The Warring States period saw various feudal lords competing for annexation and expansion.

  The fate of the world is unpredictable, and prosperity does not necessarily last forever. The Xia Dynasty once flourished under Emperor Yao and Shun, but today it is the Southern Sea that shines brightly as a symbol of China's glory, spanning five thousand years in the blink of an eye.

  The Zhou Dynasty originated from the Western Rong and Northern Di tribes, occupying the Central Plains to inherit the orthodox tradition. However, when the Zhou king's virtue declined and his power waned, the vassals became powerful. The Spring and Autumn period saw the rise of five hegemons, who took turns ruling.

  Among the five hegemons, Jin was the most prosperous, but its vast territory and strong rivers eventually led to its decline and division into three states: Han, Wei, and Zhao. The Jin royal house never recovered from this downfall, a case of self-destruction.

  The Qin state originated from the Western Qiang and Di tribes, with brave warriors on the western borders. After Chu's King Wu established his hegemony, the Qin state was finally recognized as one of the vassal states. However, Qin rapidly rose to power and eventually became the ruling dynasty, a case of decline leading to prosperity.

  By the Warring States period, the Zhou royal house had shrunk to the point where it was no longer even comparable to the small state of Zhongshan. This is an example of how prosperity does not necessarily last forever.

  In the past, the 1,800 states established by King Wu of Zhou had dwindled to just a few dozen, with half of them already absorbed into the Chu state, forming the north-south divide that would characterize China for the next two thousand years. At this point, only eight states were qualified to contend for hegemony: Chu, Qin, Qi, Wei, Zhao, Han, Yan, and Yue.

  Wei was the first to gain heaven's favor, possessing geographical advantages and a strong population, reenacting the Spring and Autumn period's pattern of hegemony. However, Chu had been seeking to unify the vassals since King Zhuang's time, while Qi had been striving for dominance since Duke Huan's rise to power. Qin, on the other hand, sought to inherit the Zhou tradition, occupying the Central Plains to rule over the world.

  It seems that Wei's King Hui would have to face challenges from Chu, Qi, Qin, Zhao, and Yue. So, who would be qualified to succeed King Hui as hegemon? The answer lies among the three states of Chu, Qi, and Qin.

  Since the time of King Xuan of Chu, there had been a period of peace and rest. At that time, the power of the three Jin states (Wei, Zhao, and Han) and the two states of Qin and Qi was increasing daily, competing with each other, especially Wei and Qi were flourishing. King Huiwen of Wei launched eastern and western campaigns, invading south and fighting north, becoming the overlord of the world, dominating the whole country.

  At that time, Chu and Qin were related by marriage, supporting each other, jointly resisting the southern invasion and western campaign of Wei and Qi, and achieved victories in Shangluo and Sui. In the fifth year of King Xuan of Chu, the three Jin states (Wei, Zhao, and Han) launched a western campaign against Qin, Qin fought with Wei and Zhao in Shanbei and Hexi, and with Wei and Han in Luonan, the three Jin states joined forces, defeating the Qin army repeatedly, the Wei army took Huayin and Tongguan in Hexi, the Zhao army captured Yuguang and Yan'an in Shanbei, and the Han army took Lingbao to Tongguan.

  In the southeastern part of Shaanxi, the armies of Wei and Han joined forces, greatly defeating the Qin army in Luonan, pointing their swords at Shangzhou. When King Xuan of Chu heard the news, he immediately raised an army of 100,000 men, passing through Wuguan (Wu Pass) and Shangdu (Danfeng), to Shangzhou, engaging in a great battle with the combined forces of Han and Wei.

  The next year, the combined forces of Chu and Qin, numbering 180,000 men, defeated the 200,000-strong combined forces of Wei and Han at Danyang in Shangzhou, and also greatly defeated the combined forces of Wei and Han in Luonan that same year. The Wei army retreated to Tongguan and Anyi, while the Han army retreated to the three rivers area of Luodi.

  At that time, Chu was a great power, with a vast territory of over 3,000 miles, and an army of over 700,000 men, having been related by marriage to Qin for generations. Therefore, King Xuan of Chu gave the area north of Shangzhou to Duke Xian of Qin, who was deeply grateful.

  Later, King Xuan of Chu led his army northward, fighting with the Wei army at Luyang and Yuzhou, greatly defeating the Wei army, recovering the territories of Luyang and Yuzhou, and besieging the Wei army in Xuchang. The Qin army fought with the Wei army at Shimen and Shaoliang, although the Qin army was greatly defeated by the Wei army, they still could not recover the territory west of the river.

  King Xuan of Chu then led his army to attack the state of Qi, defeating the Qi army in a great battle, capturing the Qi general Nao Chi.

  Years later, Qin Xiangong died and his son Xiaogong took over at the age of 21. In the first year of Qin Xiaogong's reign, there were six powerful countries east of the rivers and mountains of Qin: Qi Weiwang, Chu Xuangong, Wei Huiwenwang, Yan Daowang, Han Aihou, and Zhao Chenghou stood together. There were still more than a dozen small countries between Huainan and Sishang. Chu, Wei, and Han shared borders with Qin. Wei built the Great Wall from northwest of present-day Shaanxi's Huaxian to the north along the Luohe River basin, passing through Jingbian and Yulin, northeast to the Hequ area, occupying the land of Shangjun in the north. Chu controlled the areas south of Hanzhong and Shangyong, with Bazhou and Qianzhong in the south. The Zhou royal house was weak, and the vassals fought for hegemony, competing to annex each other. Qin, however, remained isolated in Yongzhou, subject to Wei's bullying in the east and relying on Chu's support in the south, unable to participate in the alliances of the Central Plains vassals. Therefore, Qin Xiaogong worked hard to govern, lived frugally, widely bestowed favors, recruited soldiers and bought horses, and made rewards clear. He also issued a proclamation to the world saying: "In the past, my Qin Mugong governed from Qishan and Yongzhou, cultivated virtue and wielded military power, took Guanzhong and Shanbei, pacified the Jin chaos east of the Yellow River, and ruled over the Rongdi in the west, expanding our territory by a thousand miles. The Son of Heaven enfeoffed him as a duke, and all the vassals congratulated him, laying the foundation for our state's great enterprise. This is indeed a glorious and honorable thing! In the past, when Dukes Ai, You, and Jian were in power, family affairs were not peaceful, and the country was plagued by internal worries, with no leisure to attend to external matters. The three Jin states attacked and seized the land west of the Yellow River from my ancestors, and all the vassals looked down on Qin and its people. This is indeed a hateful thing! When Xiangong took power, he pacified the borders, moved the capital to Yongcheng, and wanted to launch an eastern campaign to recover Mugong's former territory and restore his policies. I constantly think of my ancestors' intentions and feel pain in my heart. If there are guests, officials, or scholars from all over the world who can come up with a surprising plan to make Qin strong and prosperous, I will honor them as high officials and share the land with them, enjoying the good fortune together." Then, he sent troops to besiege Shancheng in the east and behead the Rongdi king in the west. However, Wei Huiwenwang was the strongest in the world at that time, and Qin Xiaogong had no power to oppose him, suffering repeated humiliation from the state of Wei.

  When Wei Yang heard about Qin Xiao Gong's edict to the world, he immediately sold his pots and pans, borrowed money from all sides, and managed to meet with Qin Xiao Gong. Wei Yang was originally a native of the state of Wei, but for the sake of fame and wealth, he did not hesitate to sell out his wife, daughters, ancestors, and masters, seeking glory and spreading his notorious name far and wide. Previously, he had relied on someone to meet with King Hui Wen of Wei, and in order to curry favor with the king, he had severed his ties with the state of Wei, changed his surname to Wei, and named himself Yang, demonstrating his loyalty. When King Hui Wen of Wei listened to Wei Yang's so-called methods for enriching the country and strengthening its military, he said: "Have you not heard that those who are benevolent have no enemies, and those who are righteous can overcome any obstacle?" He did not use Wei Yang. Wei Yang then went to the state of Qin, where he again changed his surname to Qin and named himself Yang, becoming Qin Yang. As a result, Qin Xiao Gong summoned Qin Yang and gave him an important position. Thus, Qin Yang began to reform laws and punishments, imposing all sorts of cruel penalties on the people of Qin. The outcome of the harsh officials and severe punishments was that they could only treat the people of Qin as tools for killing and slaughter. Qin Yang's method of rewarding military achievements by cutting off heads and seizing cities was merely a superficial display of bravery, but in reality, it was all about personal gain, with people treating each other like beasts, and humanity being extinguished. As a result, the state of Qin and its army earned the reputation of being a country of tigers and wolves, and an army of jackals and wolves, which was completely at odds with Qin Xiao Gong's so-called benevolent reign. However, can training people to become ferocious beasts really make them invincible in the world? The ministers Gan Long and Du Zuo did not think so, and they said to Qin Xiao Gong: "If Qin wants to expand eastward and form alliances with other states, it should first eliminate the misunderstandings of the people of the Central Plains towards the people of Qin, practice great righteousness throughout the world, spread virtue and kindness among all people, and establish trust and credibility in all four seas. This is the foundation for enriching the country and strengthening its military. The methods of Wei Yang are nothing but the tactics of a man without a ruler or a father. When Qin becomes the dominant power in the world, it will also be the time when its strength has reached its peak." Qin Xiao Gong was eager for quick success and did not listen to the advice of Gan Long, Du Zuo, and others.

  In the 16th year of Chu Xuanwang, Wei Huìwén Wáng launched a southern expedition and clashed with the Chu army south of Xuchang and northwest of Yuzhou, Gu Cheng. Both sides deployed 200,000 troops each. The Chu army was defeated by the Wei forces south of Xuchang. Han Ai Hou sent 100,000 troops to assist the Wei army in attacking the Chu forces. Chu Xuanwang retreated to defend Fangye, Ruzhou, Yuzhou, and Gu Cheng, which were then occupied by the Han and Wei armies.

  Wei Yang took advantage of this opportunity to lead the Qin army eastward and clashed with the Wei army west of the Yellow River, defeating them at Huayin. The Qin army then marched towards Tongguan, Hancheng, and Anyi. At that time, the main force of the Wei army was stuck in a stalemate with the Chu forces at Xuchang and Yuzhou, leaving their defenses weak in Huayin and west of the Yellow River.

  Wei Huìwén Wáng heard the news and hastily dispatched 200,000 troops from Jincheng and Jinzhong to Anyi. He defeated Qin Yang at Hancheng and Tongguan, repelling the Qin army's attack. Qin Yang then led his army southward to attack the Han forces in Luochuan, expanding their territory north of Shangnan.

  In the 27th year of Chu Xuan Wang, that is, in 343 BC, King Huiwen of Wei ordered his general Pang Juan to lead an army of 300,000 soldiers to attack Zhao and Qi. The king of Qi, using Sun Bin's tactics of feigning weakness and luring the enemy deep into their territory, defeated Pang Juan at the Battle of Maling, almost annihilating the entire Wei army.

  As a result of this defeat, the state of Wei was severely weakened, having already been exhausted from years of continuous warfare. The position of King Huiwen as the dominant power in the land began to shake, and the king of Qi became increasingly arrogant, believing that he alone should be the dominant power.

  Qin Xiao took advantage of the situation and led an army of 200,000 Qin soldiers eastward to attack the Wei army, with the intention of capturing the western regions of the Wei state. The Zhao army also took advantage of the situation and launched a full-scale attack on the city of Anyang in the Wei state.

  King Huiwen of Wei faced with the invasion of his country by the armies of Qi, Zhao, and Qin, ordered his generals to lead their troops to resist the enemy: the army of Daliang and Puyang was sent to fight against the Qi army; Prince Wu of Wei led an army of 200,000 soldiers from Anyi and Luoyang to fight against the Qin army under Qin Xiao; while King Huiwen himself led his army to fight against the Zhao army.

  Later, due to the defeat of Prince Wu at the hands of Wei Yang, who had been deceived by him, the Wei state suffered another defeat in Huaxin, western Henan, and was forced to cede territory to Qi and surrender Anyang to Zhao. Alas! The state of Wei had just suffered a disastrous defeat at Maling, losing tens of thousands of soldiers, and now it had lost again in Huaxin, suffering casualties of over 100,000 men, its national strength declining with each passing year.