Bai Qi, hailing from Meixian, was a military genius who served as a general for King Zhao of Qin during the Warring States period. In the thirteenth year of Zhao's reign, Bai Qi was promoted to a junior officer and led troops to attack the new city of Han. In the same year, the Prime Minister of Qin, Rang Hou, appointed Ren Bi to guard Hanzhong.
The following year, Bai Qi was elevated to a higher-ranking officer and achieved a decisive victory against the Han-Wei coalition army at Yique, inflicting 240,000 casualties, capturing the Han general Gong Sunxi, and seizing five cities. After that, Bai Qi was promoted to Guowei. He led his forces across the Yellow River, capturing territories in the Han region east of Anyi and advancing all the way to Qianhe.
The next year, Bai Qi was promoted to Daliang Zao. He launched an assault on the state of Wei and emerged victorious, taking a total of sixty-one cities. The following year, Bai Qi and Guest Minister Cuo (a high-ranking advisor) coordinated their efforts to besiege and successfully conquer Yuancheng. Five years later, Bai Qi attacked the state of Zhao, capturing Guanglang City. Seven years later, Bai Qi targeted the state of Chu and overran five cities, including Yan and Deng.
In the subsequent year, Bai Qi once again set his sights on Chu, breaching the capital city of Ying, burning down Yiling, and advancing all the way to Jingling. The King of Chu fled from Ying to the state of Chen. Qin subsequently renamed Ying as Nanjun, and Bai Qi was ennobled as Marquis Wu'an. Marquis Wu'an continued his pursuit, capturing Wujun and Qianzhong Jun.
In the thirty-fourth year of King Zhao's reign, Bai Qi attacked the state of Wei, seizing Huayang, defeating Mangmao, capturing the generals of Sanjin (the three Jin states), and destroying 130,000 enemy soldiers. He also clashed with the Zhao general Jia Yan, drowning 20,000 Zhao troops in the Yellow River. In the forty-third year of King Zhao's reign, Bai Qi targeted the city of Xing in Han, capturing five cities and eliminating 50,000 enemy combatants. In the forty-fourth year, Bai Qi launched an offensive on the Taihang Road in Nanyang, a strategically vital route that he successfully cut off.
In the forty-fifth year, the state of Qin attacked the Ye region of Han. The Ye king surrendered to Qin, and the road to Shangdang County was cut off by the Qin army. Shangdang County's official Feng Ting and the people discussed, "We're cut off from Han; they can't protect us anymore. The Qin army is growing stronger every day, and Han is unable to rescue us. It's better to offer Shangdang to the state of Zhao. If Zhao takes us in, Qin will surely attack them. Once Zhao is attacked by Qin, they will definitely help Han. In this way, Han and Zhao will be united against Qin." So Feng Ting sent someone to seek help from the state of Zhao.
King Xiaocheng of Zhao and his advisors, Pingyang Jun and Pingyuan Jun, debated the issue. Pingyang Jun said, "We shouldn't accept; the risks outweigh the rewards." Pingyuan Jun said, "A free county? We should take it!" Zhao accepted Shangdang and made Feng Ting the Huayang Jun.
The next year, Qin took Goushi and Lin from Han.
In the forty-seventh year, the state of Qin sent Wang He, the Qin state's left-wing commander, to attack the state of Han, and successfully captured Shangdang. The people of Shangdang all fled to the state of Zhao. The Zhao army stationed at Changping to protect these Shangdang people. In April, Wang He seized the opportunity and attacked the state of Zhao. Zhao sent General Lian Po to lead the troops. A Zhao detachment clashed with Qin scouts, resulting in the death of Zhao deputy general Jia. In June, the Qin army broke through the Zhao army's defenses, capturing two passes and four counties. In July, the Zhao army built fortifications for defense. The Qin army attacked the Zhao army's fortifications again, captured two counties, defeated the Zhao army, and took the western fortifications. Lian Po adopted a scorched-earth policy, waiting for the Qin army to attack. Despite multiple challenges from the Qin army, the Zhao army refused to engage in battle. King Zhao constantly chewed out Lian Po. At this time, the state of Qin sent a thousand gold pieces to the state of Zhao through a messenger, spreading disinformation, saying: "The state of Qin fears most the general Zhao Kuo; Lian Po is a pushover, he might even roll over!" Hearing this, King Zhao, already angry because Lian Po had suffered defeats and heavy losses, replaced Lian Po with Zhao Kuo in battle.
The state of Qin heard that the Zhao army general, Zhao Kuo, was coming, so they secretly appointed Bai Qi as the general and Wang Jue as the vice general. They also ordered that anyone who leaked the news that Bai Qi was the main general would be executed. When Zhao Kuo arrived at Changping, he took the initiative to attack. The Qin army pretended to be defeated and fled, then used a pincer movement to ambush the Zhao army. The Zhao army, flushed with victory, pursued them to their camp. The camp was impregnable, and the Zhao army could not break through. At this time, the Qin army's 25,000 reserve troops cut off the Zhao army's retreat, and another 5,000 cavalry severed their supply lines. The Zhao army was split and surrounded, their supply lines severed. The Qin army sent light troops to attack the Zhao army. The Zhao army's attack faltered, so they built a camp and waited for reinforcements to arrive. Hearing that the Zhao army's supply lines were cut, King Qin personally went to Hedong, granted titles and promotions to all, and ordered everyone over the age of fifteen to come to Changping to cut off Zhao's reinforcements and food supply.
By September, the Zhao soldiers had endured 46 days of starvation, resorting to cannibalism. They tried to break through the Qin army's encirclement by dividing into four teams and repeatedly attacking, but their repeated assaults failed. General Zhao Kuo, leading a desperate charge of his elite troops, was killed by Qin arrows. The Zhao army was defeated, and 400,000 Zhao soldiers surrendered to Bai Qi. Bai Qi thought, "Qin already took Shangdang, but those people ran to Zhao instead of submitting. These Zhao soldiers are unreliable. If I don't kill them all, they'll cause trouble later." Bai Qi, therefore, ordered the massacre of all 400,000 Zhao soldiers, leaving only 240 children to be sent back to Zhao. The slaughter and capture of 450,000 men left Zhao utterly devastated.
In October of the 48th year, the Qin state once again conquered the Shangdang commandery. The Qin army split into two routes: Wang He attacked Pila, quickly capturing it; Sima Geng pacified Taiyuan. Both the Han state and the Zhao state were very afraid, so they sent Su Dai with many gifts to persuade the Qin state's Yinghou (Fan Ju), saying, "Has General Bai Qi already conquered Ma Fuzi (Zhao Kuo)?" Yinghou replied, "Yes." Su Dai then asked, "Does this mean they will surround Handan?" Yinghou said, "Yes." Su Dai continued, "If the Zhao state is destroyed, the Qin king can proclaim himself king, and General Bai Qi can become a San Gong (three highest-ranking ministers). General Bai Qi has fought for the Qin state, captured over seventy cities, pacified Yan, Ying, and Hanzhong in the south, and defeated Zhao Kuo's army in the north, with achievements rivaling those of Zhou Gong, Zhao Gong, and Jiang Taigong. Now that the Zhao state is destroyed, the Qin king proclaims himself king; General Bai Qi will definitely become a San Gong. Can you stand being under him? Even if you don't want to, you might not have a choice. Previously, the Qin state attacked the Han state, surrounded Xingqiu, and besieged Shangdang, causing the people of Shangdang to turn to the Zhao state. The common people have long resented Qin's rule. Now that the Zhao state is destroyed, the northern land belongs to the Yan state, the eastern land belongs to the Qi state, and the southern land belongs to the Han and Wei states. How many people can you get? So why not take this opportunity to give up some territory and make peace, and stop trying to take credit for Bai Qi?" Therefore, Yinghou advised the Qin king, "The soldiers of the Qin army are already very tired; please allow the Han state and the Zhao state to give up land and seek peace, and let the soldiers rest." The Qin king followed his advice and accepted the conditions of the Han state ceding Yuan Yong and the Zhao state giving up six cities. In January, the Qin army withdrew. General Bai Qi heard about this, and from then on, he and Yinghou Fan Ju became enemies.
In September, Qin sent more troops, and a general named Wang Ling was dispatched to attack Zhao's Handan. At that time, the veteran general Bai Qi was sick and unable to lead the troops. In January of the forty-ninth year, Wang Ling began to attack Handan but didn’t get far. Qin sent more troops to support Wang Ling. As a result, Wang Ling lost several units. Bai Qi recovered from his illness, and the Qin king wanted Bai Qi to take over. Bai Qi said, "Handan's a tough nut to crack! And other states' armies are about to arrive – they've hated Qin guts for ages. Sure, we won Changping, but we lost most of our army, leaving the country weak. Marching all this way to attack their capital, with Zhao fighting back and other states attacking from the outside? We're doomed! No way!" The Qin king hesitated and did not make a decision; he sent Ying Hou to persuade him, but Bai Qi flatly refused, claiming he was still ill.
King Zhaoxiang of Qin had no choice but to send Wang He to replace Wang Ling in commanding the army, surrounding Handan in the eighth or ninth month, but still could not capture it. The State of Chu sent Lord Chunshen, and the State of Wei sent Lord Xinling, leading tens of thousands of troops to attack the Qin army, resulting in heavy losses for the Qin army. Bai Qi said, "If only the King had listened to me!" When King Zhaoxiang heard this, he was furious and insisted on sending Bai Qi into battle. Bai Qi claimed to be seriously ill and unable to go. Despite Marquis Ying's attempts to persuade him, Bai Qi still refused. Therefore, King Zhaoxiang removed Bai Qi from his position, demoted him to an ordinary soldier, and sent him to a remote place. Bai Qi was too ill to walk. After three months, the attacks from the vassal states on the Qin army became increasingly fierce, with the Qin army repeatedly retreating and a steady stream of messengers begging for help. Only then did King Zhaoxiang send someone to bring Bai Qi back, not allowing him to stay in Xianyang. Bai Qi set out and had just left the west gate of Xianyang and reached Duyou after ten li when King Zhaoxiang, Marquis Ying, and the other ministers decided, "Bai Qi has been demoted; he's probably got a grudge and might badmouth us." King Zhaoxiang then sent a sword to him, asking him to commit suicide. Bai Qi, holding the sword, prepared to kill himself, saying, "What the hell did I do to deserve this?" After a long time, he said, "I deserved to die. In the Battle of Changping, tens of thousands of soldiers from the State of Zhao surrendered, and I used a stratagem to massacre them all. That's enough to get me executed!" And so, Bai Qi took his own life. Bai Qi died in the eleventh month of the fiftieth year of King Zhaoxiang's reign. His death was unjust, and he was mourned throughout the land.
Wang Jian was from Pingyang Dongxiang. He'd loved fighting since he was a boy and later followed Qin Shi Huang. In the eleventh year of Qin Shi Huang's reign, Wang Jian led troops to attack the Eyu of Zhao State, won the battle, and conquered nine cities in a row. Over a year later, he'd conquered all of Zhao. The King of Zhao surrendered, and Zhao was reorganized into Qin counties. The following year, Yan State sent Jing Ke to assassinate the King of Qin, so the King of Qin sent Wang Jian against Yan. The King of Yan fled to Liaodong, and Wang Jian captured Ji, Yan's capital, before returning. Then, Wang Jian's son, Wang Ben, attacked Chu, and the Chu army was defeated. Next, they attacked Wei State; the King of Wei surrendered, and Wei was also taken by Qin. Qin Shi Huang had conquered Han, Zhao, and Wei, while the King of Yan fled and had repeatedly beaten the Chu army. Qin State's general Li Xin, young and brave, once chased the Yan crown prince to the Yanshui River with thousands of men and finally defeated him. Qin Shi Huang thought Li Xin was both powerful and brave. Qin Shi Huang then asked Li Xin, "I want to attack Chu State. How many troops do you think we need to take down?" Li Xin replied, "Twenty thousand men would be plenty." Qin Shi Huang then asked Wang Jian, who said, "I'd need at least sixty thousand men." Qin Shi Huang responded, "Wang, you're getting old. What's with the cold feet? Li's young and strong; he's right." So Qin Shi Huang sent Li Xin and Meng Tian south with twenty thousand men to attack Chu. Wang Jian claimed he didn't need that many troops, feigned illness, and retired to Pingyang.
Li Xin attacked Pingyu, Meng Tian attacked Qin, and the Chu army suffered a major defeat. Li Xin then attacked Yan and Ying, also winning, before leading his troops west to meet up with Meng Tian in Chengfu. The Chu army relentlessly pursued them for three days and nights, routing Li Xin's army, breaking through the Qin army's flanks, killing seven lieutenants, and causing the Qin army to flee.
Upon hearing the news of Li Xin's defeat, Qin Shi Huang was furious and personally rushed to Pinyang to find Wang Jian, who was sick at home. He angrily said, "I didn't listen to your advice before, and now Li Xin has utterly disgraced the Qin army. I heard that the Chu army is pushing westward day by day. General, can you bear to let me down?" Wang Jian declined, saying, "I'm seriously ill and confused. Find someone else, then." Qin Shi Huang said, "Enough! That's it!" However, Wang Jian insisted, "If Your Majesty insists on using me, at least give me 600,000 troops." Qin Shi Huang said, "Then follow the general's plan!" So Wang Jian led 600,000 troops, and Qin Shi Huang personally saw him off at Bashang.
Before setting off, Wang Jian requested lots of land, houses, gardens, and even some ponds. Qin Shi Huang said, "General, you are going to war, are you still worried about being poor?" Wang Jian replied, "Even if I win big, I might not get rewarded. So while Your Majesty still values me, I should quickly request some land and property to leave a family legacy for my descendants." Qin Shi Huang laughed heartily. After arriving at Hangu Pass, Wang Jian sent someone back to request even more land, a total of five batches. Someone remarked, "General, you are asking for too many rewards!" Wang Jian explained, "No. That guy's paranoid and doesn't trust anyone. Now he has entrusted the elite troops of Qin to me. If I don't request more land and property for my descendants as a guarantee, it might make the King suspicious of me, and that'd be a recipe for disaster."
So Wang Jian took over from Li Xin and led the attack on Chu. When news reached Chu that Wang Jian was bringing in reinforcements, they concentrated all their forces to resist the Qin army. After Wang Jian arrived, he dug in, refusing to engage despite repeated Chu challenges. Wang Jian made sure his men were well-fed, well-rested, and well-cared for, even sharing their meals. After a long time, he sent scouts to check on the troops, who reported, "We're playing jacks and seeing who can throw the farthest!" Wang Jian was delighted and said, "The soldiers can be used!" After repeated unsuccessful challenges, the Chu army retreated eastward. Wang Jian seized the opportunity, led the army to pursue, ordered the elite troops to launch an attack, and defeated the Chu army. At Qinan, the Qin army killed the Chu army's main general Xiang Yan, and the Chu army routed and scattered. The Qin army pursued the victory, conquering Chu cities. More than a year later, they captured King Fu Chou, completely subduing Chu and reorganizing it into counties. Next, Qin Shi Huang launched a southern campaign against the Baiyue. Wang Jian's son, Wang Ben, together with Li Xin, pacified the Yan State and the Qi State. In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang unified China, and Wang Jian and Meng Tian were celebrated for their crucial roles in this achievement.
During the reign of the Second Emperor Qin, both Wang Jian and his son Wang Ben died, and the Qin Dynasty annihilated the Meng clan. Chen Sheng rebelled against Qin, and the Qin Dynasty sent Wang Jian's grandson Wang Li to attack the recently re-established Zhao state, trapping the King of Zhao and Zhang Er in Julu City. Some people said, "Wang Li is a famous general of the Qin Kingdom! Now let him lead the powerful Qin army to attack the newly revived Zhao state, and victory is certain!" Another person said, "It's a curse—generals' families always fall by the third generation. Why will they fail? Because they have killed too many; their descendants will pay the price. Now Wang Li is already a third-generation general." Not long after, Xiang Yu came to rescue the Zhao Kingdom, defeated the Qin army, captured Wang Li, and Wang Li's army surrendered to the rebel armies.
Sima Qian said: As the saying goes, "Every dog has its day." Bai Qi was a brilliant strategist, always a step ahead of his enemies, and renowned for his surprise victories, but he failed to solve the troubles brought by Ying Hou (referring to Fan Ju). Wang Jian, as a veteran general of the Qin Kingdom, eliminated the six states. At that time, he was a highly esteemed general, respected by Qin Shi Huang, but he failed to assist Qin Shi Huang in establishing a just and stable reign and consolidating the foundation of the country. Instead, he only focused on sycophancy and self-serving ambition, ultimately leading to the decline of his family. It is no wonder that his grandson Wang Li was captured by Xiang Yu! Each man had his flaws, ultimately leading to their downfall.
