack." Qin Mu Gong asked Jian Shu and Bai Li Xi for their opinions. They both said, "A thousand-mile raid across enemy territory rarely works. Furthermore, this guy's selling out his own people for a buck. No way." Qin Mu Gong said, "You don't understand, I've already decided." So he sent his troops, led by Bai Li Xi's son, Meng Mingshi; Jian Shu's son, Xi Qishu; and Bai Yi Bing. On the day of departure, Bai Li Xi and Jian Shu both cried as they saw them off. When Qin Mu Gong heard about this, he angrily said, "I'm leading the army to war, yet you’re crying and trying to stop my troops. What’s going on?" The two old men said, "We're not deliberately trying to stop Your Majesty's troops. We're just seeing them off, like loyal subjects should. We're old, and might never see 'em again, so we're crying." After the two old men left, they told their sons, "If you guys get wiped out, it'll be at Yao."
In the spring of 638 BC, the Qin army marched eastward, passing through the territory of Jin and through the northern gate of the Zhou dynasty. Sun Man, the grandson of the King of Zhou, said, "Those Qin guys are way outta line. If we don't defeat them, what are we waiting for?" When the Qin army reached Hua Di, they encountered Xian Gao, a merchant from Zheng who was preparing to sell twelve cows to the Zhou dynasty. Afraid of being captured by the Qin army, Xian Gao voluntarily offered the cows to the Qin army, saying, "I heard you guys are planning to hit Zheng, and their king's already on high alert. These twelve cows are a gift for your troops." The three generals of Qin discussed with each other, "We were gonna hit Zheng, but looks like they know. Too late now." So the Qin army destroyed Hua Di. Hua Di was a little border town in Jin.
At that time, Duke Wen of Jin had just passed away and had not been buried yet. Crown Prince Xiang of Jin was very angry and said, "The State of Qin actually took advantage of our ruler's funeral to break through our Huài!" So he immediately put on mourning clothes and raised troops to intercept the Qin army near Xiáo, ultimately wiping out the entire Qin army. Not a single Qin soldier escaped, and three Qin generals were captured. Duke Wen's wife was a princess of the State of Qin. She pleaded for the three captured Qin generals, saying, "Duke Mu of Qin was furious with them. I hope to send them back and let Duke Mu of Qin handle them himself." The Jin ruler agreed and sent the three Qin generals back to the State of Qin. After the three generals returned to Qin, Duke Mu of Qin, wearing plain clothes, went to the border to greet them. He cried and said to the three, "It's my fault for ignoring Baili Xi and Jian Shu's advice; you've suffered because of me. What sins do you have? You must work hard to clear your names and not lose heart." Then, Duke Mu of Qin restored the official positions of the three and valued them even more.
In 637 BC, a major event shook the region: Crown Prince Shangchen of Chu killed his father King Cheng and declared himself king. Meanwhile, Duke Mu of Qin sent Meng Ming Shi to lead troops to attack the State of Jin, and they fought at Pengya. The Qin army did not gain any advantage and withdrew.
At this time, King Rong's envoy arrived in the State of Qin. Yuyu, whose ancestors were from the State of Jin, later fled to the Rongdi territories and spoke fluent Jin. He heard that Duke Mu of Qin was wise, so the King of Rong sent him to observe the situation in the State of Qin. Duke Mu of Qin showed him the palaces and vast stores of supplies in Qin. Yuyu said, "Either gods would be worn out building this, or the people would be!" Duke Mu of Qin was very surprised and asked him, "We in the Central Plains govern with poetry, ritual, music, and law, but there are still frequent disturbances. Now, the Rongdi territories do not have these things; how do they govern the country? Isn't it also very difficult?" Yuyu smiled and said, "These things are the reason for the disturbances in the Central Plains! Since the ancient sage king Huangdi established rites, music, and laws, he himself first complied, which barely maintained peace on a small scale. However, in later generations, people became more and more extravagant and indulgent; they ignored the laws and blamed their inferiors. The people below suffered immensely and complained of injustice using the language of benevolence and righteousness. They fought, resented each other, and eventually killed each other, even exterminated families, all because of this reason. The situation in Rongdi is different; the upper class treats the lower class with simple morality, and the lower class serves the upper class with loyalty and integrity. Governing the country was like tending a body; they didn't understand it, but that's the true way of a sage."
After Duke Mu of Qin listened to Yu's words, he went back and asked Liao, "I heard that there is a sage in the neighboring country, which is dangerous for us. Now that Yu is so talented, he poses a threat to me. What should I do?" Liao replied, "The King of Rong lives in a remote and secluded place and has not heard of the culture of the Central Plains. You might as well send some entertainers to him to keep him occupied; then use Yu to drive a wedge between them. Keep Yu here and prevent his return to the Rong country. If the King of Rong finds this strange, he will definitely suspect Yu. Once there is a rift between the ruler and his ministers, we can take advantage of the situation. Besides, the King of Rong's fondness for pleasure will likely lead to neglect of his duties." Duke Mu of Qin said, "Good!" So he and Yu shared a simple meal together, eating from the same dishes, and learned about the Rong's terrain and military strength. Only then did Liao send sixteen entertainers to the King of Rong. The King of Rong accepted these entertainers, was very happy, and did not return for a whole year. And so, Yu remained in Qin. Yu advised Duke Mu of Qin many times, but Duke Mu ignored his advice and even tried to subtly win Yu over. Finally, Yu left the Rong country and defected to Qin. Duke Mu of Qin welcomed him as a guest and asked him about the strategy for attacking the Rong tribe.
In the thirty-sixth year, Duke Mu of Qin redoubled his efforts to utilize Meng Mingshi and others, letting them lead troops to attack the state of Jin. After crossing the Yellow River, they burned their boats, completely defeating the Jin army and capturing the capital and the city of Hao, avenging the Battle of Xiao. The Jin people were all cowering in their cities, afraid to emerge. At this time, Duke Mu of Qin personally crossed the Yellow River from Maojin, collected the bodies of the Qin soldiers who died in the Battle of Xiao, held a three-day funeral, weeping over their loss. Then, he swore to the army, saying, "Soldiers! Listen closely! I want to tell you: wise men of old, even with hair as white as snow, remained cautious and avoided mistakes." This was Duke Mu of Qin's way of explaining his mistake in not using the tactics of Jian Shu and Baili Qi, so he swore to let future generations remember his fault. Hearing this, the noblemen wept, lamenting, "Alas, Duke Mu treated his advisors with such care, yet the glory went to Meng Mingshi and the others!"
In the thirty-seventh year, the state of Qin used Youyu's plan to attack the King of Rong, expanding to twelve states and gaining a thousand li of territory, ultimately becoming hegemon over the Western Rong. The Zhou emperor sent Duke Shao to congratulate Duke Mu of Qin and presented golden drums. In the thirty-ninth year, Duke Mu of Qin died and was buried in Yong. He was buried with 177 people, including the distinguished minister Ziyu's three sons: Yanxi, Zhongxing, and Zhenhu. The people of Qin were deeply saddened and composed the poem "Yellow Bird" in his honor. It was said, "Duke Mu of Qin expanded his territory, increased his population, conquered the powerful state of Jin in the east, and dominated the Western Rong in the west, but he did not become the leader of the vassal states, which was considered fitting. After his death, he departed, leaving his people behind and took his outstanding ministers with him. Moreover, in ancient times, emperors would leave behind virtues and laws after death, let alone taking away outstanding ministers beloved by the people? This foretold the end of Qin's eastward campaigns." Duke Mu of Qin had forty sons, and his heir, Yi, succeeded to the throne, becoming Duke Kang.
In the first year of Duke Kang's reign, the previous year Duke Mu of Qin died, and Duke Xiang of Jin also passed away; Xiang's brother named Yong was a Qin subject at the time. Zhao Dun of Jin wanted to make him the ruler and sent Sui Hui to Qin to welcome Yong, with Qin providing a military escort to Linghu. However, Jin made Xiang's son the ruler, then attacked the Qin army, and the Qin army was defeated, causing Sui Hui to flee to Qin. In the second year, Qin attacked Jin and took Wucheng, avenging the battle of Linghu. In the fourth year, Jin attacked Qin and took Shaoliang. In the sixth year, Qin attacked Jin and took Jima. At Hequ, the Qin army decisively defeated the Jin army. Jin feared Sui Hui might cause trouble in Qin, so they sent Wei Chouyu to feign defection, plotting with Sui Hui and luring him back to Jin, and Sui Hui returned. Duke Kang passed away after twelve years of reign, and his son Duke Gong succeeded him.
In 607 BC, Zhao Chuan of Jin killed his own ruler, Duke Ling of Jin. The following year, King Zhuang of Chu, with a strong military force, headed north to Luoyang to ask the Zhou king about the Nine Cauldrons. In 605 BC, Duke Gong of Jin passed away, and his son Duke Huan of Jin succeeded him.
In 602 BC, Jin defeated one of their leading generals. In 597 BC, King Zhuang of Chu conquered Zheng and defeated the Jin army on the banks of the Yellow River. At that time, King Zhuang of Chu became the dominant power, forging alliances and uniting the other states. In 582 BC, Duke Li of Jin had just taken the throne and formed an alliance with Duke Huan of Qin on the banks of the Yellow River. However, Qin broke the alliance and conspired with the Di to attack Jin. In 580 BC, Jin led the other states to attack Qin, and the Qin army was routed, pursued by Jin all the way to the Jing River before they retreated. In 579 BC, Duke Jing of Jin passed away, and his son Duke Jingong of Jin succeeded him.
In 573 BC, Lord Luan Shu of Jin killed his ruler, Duke Li of Jin. In 562 BC, Duke Jing of Jin rescued Zheng, but his own Jin army was defeated at Lidi. At that time, Duke Dao of Jin was the hegemon among the vassal states. In 560 BC, Duke Dao of Jin was powerful; he frequently convened alliances of the vassal states, led them to attack the State of Qin, and routed the Qin army. The Jin pursued them across the Jing River, all the way to Yulin before returning. In 549 BC, Duke Jing of Jin went to the State of Jin, made a pact with Duke Ping, only to break it later. In 540 BC, Chu's Prince Wei killed his ruler and declared himself king, known as King Ling of Chu. Duke Jing's younger brother, Prince Zhen, was highly favored. His other brother, Duke Fu, was slandered in front of Duke Jing; fearing for his life, he fled to Jin with thousands of chariots. Duke Ping asked him, "Why would a man of your wealth need to flee?" Duke Fu replied, "Qin's ruler was a tyrant; I fear being killed and want to wait for the next ruler of Qin before returning." In 537 BC, King Ling of Chu became powerful, convened an alliance at Shendi, and took the hegemonic position, also killing Lord Qingfeng of Qi. In 536 BC, Duke Jing of Jin passed away, and his son, Duke Ai of Jin, succeeded him. Later, Duke Fu returned to the State of Qin. In 544 BC, Prince Qi of Chu killed King Ling and declared himself King Ping of Chu. Three years later, King Ping of Chu went to the State of Qin, wanting a Qin woman for his son, Prince Jian. The Qin woman was beautiful, so King Ping married her himself. In 538 BC, King Ping of Chu wanted to kill Prince Jian, who fled, and Wu Zixu escaped to the State of Wu. At that time, the ruler of the State of Jin had little power; power rested with six ministers who were constantly squabbling among themselves, so Jin and Qin remained at peace for a considerable time.
In 506 BC, King Helü of Wu, along with Wu Zixu, led troops to attack the state of Chu. The Chu king fled to Sui, and the Wu army captured the capital city of Ying in Chu. The Chu statesman Shen Baoxu went to the state of Qin for help, bawling his eyes out for seven days and seven nights, without a bite to eat. So the Qin sent in five thousand chariots to rescue Chu and defeated the Wu army. After the Wu army retreated, King Zhao of Chu returned to Ying. In 501 BC, Duke Ai of Chu died, and his young son Prince Yigong died young before he could become king. Eventually, Yigong's son succeeded him as Duke Huigong.
In 497 BC, Confucius was an official in the state of Lu. Five years later, the noblemen Zhonghang and Fan of the state of Jin rebelled, and Jin sent Zhi and Zhao Jianzi to attack them. Zhonghang and Fan escaped to the state of Qi. In 492 BC, Duke Huigong of Chu passed away, and his son Duke Daogong succeeded him.
In 488 BC, Tian Qi, a powerful minister of Qi, killed the crown prince, and put his brother Yangsheng on the throne, who became Duke Daogong. Six years later, the state of Wu defeated the Qi army. The people of Qi killed Duke Daogong and installed his son Duke Jianguo as the ruler. In 485 BC, Duke Ding of Jin beat King Fucha of Wu to it at Huangchi, to vie for leadership of the alliance. Wu became increasingly powerful and started picking fights with other states. In 483 BC, Tian Chang of Qi killed Duke Jianguo of Qi and installed his younger brother Duke Pingong as the ruler, while Tian Chang became the chief minister. In 482 BC, the state of Chu destroyed the state of Chen. In 477 BC, Duke Daogong of Qin passed away, and his son Duke Ligong succeeded him. Confucius died in 479 BC.
In 475 BC, the State of Shu sent gifts. In 469 BC, the State of Qin built defenses by the river. Qin sent out an army of 20,000 to conquer Dali, taking its capital. In 466 BC, Qin set up a county in Pinyang. The State of Jin captured Wucheng. In 463 BC, Jin was wracked by civil war, killing Zhibo and dividing his territory among the states of Zhao, Han, and Wei. In 462 BC, Zhi Kai sought refuge in Qin with his fellow villagers. In 444 BC, Qin attacked Yiqu and captured its king. In 443 BC, there was a solar eclipse. Qin's Li Gonggong died, and his son Zao Gong became king.
In 441 BC, the Nan Zheng region rebelled. In 434 BC, the State of Yiqu attacked Qin, reaching the south bank of the Wei River. In 433 BC, Zao Gong of Qin died, and his brother Huai Gong succeeded him.
In 386 BC, in the fourth year of Huai Gong's reign, the minister Chao and others plotted against Huai Gong, who ultimately committed suicide. Huai Gong's crown prince was named Zhao Zi, but he died early, so the ministers put Zhao Zi's son on the throne, known as Ling Gong. Ling Gong was Huai Gong's grandson.
In 380 BC, in the sixth year of Ling Gong's reign, the State of Jin attacked Shaoliang, prompting Qin to retaliate against Jin. By 373 BC, they also attacked Jigu. After Ling Gong's death, his son Xian Gong did not become king; instead, his uncle Dao Zi, also known as Jian Gong, was made king. Jian Gong was Zhao Zi's brother and Huai Gong's son.
In the sixth year of Jian Gong's reign, it became customary for officials to wear swords, and they dug a canal for the Luo River to build Chongquan City. Sixteen years later, Jian Gong died, and his son Hui Gong succeeded him.
In the twelfth year of Hui Gong's reign, his son Chuzi was born. In the thirteenth year, Hui Gong attacked the State of Shu, taking over Nanzheng. After Hui Gong's death, his son Chuzi succeeded him.
During the two years that Prince Chu was in power, an official named Shuchang brought Ling Gong's son, Xiangong, back from the west of the river and supported him as the ruler. Both Prince Chu and his mother were killed, and their bodies were thrown into the river. Previously, the state of Qin frequently changed rulers, leading to chaotic relationships between the ruler and his subjects. As a result, the state of Jin became strong again and reclaimed the land that Qin had in the west of the river.
In the first year of Xiangong's rule, he established the system of human sacrifice. In the second year, he built the city of Liyang. In the fourth year, on the day of Gengyin in the first month, Duke Xiao was born. In the eleventh year, the Grand Historian of the Zhou dynasty, Dan, met Xiangong and said, "The Zhou dynasty and the state of Qin were once united, then separated, and after five hundred years of separation, they will reunite again. After seventeen years of unity, a hegemon will emerge." In the sixteenth year, peach trees bloomed in winter. In the eighteenth year, Liyang experienced a golden rain. In the twenty-first year, Qin and Jin fought at Shimen, killing sixty thousand Jin soldiers. The Zhou king also sent the "Duanfu" and "Duanmao" as gifts. In the twenty-third year, Qin and the Wei-Jin coalition fought at Shaoliang, capturing the Jin general Gongsun Zuo. In the twenty-fourth year, Xiangong passed away, and his son Duke Xiao succeeded him, being twenty-one years old at the time.
In the year 361 BC, during the first year of Duke Xiaogong's rule in Qin, there were several powerful countries to the east, who were just as powerful as King Wei of Qi, King Xuan of Chu, King Hui of Wei, Duke Dao of Yan, Marquis Ai of Han, and Marquis Cheng of Zhao. In the area around the Huai River and the Si River, there were also more than a dozen small countries. Chu and Wei were neighbors with Qin. Wei built a long wall from Zheng along the Luo River northward to Shangjun. Chu, on the other hand, started from Hanzhong, with Ba and the Qianzhong region to the south. The Zhou king had lost most of his actual power, and the lords did their own thing, constantly plotting to annex others. Qin, located in Yongzhou, never participated in the alliances of the central feudal lords, and the other states looked down on Qin as a backwater.
King Xiao of Qin saw that things were not going well, so he began to show kindness, take care of orphans and widows, recruit soldiers, and establish clear reward and punishment systems. He ordered the entire country, saying, "In the past, our ancestor Duke Mu started from Qishan in Yongzhou, focused on self-cultivation and moral refinement, was strong in military force, pacified the rebellion of the Jin state in the east, conquered the Rong and Di tribes in the west, expanded the territory by thousands of miles, and was even appointed as the Hegemon of the vassal lords by the emperor. Other vassal lords came to congratulate him, laying a solid foundation for future generations; how honorable! However, his later successors, Dukes Li, Zao, Jian, and Chu, proved incompetent, leading to constant internal turmoil in the country and neglect of external affairs. As a result, the three Jin states seized the opportunity to annex the land west of the Yellow River that our ancestor had lost. The other vassal lords looked down on Qin; this disgrace is too great! After Duke Xian succeeded to the throne, he worked hard to stabilize the borders, moved the capital to Liyang, and planned to march eastward, reclaiming the lost land from the time of Duke Mu, and restoring the policies of that time. I have always been concerned about the dying wish of our ancestor; it is a matter of deep concern to me! My lords and advisors, whoever can come up with a brilliant strategy to make Qin strong, I will give him a high official position, rich rewards, and land!" With these words, King Xiao of Qin led his troops to besiege Shancheng in the east and killed the king of the Rong and Di tribes in the west.
When Wei Yang heard that King Xiao of Qin had issued this order, he ran from the state of Wei to the state of Qin, and through the intermediary of Jing Jian, sought an audience with King Xiao.
In the year 359 BC, the second year of King Xiao of Qin's reign, a sacrificial offering arrived from the Zhou emperor.
In the year 358 BC, the third year of King Xiao of Qin's reign, Wei Yang suggested reforming the laws, toughening up the punishments, emphasizing agricultural production domestically, encouraging soldiers to bravely kill enemies, and establishing corresponding reward and punishment systems. King Xiao thought this was a good idea. Gan Long, Du Zhi, and others disagreed and argued with Wei Yang. In the end, Wei Yang's method was adopted, causing great suffering among the people initially, but after three years, the people, though initially suffering, eventually saw the benefits. So King Xiao of Qin appointed Wei Yang as the Left Chancellor. For specific details, you can refer to "The Book of Lord Shang."
So, seven years back, Shang Yang met with King Hui in Duping. The following year, he fought a battle with Wei in Yuanli and made a name for himself. Ten years later, Shang Yang became the top dog and took Anyi from Wei. In the twelfth year, Xianyang was built, Jique was constructed, and the capital of Qin was moved to Xianyang. He lumped a bunch of smaller villages into bigger counties, appointing a county magistrate for each, totaling forty-one counties. He got more land under cultivation, built irrigation systems, and pushed the borders east to the Luo River. In the fourteenth year, Qin began to implement a tax system. In the nineteenth year, the Emperor made Shang Yang a marquis. In the twentieth year, all the other states came to kiss his ring. Qin sent Prince Shao Guan to lead the army to Fengze to meet with the vassals, and then together they bowed down to the Emperor. In 21, Qi wiped the floor with Wei at Maling. In the twenty-second year, Shang Yang attacked Wei and captured Wei's Gongzi Yang. Shang Yang was made a marquis — Lord Shang, they called him. In the twenty-fourth year, Shang Yang fought against Jin at Yanmen and captured Jin's general Wei Cuo. Later, Old Duke Xiao kicked the bucket, and his son, Hui Wenjun, took over. In that same year, Shang Yang got whacked. When Shang Yang first implemented laws in Qin, they did not go smoothly, and even the Crown Prince violated the law. Shang Yang said, "The reason this ain't working is those big shots ain't playing ball. If you really want this to fly, start with the prince. If you can't brand him, brand his teachers!" As a result, the laws were truly enforced, and Qin was governed in an orderly manner. After Duke Xiao's death and the Crown Prince's succession, many members of the royal family resented Shang Yang. They nailed him for treason and ripped him to shreds in the town square.
In the first year of the reign of King Huiwen, countries such as Chu, Han, Zhao, and Shu all came to court. In the second year, the Son of Heaven came to congratulate. In the third year, King Huiwen of Qin was crowned as king. In the fourth year, the Son of Heaven rewarded both civil and military officials. The states of Qi and Wei also declared themselves kings. In the fifth year, Xi Shou, a man from Yin Jin, became the Grand Minister. In the sixth year, the state of Wei ceded Yin Jin to the state of Qin, and Yin Jin was renamed Ning Qin. In the seventh year, Prince Ang of Qin fought against Wei, captured the general Long Jia, and slaughtered eighty thousand men. In the eighth year, the state of Wei ceded the area west of the Yellow River to the state of Qin. In the ninth year, the Qin army crossed the Yellow River, occupied Fenyin and Pishi. King Huiwen of Qin and the King of Wei met at Yingdi. The Qin army surrounded Jiaodi and captured it. In the eleventh year, Qin annexed Yiqu, returned Jiaodi and Quwo to Wei, and the ruler of Yiqu submitted to Qin. Qin also renamed Shaoliang as Xiayang. In the twelfth year, Qin began to hold the La Sacrifice. On the day of Wuwu in April of the thirteenth year, the ruler of Wei declared himself king, and the state of Han also declared itself king. Qin sent Zhang Yi to attack the land of Shan and deported the people of Shan to Wei.
In 338 BC, King Hui of Qin changed the era, resetting the calendar to the first year. The following year, in 337 BC, Zhang Yi met with officials from the states of Qi and Chu in Niesang. Two years later, in 336 BC, the crown princes of Han and Wei both came to Qin to pay their respects. Zhang Yi was appointed prime minister of Wei. In 334 BC, King Hui of Qin went on a tour to the North River. In 332 BC, Le Chi became prime minister of Qin. At this time, the states of Han, Zhao, Wei, Yan, and Qi allied with the Xiongnu to attack Qin. Qin sent Shuchang Ji and Zhan Xiuyu to lead the troops, captured the general Shen Cha of Zhao, defeated Prince Ke of Zhao and Crown Prince Huan of Han, and slaughtered eighty-two thousand men.
In the eighth year, 331 BC, Zhang Yi returned as prime minister of the state of Qin. In the ninth year, 330 BC, Sima Cuo led an army to attack the state of Shu, destroying it. They also captured Zhao's capital and Xiyang. In the tenth year, 329 BC, Han's crown prince was sent to Qin as a hostage. Qin forces captured Shizhang in Han, defeated Zhao's General Ni, and took twenty-five cities from Yiqu. In the eleventh year, 328 BC, Qin general Mu Huli launched an attack on the Han city of Jiaodi, conquered it, and forced its surrender. They also defeated the Han city of Anmen, slaughtering ten thousand soldiers and causing General Xishou of Han to flee. Prince Tong of Qin was installed as governor of Shu. Yan sent envoys to Qin.
In the twelfth year, 327 BC, King Hui of Qin and King Hui of Wei met in Linjin. Shuchang Ji attacked Zhao, capturing General Zhuang. Zhang Yi served as prime minister of the state of Chu. In the thirteenth year, 326 BC, Shuchang Zhang attacked Chu in Danyang, capturing General Qu Mai and slaughtering eighty thousand soldiers. They subsequently invaded Chu's Hanzhong region, seizing 600 li and establishing Hanzhong commandery. Chu surrounded Yongshi, and Qin sent Shuchang Ji to assist Han. Then, they attacked Qi from the east and helped Wei in their assault on Yan in Man. In the fourteenth year, 325 BC, Qin attacked Chu, taking over Zhaoling. The cities of Dan and Li submitted to Qin, and the Shu prime minister murdered the Marquis of Shu before surrendering.
King Hui of Qin passed away, and his son King Wu succeeded him. Han, Wei, Qi, Chu, and Yue all submitted to Qin.
In 325 BC, King Wu of Qin met with King Hui of Wei in Linjin. King Wu then killed the Prime Minister of Shu. Zhang Yi and Wei Zhang fled to the state of Wei. King Wu of Qin also attacked Yiqu, Dan, and Li.
In the second year, the state of Qin established the position of premier for the first time, appointing Gan Mao and Chuli Ji as the left and right premiers respectively. Zhang Yi died in the state of Wei.
In the third year, King Wu of Qin met with King Xiang of Han outside Linjin. Nan Gongjie died, and Chuli Ji became the premier of Han. King Wu of Qin said to Gan Mao, "I want our war chariots to pass through the Three Rivers unimpeded, even to die for it!" That autumn, King Wu of Qin sent Gan Mao and Shuchang Feng to attack Yiyang.
In the fourth year, Yiyang City was captured, and sixty thousand were slaughtered. The Qin army crossed the Yellow River and built Wusui City. The Crown Prince of Wei also visited the state of Qin to pay his respects. King Wu of Qin especially enjoyed showing off his strength, and strongmen like Ren Bi, Wu Huo, and Meng Shuo all became high officials. One time, King Wu competed with Meng Shuo in lifting a tripod and shattered his kneecaps! In August, King Wu of Qin died. Because of the incident with the tripod, Meng Shuo's entire clan was exterminated.
King Wu of Qin married a woman from the state of Wei as his queen, but did not leave behind a son. In the end, he named his half-brother his successor, who became King Zhaoxiang of Qin. Zhaoxiang's mother was from the state of Chu, with the surname Mi, and was known as the Dowager Queen Xuan. When King Wu of Qin died, Zhaoxiang was held hostage in the state of Yan, but was sent back and able to ascend the throne.
In the first year of Zhaoxiang's reign, Yan Junji became the premier. Gan Mao was sent to the state of Wei. In the second year, a comet appeared in the sky. Shuchang Zhuang and several officials, nobles, and princes rebelled and were all killed; even Queen Huixi, the widow of King Huiwen, was also executed. The widow of King Daowu also left Qin and returned to Wei.
In the third year, King Zhaoxiang was crowned and ascended the throne. He met with the King of Chu at the plains of Huangji, and Qin gained the territory of Shangyong from Chu. In the fourth year, Qin captured Puban. In that same year, a comet appeared in the sky. In the fifth year, the King of Wei came to Qin to pay respects, and when they reached Yingting, Qin returned Puban to Wei. In the sixth year, the Marquis of Shu, Hui, rebelled, and Sima Cuo pacified the Shu region. Shuchang Huan attacked the state of Chu and killed twenty thousand men of the Chu army. Jingyang Jun was sent to Qi as a hostage. That year also saw a solar eclipse, turning day into darkness. In the seventh year, the Qin army captured Xincheng, and the leader of Lizhi died. In the eighth year, Qin sent General Mi Rong to attack Chu, occupying Xinshi. Qi sent Zhangzi, Wei sent Gongsun Xi, and Han sent Baoyuan; the three states joined forces to attack Fangcheng in Chu, capturing Tangmu. Zhao defeated Zhongshan, and the ruler of Zhongshan fled and died in Qi. The Princes of Wei and Han were elevated to feudal lords.
In the ninth year, Mengchang Jun, Xue Wen, came to Qin to serve as Prime Minister. Shuchang Huan once again attacked Chu, capturing eight cities and killing the Chu general Jing Kuai. In the eleventh year, the five states of Qi, Han, Wei, Zhao, and Song together attacked Qin, withdrawing after reaching Yanshi, a place in the region. Later, Qin and the states of Han and Wei negotiated peace in Hebei and Fengling. That year, a comet appeared in the sky again. King Huai of Chu fled to Zhao, but Zhao did not keep him and sent him back to Qin. King Huai of Chu died in Qin and was then sent back to Chu for burial. In the twelfth year, Lou Huan was dismissed, and Ranghou Wei Ran became Prime Minister. Qin provided Chu with fifty thousand stones of grain, likely rice.
In 273 BC, in the thirteenth year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Qin sent troops to attack Han, capturing Wushi. At the same time, General Bai Qi attacked Xincheng, and Han's Wudafu, a title for a high-ranking official, Li, fled to Wei. Ren Bi was appointed as the governor of Hanzhong County.
In the 14th year, Bai Qi led his troops to invade the states of Han and Wei, achieving a complete victory at Yique by slaughtering 240,000 enemy troops, capturing Wei's Gongsun Xi, and seizing five cities. In the 15th year, Bai Qi attacked Wei again, occupying Yuanyi, which was later returned to Wei. Then, he invaded the state of Chu and captured Wancheng.
In the 16th year, General Cuo led his troops to conquer Zhi and Deng. Qin appointed Gongzi Shi as the Lord of Wan, Gongzi Kui as the Lord of Deng, and Wei Ran as the Lord of Tao, all becoming feudal lords. In the 17th year, the Lords of Chengyang and Dongzhou both visited Qin to pay homage. Qin renamed Yuanyi to Puban and established Pishi, stationing troops in Yiyang.
In the 18th year, Cuo attacked Yuanyi and Heyong, destroying bridges and successfully occupying both areas. In the 19th year, King Zhaoxiang of Qin proclaimed himself the Western Emperor, while the King of Qi styled himself the Eastern Emperor, but later both gave up their imperial titles. Lv Li returned from abroad. Qi defeated Song, and the King of Song fled to Wei and died in Wendu. Ren Bi passed away.
In the 20th year, King Zhaoxiang of Qin led troops to Hanzhong, then went to Shangjun and the northern region to inspect. In the 21st year, Cuo attacked the Henan region of Wei. Wei surrendered Anyi, and Qin deported the people of Anyi, recruiting people from the Hedong region to settle in Anyi, granting them noble titles, and pardoning a group of criminals, allowing them to move to Anyi. Lord Jingyang was appointed as the Lord of Wan.
In the 22nd year, Meng Wu attacked Qi. The Hedong region was divided into nine counties. King Zhaoxiang of Qin held talks with the King of Chu in Wancheng and also conferred with the King of Zhao in Zhongyang. In the 23rd year, Wei Sili united with the Three Jin states and Yan to attack Qi, defeating the Qi army in Jixi. King Zhaoxiang of Qin met with the King of Wei in Yiyang and also had an audience with the King of Han in Xincheng.
Year 24: King Zhaoxiang of Qin and the King of Chu met in Yan and Rang. Qin forces besieged Daliang after capturing the city of Ancheng from Wei. Yan and Zhao came to the rescue, and the Qin army withdrew. Wei Ran stepped down as prime minister. Year 25: Qin captured two cities from Zhao. King Zhaoxiang met with the King of Han in Xincheng and with the King of Wei in Xinmingyi. Year 26: Qin pardoned some criminals and relocated them to Rang. Wei Ran resumed his position as prime minister. Year 27: Qin launched a poorly-judged attack on Chu. Qin pardoned some criminals and relocated them to Nanyang. Bai Qi attacked Zhao and captured Guanglang. Qin sent Sima Cuo to lead troops from Longxi to join forces with Shu to attack the Qianzhong region of Chu, capturing it. Year 28: Bai Qi attacked Chu, captured Yan and Deng, pardoned some criminals, and relocated them there. Year 29: Bai Qi attacked Chu, captured Yingdu, renamed it Nanguo, and the King of Chu fled. Lord Zhou paid his respects. King Zhaoxiang met with the King of Chu in Xiangling. Bai Qi became Lord Wuan. Year 30: The Shu governor attacked Chu, captured Wujun, and divided the Jiangnan region into Qianzhong County. Year 31: Bai Qi attacked Wei, capturing two cities. A Chu rebellion attacked Qin's Jiangnan region. Year 32: Prime Minister Rang Hou attacked Wei, defeated the Wei general Baoyuan, killed 40,000, and Baoyuan escaped. Wei surrendered three counties to secure peace. Year 33: Guest Minister Hu Yang attacked Juan, Caiyang, and Changshe in Wei, capturing them. He also defeated the Wei army in Mangmao and Huayang, slaughtering 150,000. Wei ceded the Nanyang region to secure peace. Year 34: Qin, Wei, and Han divided Shangyong into a county and relocated the exempted people from Nanyang there. Year 35: Qin, in alliance with Han, Wei, and Chu, attacked Yan. Qin established Nanyang County.
In the 36th year, Minister Zao attacked the state of Qi, capturing the cities of Gang and Shou, and offered them to Lord Rang. In the 38th year, General Huyang attacked the state of Zhao's Eyu but failed to capture it. In the 40th year, the Prince of Qin died in the state of Wei and was buried in Zhiyang. In the summer of the 41st year, Qin attacked the state of Wei, capturing the cities of Xingqiu and Huai. In the 42nd year, the Lord of Anguo was appointed as Crown Prince. In October, Queen Mother Xuan died and was buried in Lishan, Zhiyang. In September, Lord Rang was moved to the land of Tao. In the 43rd year, General Bai Qi of Qin attacked the state of Han, killing fifty thousand and capturing nine cities. In the 44th year, the Qin army attacked Nanyang in the state of Han and captured it. In the 45th year, Wudafu Ben attacked the state of Han, capturing ten cities. Lord Yeyang Kui was expelled from the country and died before reaching his destination. In the 47th year, Qin attacked Shangdang County in the state of Han, which surrendered to the state of Zhao. Qin then attacked Zhao, but Zhao counterattacked. Qin sent General Bai Qi to battle, defeating the Zhao army at Changping, where over forty thousand Zhao soldiers were killed. In October of the 48th year, Han ceded the territory of Yuanyong. The Qin army split into three divisions, and General Bai Qi returned to the capital. Wang He led the army to attack the cities of Wuan and Pilao in the state of Zhao, capturing them. Sima Geng went north to pacify Taiyuan, completely occupying Shangdang County in the state of Han. In January, the war ended, and the Qin army returned to Shangdang to garrison. In October, Wudafu Ling led the army to attack Handan in the state of Zhao.
In 49 BC, the Qin State increased troops to support Ling. Ling's campaign failed, and he was sacked, with General Wang He taking over as the chief commander. In October, General Zhang Tang attacked the Wei State but was beheaded due to the fall of Cai Wei's garrison. In the 50th year, in October, General Bai Qi was convicted, demoted, and moved to Yinmi. Zhang Tang attacked Zhengdi and captured it. In December, the Qin State increased troops stationed near Fencheng. General Bai Qi was executed for his crimes. Wang He attacked Handan but failed to capture it, withdrew his troops, and returned to the Fencheng garrison for more than two months. In battle against the Jin army, six thousand were beheaded and a further twenty thousand Jin and Chu soldiers drowned in the Yellow River. He then attacked Fencheng, seized Ningxinzhong from Zhang Tang, renamed it Anyang, and began building bridges over the river. In 279 BC, General Bai Qi of the Qin State was a real force to be reckoned with, attacking the Han State and taking down the cities of Yangcheng and Fushu in a swift campaign, beheading forty thousand! He then went on to attack the Zhao State, capturing more than twenty counties and ninety thousand people! The Western Zhou dared to betray the Qin State, allying with other states and preparing to concentrate elite forces to attack the Qin from the Yique Pass, intending to besiege Yangcheng. When the Qin State saw this situation, they immediately sent Bai Qi to deal with the Western Zhou. The lord of Western Zhou was so scared that he hurried back to surrender, prostrating himself in submission and offering thirty-six cities and thirty thousand people to the Qin State. The Qin king accepted the surrender of Western Zhou and sent its lord back. By 278 BC, the people of Western Zhou had all fled, and the Nine Tripods had fallen into the hands of the Qin State, leaving Western Zhou a shattered remnant.
In 277 BC, envoys from various countries all came to pay homage to the State of Qin—man, what a spectacle! Wei knuckled under, and Qin sent Bai Qi to attack Wei and capture Wucheng. The King of Han even personally came to pay homage to the State of Qin, and Wei did Qin's bidding. In 276 BC, King Zhaoxiang of Qin performed a Heaven-honoring ceremony in Yongdi. In the autumn of 274 BC, King Zhaoxiang died, and his son King Xiaowen succeeded to the throne. King Xiaowen made Tang's eighth son Empress Dowager Tang and buried her together with the late king. The King of Han wore mourning clothes to offer condolences, and other nobles sent their generals to attend the funeral to express their sorrow. In the first year of King Xiaowen's reign in 274 BC, he declared a nationwide amnesty, lauded the late king's accomplishments, treated relatives well, and threw open the royal gardens. After handling the funeral affairs, King Xiaowen officially ascended the throne on the 10th day of the 10th month, but three days later, on Xinchou day, he died, and his son, King Zhuangxiang, took the throne.
In 273 BC, the first year of King Zhuangxiang's reign, they declared a general amnesty, rewarding loyal servants of previous kings, showering favors on relatives, and showing mercy to the common folk. The king of Eastern Zhou got together with other vassal states to plot against Qin. Lü Buwei, Qin's prime minister, just sent in the troops and wiped out Eastern Zhou, grabbing all their land. But Qin let them keep their religious ceremonies and even gave the Eastern Zhou king the Yangren region to keep things going. Qin's borders stretched all the way to Daliang, and they set up a new Sanchuan county. Next year, Meng Ao hit Zhao and took Taiyuan. In the third year, Meng Ao attacked Gaodu and Ji of the Wei Kingdom, capturing both cities. He also took Yuci, Xincheng, and Langmeng from Zhao, along with thirty-seven other cities. There was a solar eclipse that year, too. Then Wang He went after Shangdang. Qin established a new Taiyuan county. Wei's general, Wei Wuji, led a five-state army against Qin, but the Qin army stopped them east of the Yellow River. Meng Ao beat them back. On the fifteenth of the fifth month, King Zhuangxiang kicked the bucket, and his son, Ying Zheng—later Qin Shi Huang—took over.
After 26 years, Qin Shi Huang finally united China, dividing it into 36 counties and declaring himself the First Emperor. After 50 years on the throne, the First Emperor died, and his son Hu Hai became the Second Emperor. Three years later, the vassal states revolted, Zhao Gao offed the Second Emperor, and put Ziying on the throne. Ziying only lasted about a month before the vassal states took him down, and that was the end of the Qin Dynasty. You can read all about this in the *Annals of the First Emperor.*
According to Sima Qian, the Qin dynasty's ancestors were of the Ying clan. Later, when they enfeoffed the feudal lords, they took the name of the fiefdom as their surname, giving rise to surnames such as Xu, Tan, Ju, Zhongli, Yunyan, Tuqiu, Jiang, Huang, Xiuyu, Baiming, Feilian, and Qin. But they were called Qin because their ancestor, Zhao Fu, was enfeoffed in Zhaocheng, originally Zhao.
