Dynasties of ChinaWarring States periodQin State
Reign 249–247 BCE
Lü Buwei, who was born in Proton, supported him with all his money. In three years of his reign, he destroyed the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and established Sanchuan County, starting a unified eastward march.
Ying Zichu, whose real name is Yiren, is the bastard son of King Xiaowen. His biological mother Xia Ji was not favored, so he was sent to Handan, Zhao State, as a hostage and lived in embarrassment. Around 265 BC, Lü Buwei, a great businessman from Yangzhai, passed by Handan and called him a "wonderful person to live in". He offered money to make friends with him, and brought a large amount of money to Qin to persuade Hua Yangfuren to make him an adopted child, so he changed his name to Zichu. In 257 BC, the Qin army besieged Handan. The Zhao people wanted to kill Zi Chu, but Lü Buwei bribed the guards with gold so that he could escape back to the Qin army camp. His wife Zhao Ji and son Ying Zheng stayed in Zhao.
In 250 BC, the King Xiaowen died, and Zichu ascended the throne. Lü Buwei was appointed as the prime minister, and he was granted the title of Marquis Wenxin and fed 100,000 households in Luoyang. In 249 BC, Lü Buwei led his army to destroy the Eastern Zhou Kingdom. Meng Ao captured Chenggao and Xingyang in South Korea and established Sanchuan County. The border of Qin State reached Daliang; in 248 BC, he also captured 37 cities including Taiyuan of Zhao Kingdom. In 247 BC, Xin Lingjun led the five-nation coalition to defeat Meng Ao outside Hebei and chased him to Hangu Pass. King Zhuangxiang died in the same year at the age of thirty-four, and was succeeded by his 13-year-old son Ying Zheng.
PeopleLü Buwei meets Zi Chu
Lü Buwei, a businessman from Yangzhai, saw Zi Chu, the protégé of Qin, in Handan. He thought "this rare thing is worth living in" and spent a thousand gold to make friends with him. He also spent five hundred gold to buy rare things and brought them to Qin to visit Hua Yangfuren.
Lasting legacyThis is where the idiom "a rare thing can live" comes from.
MilitaryEscape from Handan
The Qin army besieged Handan, and Zhao wanted to kill his protégé Zi Chu to vent his anger. Lü Buwei used 600 kilograms of gold to bribe the officials guarding the city, so that Zi Chu could sneak out of the city and return to the Qin army camp. His wife Zhao Ji and their youngest son Ying Zheng hid in Zhao's mother's house.
PoliticsAscended to the throne and paid homage to the Prime Minister
King Xiaowen died, and Zi Chu ascended the throne as King Zhuangxiang. He appointed Lü Buwei as the Prime Minister, granted him the title of Marquis Wenxin, and granted him a home for 100,000 households in Luoyang, Henan Province. He also honored Hua Yangfuren as the Queen Mother of Huayang, and his biological mother Xia Ji as the Queen Mother of Xia.
MilitaryDestroy the Eastern Zhou Kingdom
The Lord of Eastern Zhou and the princes planned to attack Qin. Lü Buwei led his army to destroy the Kingdom of Eastern Zhou and moved the Lord of Eastern Zhou to Yangrenju. The last territory of Zhou was merged into the Kingdom of Qin, and the sacrifices of the Zhou Dynasty were discontinued.
MilitaryLocated in Sanchuan County
Meng Ao captured Chenggao and Xingyang in South Korea and established Sanchuan County, which governed the area of Luoyang and Zhengzhou in present-day Henan. The border of Qin State was bordered by Daliang, the capital of Wei, and the passage out of the Central Plains in the east was wide open.
Lasting legacySanchuan County was governed in the area of present-day Luoyang, Henan Province; the names of Chenggao and Xingyang are still used today, and today is Xingyang City, Henan Province.
MilitaryTake Zhao Taiyuan
Meng Ao and Wang Lu captured thirty-seven cities in Zhao Guo, including Yuci, Xincheng, and Langmeng, and established Taiyuan County. Qin's power penetrated into central Shanxi.
Lasting legacyThe name of Qin Taiyuan County is still used today, and Taiyuan City, the capital of Shanxi Province, was named after it.
MilitaryXin Lingjun breaks the Qin Dynasty
Wei Guoxin Lingjun Wuji returned to the country and led the five-nation coalition forces of Wei, Zhao, Han, Chu, and Yan. They defeated the Qin army led by Meng Ao outside the river and pursued them to Hangu Pass. The Qin army cowered and did not dare to come out, which shocked the world.
PoliticsKing Zhuangxiang passed away
King Zhuangxiang reigned for only three years and died in 247 BC at the age of thirty-four. The thirteen-year-old Crown Prince Ying Zheng succeeded to the throne, and Lü Buwei presided over the government as Prime Minister and "Second Father". The Qin State entered the period of Lü Buwei's rule.
He became the Prime Minister of Qin from a businessman and presided over the destruction of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. After the death of King Zhuangxiang, he continued to assist Ying Zheng and organized his disciples to compile "Lu's Spring and Autumn Period". Later, he was implicated in Lao Ai's case and was exempted from moving to Shu. He drank poison and committed suicide.
A native of Qi State, he served as King Zhaoxiang, King Zhuangxiang and King Zheng of Qin in three dynasties. He captured Chenggao and Xingyang, established Sanchuan County, and captured thirty-seven cities of Zhao State. He was the founder of the lineage of his descendants Mengwu and Meng Tian.
A native of Handan, it is said that she was a singing and dancing girl who married a son of Chu and gave birth to Ying Zheng. After the death of Prince Zhuangxiang, she was honored as the Queen Mother. Later, she had an affair with Lao Ai, which led to the Lao Ai Rebellion.
Named Wuji, he stayed in Zhao for ten years after stealing talismans to save Zhao. He returned to Wei in 247 BC and led the five-nation coalition to defeat Meng Ao outside the river.