Chapter 1: The Warring States PeriodThe various lords of the states contended with each other for annexation and hegemony. Qin Xiao Gong recruited men of talent.

  The fate of the world, the prosperous may not necessarily decline, and the declining may not necessarily prosper. (This book is reprinted from Literary Network.) In the past, Xia Miao, Yao Shun, today's South China Sea, shining China, five thousand years in a flash. The Zhou Dynasty was originally from the Western Rong and Northern Di, occupying the Central Plains to inherit the orthodox. When the Zhou king's virtue declined and his power was exhausted, the vassals sat on their thrones. The Spring and Autumn period began with the rise of the Five Hegemons, taking turns in power. Among the Five Hegemons, the State of Jin was the most prosperous, but unfortunately, it was strong and powerful, and its prosperity would inevitably decline, splitting into the three states of Han, Wei, and Zhao. The Jin Dynasty could not return to its former glory, this is called self-destruction. Qin was originally from the Western Qiang and Di Rong, with a heroic spirit in the western border, and only after King Chu established his hegemony did Qin begin to be counted among the vassals. However, Qin was able to rise rapidly and eventually become the king, this is called the declining can prosper. By the time of the Warring States period, the Zhou royal house had shrunk within Luoyang, and was no longer comparable to even a small state like Zhongshan. This is called the prosperous may not necessarily decline. In those days, among the one thousand eight hundred states established by King Wu of Zhou, only a few dozen remained, with half already being absorbed by Chu and becoming part of the two-thousand-year-old division between north and south in China. At this time, there were only eight states that could claim hegemony over the world: Chu, Qin, Qi, Wei, Zhao, Han, Yan, and Yue. Among them, the State of Wei was the first to gain heaven's favor, with geographical advantages and a strong population, reenacting the Spring and Autumn period as the hegemon of the world. However, Chu had been thinking about unifying the vassals since King Zhuang asked for the tripod, Qi had been thinking about standing tall since Duke Huan, while Qin wanted to inherit the Zhou Dynasty, occupying the Central Plains to rule over the world. It seems that Wei Huai Wang, who wore the crown of hegemon, would have to face the challenges of Chu, Qi, Qin, Zhao, and Yue. So, who had the qualifications to take over the crown of hegemon from Wei Huai Wang? The answer was obvious: among the 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, which retreated step by step. 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, defeating the Qin army at Luonan, and 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 Shangyang (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 defeated the combined forces of Wei and Han at Luonan, causing the Wei army to retreat to Tongguan and Anyi, and the Han army to retreat to Luodi. At that time, Chu was a powerful country, with a vast territory of over 3,000 miles, and an army of over 700,000 men, and had 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, defeating them greatly, recovering Luyang and Yuzhou, and besieging the Wei army in Xuchang. The Qin army fought with the Wei army at Shimen and Shaoliang, although they defeated the Wei army, but still could not recover the land west of the Yellow River.

  Years later, Qin Xiangong died and his son Xiaogong succeeded him 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 bordered Qin. Wei built the Great Wall from northwest of present-day Shaanxi Huaxian to 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 had Hanzhong and Shangyong in the south, with Ba Wu and Qianzhong. The Zhou royal house was weak, and the vassals competed for hegemony, competing to annex each other. Qin was still a remote and backward country 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 used military force, took Guanzhong and Shanbei, pacified the Jin chaos in the east, with the Yellow River as the boundary, and ruled over the Rongdi in the west. The land was expanded by a thousand miles, and the Son of Heaven enfeoffed him as a viscount. All the vassals congratulated him, laying the foundation for the great cause of the state. This is how glorious it was! In the past, when Duke Xian, Duke Wu, and Duke Jian were in power, family affairs were not peaceful, and the country had internal worries, without leisure to attend to external matters. The three Jin states attacked and seized the land west of the river from my ancestors, and all the vassals looked down on Qin and its people. This is how hateful it was! When Xiangong ascended to the throne, he pacified the borders, moved the capital to Yongcheng, and wanted to launch a campaign eastward to recover the former territory of Mugong and restore his policies. I often think of my ancestors' intentions with pain in my heart. If there are guests, officials, or scholars from all over the world who can come up with extraordinary plans to make Qin strong and prosperous, I will respect their high positions and share the land with them, enjoying the good fortune together." Then, he sent troops to besiege Shencheng 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 bullying 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 then dismissed Wei Yang. Wei Yang 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's lives being treated like food to be devoured, and human nature being extinguished. As a result, the state of Qin and its army earned the reputation of being a nation 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 wolves 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 to all people, and gain a reputation for benevolence and trustworthiness 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 who has no ruler or father. When Qin becomes the dominant power in the world, it will also be the time when its strength is exhausted." Qin Xiao Gong was eager for quick success and did not listen to the advice of Gan Long, Du Zuo, and others.