Ghost of Hangu Pass: 5 Against Qin. First Great Coalition War of the Warring States: 函谷关之鬼
This article is an excerpt of a much much longer whole dealing with the great coalitions and diverging Schools of alliances of the Warring States period. The article's length far exists my usual ones and contains about 3 times as much artworks. The link to the article could be found here.
In the traditional Sima Qian and Intrigues of the Warring States 战国策 version, after their early mutual misfortunes, Su Qin and Zhang Yi would then set out to become 2 of the most powerful movers and shapers of their age. Su Qin would become a great minister in Yan and would went on to canvas the rest of the 6 kingdoms together, while Zhang Yi would find his high destiny in Qin and become its Chancellor, protecting it during this period of Qin's darkest peril. But because of authoratative recent archeological discoveries- discoveries that Zhang Yi lived and was in prominence long before Su Qin rose to his height, going forth we shall discontinue this framing.
MIDGAME ENDS- THE FINAL SCRAMBLE
Woe to the Vanquished: The Last Free Small States- yellow arrows represents expansionary conquests that annexed the last free small states. It was during this time, the climax of the mid Warring States period that all other smaller states disappeared. What's more, all 7 of the major surviving states nearly had all declared themselves kings by this time and their domains a kingdom.
Instead, we shall cover the great wars and rivalries from the position of the School of Vertical Alliance vs School of the Horizontal Alliance. With the sources mainly from Records of the Vertical and Horizontal Alliance Schools of Thought 战国纵横家书 and cover great figures such as Gongsun Yan, Zhang Yi, and Su Qin in their respective historical contexts. Rest assured, although what follows will not be one of *Personal duel between Great men (capitalized G), there's actually much more nuance to savor from the details.
In terms of eras: Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi were much more of contemporaries (and rivals) than Zhang Yi and Su Qin. 2. Zhang Yi's era and actions suggested he died earlier before Su Qin came to his prime and their main period of activities are separated by some 30 years. Thus: the conservative basis before we go forth is that: Su Qin and Zhang might not have much personal ploys against each other, it might better to think of "their" conflict as being one of their competing schools rather than a personal rivalry. A detailed examination of how rival philosophical schools personalized into Great larger than life founders could be found here.
A STAR CROSSED RIVALRY IN QIN
Gongsun Yan- a native of Wei and strong believer of the Vertical Alliance eventually rose to great prominence in Qin. Despite his great position within Qin he was concerned about the fate of his native Wei in the Central Plains. After Shang Yang's rise and Qin and Qi's emergence (at great expanse of Wei- and where Yan himself had served as an able general for his Qin host) Gongsun Yan still wanted a mutualist relationship between Qin (his kingdom of employment) and also Wei. A realist at heart, he viewed lopsided imbalance of power as a chasm for endless hellish war, and believed that the best way to guarantee peace between the states is balance of power and concert in unison. However his position at Qin was greatly threatened by a newcomer- Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi was also a native of Wei who according to Sima Qian's "Record of the Grand Historian" and "Intrigue of the Warring States" was once wrongfully and brutally scourged by a high Chu minister after being wrongly accused of having stolen the minister's priceless jewel. Having survived only by an inch of his life. In this traditional narrative it was then that Zhang devoted the rest of his life (and talent of only his tongue) to demolish Chu by propping up Qin as his instrument of bitter revenge. He would be one of the most prominent champions of the School of Horizontal Alliances.
However, although both Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi were natives born form Wei, they held radically opposing views. Zhang was a strong believer in the opposing Horizontal Alliance School and encouraged that Qin's King Huiwen should greatly strengthen Qin, and when it comes to a possible war expanding Qin reach beyond the Hangu Pass in its eastern extreme border and breach into the Central States (like Wei, Zhao, and Han) Qin should feel absolutely free to annex those territories at Wei, Han, and Zhao's expense. Alarmed, Gongsun Yan fiercely protested these advices and the two bitterly argued before King Huiwen. But because Zhang's position faned King Huiwen's innate expansionary ambitions, Gongsun Yan was sidelined, and then, after much of his power was stripped, eventually he retired from Qin- calculating that he was in a dead end inside Qin but his power and vision may be used elsewhere.
.jpg "However, although both Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi were natives born form Wei, they held radically opposing views. Zhang was a strong believer in the opposing Horizontal Alliance School and encouraged that Qin's King Huiwen should greatly strengthen Qin, and when it comes to a possible war expanding Qin reach beyond the Hangu Pass in its eastern extreme border and breach into the Central States (like Wei, Zhao, and Han) Qin should feel absolutely free to annex those territories at Wei, Han, and Zhao's expense. Alarmed, Gongsun Yan fiercely protested these advices and the two bitterly argued before King Huiwen. But because Zhang's position faned King Huiwen's innate expansionary ambitions, Gongsun Yan was sidelined, and then, after much of his power was stripped, eventually he retired from Qin- calculating that he was in a dead end inside Qin but his power and vision may be used elsewhere.")
Though scorned, Gongsu Yan would then embarked on a dramatic series of overtures that would mold many of the remaining small states together against Qin's expansionary ambitions. He returned to his native state of Wei where he was given a position as an official. However, strange footsteps followed in his wake. For only a few short years later in 321 BC, Zhang Yi showed up at Wei, apparently having been stripped of his position in Qin and sought employment. By this point Zhang was known far and wide as a capable scholar and minister and the Wei king soon elevated Zhang to a high position in the Wei court.
WEI AND THE CENTRAL PLAINS QUESTION
"Fool me once~" as the saying goes. The King in Wei at this moment should be quite familiar with us, for he was none other than King Hui. He was the sovereign who turned down Shang Yang's talent and had Shang Yang leaving for employment (and stardom in Qin,) he was also the sovereign who had Sun Bin (supposed descendant of Sun Tzu) in Wei's employment but had him crippled because of alleged treason charges and had him ran to Qi for sanctuary. He is the classic example of a middling hero who lived so long to see everything undone in his life time and his reputation and inheritance ruined. His long life of 81 years and reign of 50 years came at great expense to Wei's fortunes.
When he assumed the Wei mantle Wei was still the proactive hegemon of the Central Plains, it actively sought out talents from across the realm and even when caught flatfooted in battle could resoundly match their foes in blows. However he was the ruler who presided Wei's dramatic fall from power. The 2 figures who originally were employed right under Wei's roof- Shang Yang and Sun Bin would become instrumental in Qin and Qi's respective rejuvenation + military prowess, little more than a decade after each had left Wei, Shang Yang and Sun Bin would come back at the head of 2 respective armies to both Wei's east (Qi) and west (Qin).
.jpg "When he assumed the Wei mantle Wei was still the proactive hegemon of the Central Plains, it actively sought out talents from across the realm and even when caught flatfooted in battle could resoundly match their foes in blows. However he was the ruler who presided Wei's dramatic fall from power. The 2 figures who originally were employed right under Wei's roof- Shang Yang and Sun Bin would become instrumental in Qin and Qi's respective rejuvenation + military prowess, little more than a decade after each had left Wei, Shang Yang and Sun Bin would come back at the head of 2 respective armies to both Wei's east (Qi) and west (Qin).")
In the first great Central Plain's war, despite being caught flatfooted, Wei repelled the invaders and stood its ground- with the help of legendary units such as the Wei Wuzu. However, a decade later, Shang Yang and Sun Bin again attacked Wei, this time Wei suffered 2 catastrophic defeats in both east and west, in the battle of Maling in 342 BC against Qi the entire Wei army was annihilated. Shang Yang then crushed the Wei army in the west and took the Hexi Corridor. After this double calamity- Wei became only a middling power. Wei eventually was made into a junior partner of Qi- in 334 BC with the Qi and Wei rulers (Duke and Marquis respectively) recognizing each other as kings. Soon after other states began to follow too. At this time Wei's main attention was directed westward against Qin. However, even with this stance of alarm, King Hui would host the THIRD major talent that would stomp on his kingdom right under his very roof. Zhang Yi did not came as a victim, he came as a mole.
.jpg "However, even with this stance of alarm, King Hui would host the THIRD major talent that would stomp on his kingdom right under his very roof. Zhang Yi did not came as a victim, he came as a mole.")
When Zhang Yi was promoted to a high position in Wei, Gongsun Yan did not have any illusions that Zhang came as Qin's eyes and ears- and now limbs inside Wei too. However Gongsun Yan treated Zhang kindly. And an instance in Intrigues of the Warring States recorded that when Zhang was assigned to a diplomatic mission east to Qi, before his departure, Gongsun Yan hosted an enormous lavish feast ceremony bidding good fortunes for Zhang's trip and his victorious return.
%20(1).png "When Zhang Yi was promoted to a high position in Wei, Gongsun Yan did not have any illusions that Zhang came as Qin's eyes and ears- and now limbs inside Wei too. However Gongsun Yan treated Zhang kindly. And an instance in Intrigues of the Warring States recorded that when Zhang was assigned to a diplomatic mission east to Qi, before his departure, Gongsun Yan hosted an enormous lavish feast ceremony bidding good fortunes for Zhang's trip and his victorious return.")
Unfortunately for Zhang, when he arrived at Qi he understood why Gongsun Yan was being so publicly gracious. For Gongsun Yan himself came with major baggage. Qi hated Gongsun Yan and blamed him for a number of Wei wrongs against Qi in the past. With this very public fraternization with Zhang, when Zhang arrived in Qi by association Qi believed that Zhang was a friend and proxy of Gongsun Yan. Zhang thus received the unwarranted hate that was due for Gongsun Yan and became his sin eater in Qi. His mission was a failure and nothing was realized. With one elegant banquet, Gongsun Yan had made his enemy hate his enemy.
Tripolar World: Although there's definitely the personal satisfaction angle, Gongsun Yan's actions also had immense geopolitical reasonings. Simply put, Qin (black,) Qi (red,) and Chu (green,) were the 3 major poles of this age and Qin and Chu both had an army around 1,000,000 strong. Caught directly in the middle of the 3 great powers, Wei's fortunes would be met with disaster if Zhang (in reality here to do Qin's bidding) would succeed and form any kind of connections in Qi that he could one day be tapped for Qin's expansionary benefit. As someone entrusted to protect Wei, the worst nightmare would be if Qin, Qi and Chu began to align with each other to jointly partition the small Central Plains states. However with this jockeying of the mighty there lies a hidden pole, a 4th pole if Gongsun Yan could put to great use: the Central Plain states if they could unite as 1 pole (blue.)
GONGSUN YAN HELPED TO USHER THE AGE OF KINGS
To weld the remaining small states (around Wei) Gongsun Yan then made major history. As discussed before. When Wei was humbled in the major 2 front war a generation ago- the reason it survived was because the Qi Duke thereafter arranged a special concession with the then Marquis Hui of Wei to jointly declare each other as Kings.
Rare Warring States period jade pendant depicting 2 long sleeved dancers. The joint recognition of kingship owed to the logic that the realm could only have 1 King from the royal Jia clan of Zhou,) though other semi- Sinicized states like Chu, Wu and Yue have side stepped this restriction with (unofficial) kings not recognized by the Zhou court, only a King can enfeoff a noble or elevate them to a higher rank. In order for feudal lords from the Zhou heartland to do this- and skirt the fact that only the Zhou King was technically given the Mandate of Heaven and consecrated by Heaven's blessing, the solution is that the then Duke of Qi and the Marquis of Wei recognize each other jointly as Kings.
This plan worked and both rose as Kings and turned their states into kingdoms. This way also guarantied Wei would have a more stabilized front with Qi, albeit as a subordinate partner. Taking inspiration from this precedence, Gongsun Yan then encouraged Wei to proactively rope in all of the nearby small states by affirming their own ambitions. In 323 BC, the rulers of the 5 small Central Plains kingdoms- Yan, Han, Wei, Zhao, and the semi- Sinicized state of Zhongshan gathered and each recognized each other as kings. Just like his ploy to undermine Zhang Yi before, this time Gongsun Yan's solution was also very simple and elegant.
With one stroke, most of the remaining small kingdoms- kingdoms that he fully had intention to make them band together anyway- now voluntarily sought out each other for affirmation, legitimacy, and support. His grand plan of Vertical Alliance was taking shape.
This concert of small states did provoke a response however, and that was the nervous enmity from the nearby great powers. Angered by the pretentiousness of these self minted kings Qin, Qi, and Chu treated the central states coldly and told them they do not have the legitimacy for such a move. Furthermore, to demonstrated their ability to overmatch these newly minted kings, Chu invaded Wei from the south and conquered 8 walled cities. This overreaction- however, was also what Gongsun Yan wanted. Now the central states were deeply alarmed and sought protection from their co- affirming neighbors. What's more in each of the 2 steps (now they think alike) and victimization (now they fear alike,) Gongsun Yan made the central states proactive players for their own self preservation.
BROTHERS' KEEPERS- THE CENTRAL PLAINS STAND TOGETHER
%20(1).jpg "As if to prove Gongsun's points true, soon after Chu's brazen overreach, another would try to brute force through the Central Plains. In 320 BC, Qin, under the banner of wanting to invade Qi to the far east requested Wei and Han at sword point to give Qin military access and allow the Qin legions to pass unobstructed through each kingdom. However, Gongsun- by this point long knew Qin's real objective is to conquer both Wei and Han, then thereafter move on to Qi, warned Qi about this. The Qi leadership realized the merit of his argument and allowed Han and Wei to resoundly turn their full attention to Qin. Both Wei and Han rebuffed Qin's demands and Qin invaded Wei and Han in full force. But Qin met with disaster, and at Guanze 观泽 the Han- Wei allies annihilated the Qin army. Guanze became a major object lesson that lend credence to Gongsun Yan's position of a Vertically Aligned Central Plain bloc. In 319 BC, the king of Wei demoted Zhang Yi and made Gongsun Yan Chancellor.")
.jpg "As if to prove Gongsun's points true, soon after Chu's brazen overreach, another would try to brute force through the Central Plains. In 320 BC, Qin, under the banner of wanting to invade Qi to the far east requested Wei and Han at sword point to give Qin military access and allow the Qin legions to pass unobstructed through each kingdom. However, Gongsun- by this point long knew Qin's real objective is to conquer both Wei and Han, then thereafter move on to Qi, warned Qi about this. The Qi leadership realized the merit of his argument and allowed Han and Wei to resoundly turn their full attention to Qin. Both Wei and Han rebuffed Qin's demands and Qin invaded Wei and Han in full force. But Qin met with disaster, and at Guanze 观泽 the Han- Wei allies annihilated the Qin army. Guanze became a major object lesson that lend credence to Gongsun Yan's position of a Vertically Aligned Central Plain bloc. In 319 BC, the king of Wei demoted Zhang Yi and made Gongsun Yan Chancellor.")
As if to prove Gongsun's points true, soon after Chu's brazen overreach, another would try to brute force through the Central Plains. In 320 BC, Qin, under the banner of wanting to invade Qi to the far east requested Wei and Han at sword point to give Qin military access and allow the Qin legions to pass unobstructed through each kingdom. However, Gongsun- by this point long knew Qin's real objective is to conquer both Wei and Han, then thereafter move on to Qi, warned Qi about this. The Qi leadership realized the merit of his argument and allowed Han and Wei to resoundly turn their full attention to Qin. Both Wei and Han rebuffed Qin's demands and Qin invaded Wei and Han in full force. But Qin met with disaster, and at Guanze 观泽 the Han- Wei allies annihilated the Qin army. Guanze became a major object lesson that lend credence to Gongsun Yan's position of a Vertically Aligned Central Plain bloc. In 319 BC, the king of Wei demoted Zhang Yi and made Gongsun Yan Chancellor.
TO CHAIN THE BEAST- GHOST OF HANGU PASS
.jpg "The treacherous Hangu Pass served as Qin's most vital eastern pass. The twisting mountains around here are so forbidding and narrow that at certain choke points only 1 person or 1 chariot could pass through at a time. However, Qin never expected that 5 kingdoms would conspire to crash into this gate to decapitate it in unison.")
.jpg "The treacherous Hangu Pass served as Qin's most vital eastern pass. The twisting mountains around here are so forbidding and narrow that at certain choke points only 1 person or 1 chariot could pass through at a time. However, Qin never expected that 5 kingdoms would conspire to crash into this gate to decapitate it in unison.")
The treacherous Hangu Pass served as Qin's most vital eastern pass. The twisting mountains around here are so forbidding and narrow that at certain choke points only 1 person or 1 chariot could pass through at a time. However, Qin never expected that 5 kingdoms would conspire to crash into this gate to decapitate it in unison.
.png "Qin's defeat in 320 BC demonstrated a key weakness of the Horizontal Alliance school (strong does as they will) in that if a state is not strong enough during times of proving and was seriously checked in it's ambitions, then its credibility based on brute force and threat of its hefty weight will take a major hit. Worse for Qin, Qin's humiliation turned to opportunity for Gongsun Yan and he was able to use the shadow of Qin to stitch together almost all of the none- Qin states except Qi into an anti- Qin alliance (Yan, Wei, Zhao, Han, and now Chu- which, owing to its raw military might became the leader of the coalition.) The alliance swore oaths to heaven, began a general muster and drilled for campaign, and swore to turn their armies against Qin in the west.")
Qin's defeat in 320 BC demonstrated a key weakness of the Horizontal Alliance school (strong does as they will) in that if a state is not strong enough during times of proving and was seriously checked in it's ambitions, then its credibility based on brute force and threat of its hefty weight will take a major hit. Worse for Qin, Qin's humiliation turned to opportunity for Gongsun Yan and he was able to use the shadow of Qin to stitch together almost all of the none- Qin states except Qi into an anti- Qin alliance (Yan, Wei, Zhao, Han, and now Chu- which, owing to its raw military might became the leader of the coalition.) The alliance swore oaths to heaven, began a general muster and drilled for campaign, and swore to turn their armies against Qin in the west.
Arriving near Hangu Pass in 317 BC, with Gongsun Yan as its head, he ordered the armies to encamp for battle but not attack the well entrenched Qin defenders before his order. At this time he was awarded the right to use the seal of all 5 kingdom's Chancellors and was empowered to make decision on the field. Gongsun Yan realized timing is crucial for the force to breach through this disadvantageous choke point and Qin has a strong hand in repelling the coalition army. Furthermore if there's any slipups, the coalition's army, unused to operating with each other might rout and have the rout turn into a collapse. The next major reason for Gongsun Yan's hesitation was his deliberate patience. For he had long been angling a blade behind the Qin defender's backs.
Traditionally to Qin's north and west, there were many fierce barbarian tribes called the Rong- with the most notable among them- the Quanrong responsible for killing the Western Zhou king and forcing Zhou capital to relocate to Luoyang. For centuries Qin had been hammered by countless Rong attacks and several tribes of Rong even forked from the steppe lands to raid into the Central Plains. Fiercely tenacious and excellent charioteers, Rong attacks were so nightmarish that even states like Yan- which sits on the Liaodong Peninsula beside modern Korea and part of modern Shandong in the far east were hammered by Rong raids in the early Spring and Autumn period. Qin eventually annexed and destroyed most of the Rong tribes, however, a major tribe still remained active and dangerous to Qin's northwest, the Yiqu.
%20YIQU%202.png "Before marching against Qin. Gongsun Yan had already sent envoys to the Yiqu and made the case to the Chieftain there. Qin anticipated this and to placate the Yiqu sent vast amount of gold and silver, along with silk brocades and many beautiful women (Qin was renowned for their beautiful women.) Though enamored, the Yiqu Chieftain was not beguiled, and realized that Qin was an existential threat to his state. Once Qin was done with the east it will surely have no reason not to destroy Yiqu. Therefore the Chieftain feigned friendship, then during a decisive moment launched a major invasion that crashed into Qin from the north.")
Before marching against Qin. Gongsun Yan had already sent envoys to the Yiqu and made the case to the Chieftain there. Qin anticipated this and to placate the Yiqu sent vast amount of gold and silver, along with silk brocades and many beautiful women (Qin was renowned for their beautiful women.) Though enamored, the Yiqu Chieftain was not beguiled, and realized that Qin was an existential threat to his state. Once Qin was done with the east it will surely have no reason not to destroy Yiqu. Therefore the Chieftain feigned friendship, then during a decisive moment launched a major invasion that crashed into Qin from the north.
Music: Bleeding Earth
The Yiqu assault was merciless and they won a resounding victory in the north at Libo. Despite this first successful gambit, this did not affect the Qin garrison at the Hangu Pass. Furthermore, there were also complications in Gongsun Yan's alliance. Because of the northeastern state of Yan's vast distance from Qin and thereby virtually never been truly threatened by it, its contribution to the soldiers and war effort was low. Another was the nominal leader of the alliance: Chu.
Bottom: Gold inscriptions on bronze in the shape of bamboo, issued by King Huai of Chu to a vassal king under his rule. King Huai at this time was the head of the 5 kingdom alliance but Chu's contributions in the war effort was very marginal. Chu in the previous several centuries had a reliable relationship with Qin, and did not see Qin as an existential threat. During the Spring and Autumn era Chu and Qin formed a stable alliance that lasted for centuries, and during critical times- as when the kingdom of Wu under the tenure of Wu Zixu sacked the Chu capital and the Chu king took flight from his kingdom, it was Qin that took Chu back from Wu and gave Chu sovereignty back.
As such, much of this 5 kingdom alliance was mainly manned and propped up by the states of Wei, Han, and Zhao (the 3 Jins.) When it was time to commit to major battle against entrenched Qin positions, Qin held on and soaked up the coalition blows in good order. Then the Qin counterattacked.
Music: "Ancient Song of the Qin People" (The Qin Empire series)
.jpg "As such, much of this 5 kingdom alliance was mainly manned and propped up by the states of Wei, Han, and Zhao (the 3 Jins.) When it was time to commit to major battle against entrenched Qin positions, Qin held on and soaked up the coalition blows in good order. Then the Qin counterattacked.")
The counterattack proved deadly and blew the alliance from the field. Despite this rout, it was not a deal breaker. Initial planning by the alliance had incorporated a plan to lure the Qin out of their strong position- out of the Hangu Pass so that then the overextended Qin forces could be lured into the open flat terrains of the Central Plains (home of Wei, Han, and Zhao where they were previously defeated) and have the Qin army attacked from multiple directions.
A Qin dynasty Ji halberdier of the late Warring States era wearing a full suit of armor and heavy helmet. The helmet is reconstructed based on a limestone helmet model excavated from Pit K9801 in the First Emperor's Mausoleum in Xian. By the Warring States era they would have their been made with bronze or iron. The 2 cheek guards are secured together by a knot.
.jpg "Nearly all of its ranks, both military and civilian are highly meritocratic and without class distinction, its economy was both privatized and statist, and it had an extensive system of forges and armories. It's officers are promoted through merit alone and its soldiers are promoted and paid high bonuses based on the enemies they kill (heads.)")
-.jpg "Nearly all of its ranks, both military and civilian are highly meritocratic and without class distinction, its economy was both privatized and statist, and it had an extensive system of forges and armories. It's officers are promoted through merit alone and its soldiers are promoted and paid high bonuses based on the enemies they kill (heads.)")
Nearly all of its ranks, both military and civilian are highly meritocratic and without class distinction, its economy was both privatized and statist, and it had an extensive system of forges and armories. It's officers are promoted through merit alone and its soldiers are promoted and paid high bonuses based on the enemies they kill (heads.)
What they did not anticipate, however, was the extreme ferocity of the Qin pursuit. Even exposed and caught in the open wheat plains of Xiuyu in what is today's northern Henan, the Qin assault overawed the armies of Wei, Zhao, and Han and crushed the coalition army. The defeat was so staggering that the coalition lost more than 80,000 who were then decapitated and several of the coalition's commanders were captured and beheaded.
A prodigious harvest of heads: Simply put Qin at this time had the best military in all of the 7 kingdoms. Raised as a military frontier that endured centuries of barbarian invasions it had long been a warrior culture. After being humbled by Wei in the beginning of the Warring States period it aggressively reformed its economy and military under Shang Yang and emerged a highly meritocratic society. Nearly all of its ranks, both military and civilian are highly meritocratic and without class distinction, its economy was both privatized and statist, and it had an extensive system of forges and armories. It's officers are promoted through merit alone and its soldiers are promoted and paid high bonuses based on the enemies they kill (heads.) Of the many elite warrior units of the Warring States era, Xunzi, the 3rd great Confucian scholar who lived in the tail end of the age remarked Wei Wuzu "Wei Martial Troops" is greater than Qi Jiji "Qi Assault Warriors," however Qin elites are better than all. The term Qin elite is a general term.
Unfortunately for Gongsun Yan the great alliance unraveled here, and the 5 kingdoms departed in separate ways. It was also here that his own limelight ended. We do not know of Gongsun Yan's end and here is where his biography reached its end. One can, however conservatively imagine a great impulse of disappointment. Though in the future, another great advocate of the Vertical Alliance- Su Qin would one day retrace Gongsun Yan's steps and tried to stich together this riven realm and be voted the Chancellor over them all will take up the same fight against Qin. But for now, the next era belonged to Gongsun Yan's rival. Read the full article on the School of Alliances to explore how Zhang Yi crippled Chu from the inside to secure a position of supremacy for Qin the Warring States late game and paved the way for Qin unification of China.
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Comments
A few questions:
1. The ruler of Qi/Lu/Song were Dukes, the ruler of Wei/Zhao/Han were Marquises and the ruler of Qin was an Earl. Were these rough translations of Western feudal titles or did they denote an actual hierarchal system similar to Europe were it went from King/Duke/Marquis/Earl/Baron (and were there powerful rulers who were Barons like the Baron Harkonnen from Dune)?
This system nobility system was from the Zhou Dynasty, but how were Dukes determined from Marquis anyway?
2. You say the armies of the periphery, Qin, Chu and Qi were the largest, but I would have thought the Central Plains states of the Three Jins would have the largest populations, and hence the largest armies? They certainly were the most 'developed' states since it seems the best educated like Shang Yang, Wu Qi, Confucius, Zhang Yi, Gongsun Yan, etc, etc, etc all seem to come from these Central States and not from the barbarian lands of Chu, Yan, Qin?
3. Was Qin really that meritocratic. History books will make Qin look like a modern totalitarian fascistic state created only for war. Do you think there is some exaggeration because they were writing after Qin's Unification? Qin armies were not invincible, often being defeated. But I guess Qin was like the Roman Republic, despite defeats like Cannae they were always able to bounce back and strike back ... and win eventually. Also the size of these armies are hard to believe, ... Qin and Chu could muster 1 million men? Seriously?
4. I've always been interested in the Qin system of Meritocratic Ranks. It's said Shang Yang implemented a system of 18 Ranks in an Order of Merit system (based on the number of heads gained in battle??). It seems bizarre to modern ears. I can't think of any system in the West, especially in the Ancient World that resembles it, being so bureaucratized, meritocratic and it seemed to work! I guess this is how Qin motivated its armies to conquer the world, ... instead of nationalist propaganda (like the World Wars), religious fanaticism (jihad or crusades) or patriotic pride (ancient Rome and Greece).
Thanks again for the great article!
It's worthwhile to point out that Chu and Qin along with Wu + Yue had nearly none when compared to these more literati dominated states. What's more most of those from Chu were from late Chu when Chu's new "heartland" (after losing their ancestral heartland to Qin in 312) were birthed from what was Lu and parts of Song etc.
3. Qin did suffer many upsets and defeats, this is true, but I do not know what the standard of this question is. Like what is it compared to.
Even shining examples often fawned over by military enthusiasts in the west like Sparta and Prussia, + Rome etc's history was often littered with defeats. Frederick the Great had several defeats rubbed under his nose, and after his reputation making victories at Rossbach and Leuthen btw. Teutoburg happened after Augustus was content that he had crushed his most dangerous other Roman rivals. What's more Rome during his golden age was not able to eviscerate Kush and have to settle for armistice. I mean even Thermopylae itself, however rose tinted, was a defeat for the agrandized party. What I am getting at is that each of these major states did suffer great defeats even as they ramped up their power or where in their nominal prime. Mongols suffered many small skirmishes in northern and Central China and around the Diaoyu fort, Napoleon's marshalls despite their immense talents were frequently overmatched when other kingdoms chose to avoid Napoleon himself and attack them instead, and need I point out that the Wehrmacht, which rapidly imposed throughout Europe was destroyed in a litany of defeats?
At this time Qin did suffer quite a number of defeats, Warring States began with the Qin being resoundly humiliated by Wei and loosing 500,000 to an army of 50,000 Wei defenders, then Qin and Wei were contending until Qi and Qin both undercut Wei. But even during this period- during Huiwen's rule as he expanded to the south etc, Qin ^ as this article pointed out suffered at the hands of Han and Wei, 2 of the smallest and most insignificant of the 7 competiting giants. Even when later when King Zhaoxing took over outside of Bai Qi's generalship Qin still suffered many defeats, right before Changping that same decade the Qin army met disaster at the hands of Zhao, and in the later reign of Zhaoxing's rule Qin met further defeats. However despite these anecdotal defeats, Qin was able to regroup, rearm, and quickly return to the fight, taking more and more until its position was such that it was capable of achieving what the 1st Emperor did in 1 decade.
4. Well, there's other societies to reference to, Aztecs for example has an extensive warrior citizen~ proven nobility determined by the captives they bring back from the Flower Wars.