After Shang Yang's reform, Qin's national power became increasingly powerful, and its development rate far exceeded that of the other six eastern countries. The increase in economic and military strength made Qin's ambitions more and more inflated. In 325 BC, King Qin Huiwen of Qin became king.

At this time, as long as there were powerful countries, they all became kings one after another during this period, which shows that the Zhou royal family had declined at that time and had completely lost its prestige among the vassal states.

In 288 BC, King Zhaoxiang of Qin claimed to be the Great Emperor of the West (Western Emperor) after using force to suppress the Chu State. In fact, his move was just to bring the powerful state of Qi in the East into the same boat, so he was proclaiming the emperor.

At the same time, he also sent people to the Qi State to ask the King of Qi to treat the land as the Eastern Emperor (Eastern Emperor). This is enough to show that the Qin State at this time has completely ignored the Zhou royal family.

King Qi believed that Qin's move was a recognition of Qi's equal status, so he readily accepted King Qin's proposal and divided the entire world into two. However, Qi's doing so was undoubtedly shooting himself in the foot and putting himself at a disadvantage.

In the predicament of being criticized by the public. Because the king's status is already high enough, changing the title of emperor not only does not

Any substantial benefits would also give other countries unnecessary stimulation. In the end, the king of Qi’s proclaiming himself emperor turned into a farce, and the title of emperor was canceled just two days later. But Qin was still able to face the challenges brought by other countries.

The pressure coming from Qi State in the east only requires a little cooperation, and it will have the power to dominate the world.

On the surface, although there is no sign that Qin's eventual unification of the world was the result of any long-term strategic plan or strategy deliberately formulated by Shang Yang or Qin Xiaogong, it seems that Qin has been brewing a subversion since Qin Xiaogong.

six

The country's plan. During the period of King Qin Zhaoxiang, Qin's foreign wars always had ups and downs. As long as Qin attacked a country, the combined strategy of all countries would bring Qin back to its original shape. The six eastern countries seemed to have this tacit understanding,

They never wanted to destroy Qin.

Qin's geographical location has a natural advantage. As long as it breaks through Hangu Pass, it can gallop across the Central Plains and covet the sacred artifacts of Sheji. Even if it has no enterprising spirit, it can still rely on its geography of being surrounded by mountains and one man can pass the pass and no one can open it.

advantage, invincible position

Of course, if you want to conquer the world, you need to further occupy Longxi, Hanzhong and Shuzhong. The first two places can ensure the stability of the rear and obtain a strong source of troops. The Shuzhong in the back can ensure strategic supply, and then you can control the army from the north and south.

The road to enter the Central Plains.

That's why in 316 BC, the Qin State took the territory of Shu (now the Chengdu Plain area of ​​Sichuan) into its own hands at a huge cost from the Chu State. Then the territory of the Ba State (the area near today's Chongqing) was also occupied by the Qin army.

.It can be seen that by occupying these areas, Qin State not only realized Qin State's strategic intentions, but also weakened Chu State's national power. Chu State was declining day by day under the attack of Qin State.

In order to be able to unify the world, Qin's diplomatic activities continued one after another. Facts have proved that the victory achieved by measures such as continuous diplomacy, distant diplomacy and close attacks established a good external environment for the Qin army's operations, allowing the Qin army to fight on the battlefield.

Invincible. The person who concretely realized Qin's transformation from internal political reform to external diplomatic strengthening was Bai Qi, who can be called the most famous general of the Warring States Period.

The small border countries that Wei, Han, Chu, Qi and other countries disdained gradually spread their murderous intentions during the southern and northern campaigns under the command of Bai Qi. The eastern countries gradually became uneasy about Qin's power and always felt the benefits.

The threat of a sword to the head.

In order to fight against Qin's cavalry, the various vassal states also stepped up their military training. A large number of famous generals emerged during this period. Under the command and participation of these famous generals, many famous battles were recorded in the history books. Looking at the records in "Historical Records", the most famous generals at the end of the Warring States Period were

The most eye-catching events are the many large-scale events

In the more than 130 years from 364 BC to 234 BC, the Qin State participated in or led at least 15 major battles. The Qin Army alone caused about 1.5 million casualties to its fighting armies.

.14 ​​of the 15 wars led by the Qin State

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Secondly, they caused at least 20,000 casualties to the opponent, and there were 4 battles with more than 100,000 casualties. The Changping Battle between Qin and Zhao in 260 BC took place in just over 5 months.

Within a period of time, the number of casualties suffered by Zhao’s army

The number was as high as 50,000. The outcome of the war was that Bai Qi used a surprise force to defeat Zhao She, who could only talk about war on paper. Zhao's 400,000 troops surrendered. Bai Qi "used them to deceive and kill them all", and Zhao's army was finally able to return.

There are only 240 people in my hometown.

Of course, some scholars do not trust the above figures for the following reasons:

First, they believe that these data are given in "Historical Records", which only include the casualties of the other six countries, but do not have the data of Qin, which paid huge casualties.

Second, "Historical Records" only briefly introduces 15 more famous battles. From the word "war" in the Warring States Period, we should know that the late Zhao Kingdom entered a critical moment of fighting for the world, and there must be friction between the various vassal states.

Continuously. If those unknown battles are also recorded in the annals of history, it means that the number of casualties suffered by Qin and other vassal states, including those captured, injured and killed, must be much higher than what history has seen now.

Arrived.

Third, it is reflected in the wording. The standard word used at that time was "kill" (the usage of this word can be traced back to the era of Shang Yang), and the battle of Changping was "pit". The former refers to killing people in battle, and the latter

It refers to killing people who are killed by burying them alive without morality. It is conceivable that there are many more killing methods that produce death data that are not recorded.

Fourth, many scholars compare Qin’s wars against other vassal states with modern or modern wars. For example, Napoleon’s campaign to Russia in 1812 resulted in the loss of 300,000 horses in six months.

At first glance, this is not the same as 5 or 6

The Battle of Changping in Yue was roughly similar (including the final entrapment), because the population of France at that time (actually not only France, but also the vast European areas occupied by France) was much larger than during the Warring States Period.

The population of Qin or Zhao is large.

Therefore, some scholars finally concluded that in a literal sense, the number of casualties caused by Qin in its wars with other vassal states was not credible, either too large or too small. For example, in the Battle of Changping,

The Qin State finally killed 400,000 Zhao State soldiers. Considering the technical conditions at the time, it was unlikely that it could be completed in a short period of time. Even before the end of the war, the Zhao Army was far away from the rear because of its lone army.

And even if they were cut off from food and grass, they would not give in. After the Battle of Changping, Zhao State continued to recruit troops to prepare for Qin's invasion. Everything seemed in order. This is incredible, because for a country that lost almost half of its Qin army,

For a country with mature men, it should be difficult to maintain economically and likely to collapse politically. Instead of what history records, the people of Zhao share the same hatred and hate the people of Qin extremely.

But today it is difficult for scholars to come up with a more convincing answer from the existing historical materials. In the end, they concluded that the word "Wan" has only a symbolic meaning. Because throughout all the annals of the Warring States Period, its military

What is often mentioned in records (which can also be seen in non-military records) is not hundreds, thousands or dozens of casualties, but more "ten thousand", so it is like "three" equal to "many".

, turned into an approximate number: "large army".

It is impossible to completely restore the historical truth. No matter whether these data are accurate or not, one thing is irrefutable, that is, the Qin State has transformed from the initial struggle for land to the effective force to destroy the enemy. In the past, a small border country that was disdained by the six countries,

Already getting ready to go.

In the process of increasing Qin's military power, Bai Qi's role cannot be ignored. It is roughly estimated that the number of young adults who died because of Bai Qi in the war is no less than one million. Bai Qi was a professional soldier. In his eyes, the only way to kill was to kill.

There are two choices: and being killed; in his ideology, the only way is to achieve great success and kill enemies for the country. He is not familiar with politics and diplomacy, and disdains Legalists and political strategists.

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Instead of making roundabout ways, he would only take straightforward practical actions and fight the enemy bravely on the battlefield.

Cao Song of the Tang Dynasty had this description in one of his "Two Poems on the Year of Jihai": "When the country's mountains and rivers enter the war, how can the people live in Qiaosu? If you don't talk about the matter of making a marquis, one general will achieve great success and ten thousand bones will wither."

"Bai Qi was holding countless bloody heads, looking at the white bones gradually submerged in the dust of the years. He climbed up step by step from an ordinary soldier, and finally became an invincible commander of the Qin army.

The final evaluation given to him by history is - massacre of people.

But different historical figures have different evaluations of Bai Qi. Most of them are evaluations of his life achievements.

Bai Qi expected the enemy to combine forces and make surprises, which shocked the world, but he could not save Ying Hou.

----Sima Qian

They conquered Yanying in the south and Changping in the north, then surrounded Handan, led by Wu'an.

----Sima Qian

He is good at using soldiers and has destiny.

(It is the use of troops for attack, and it also has destiny.)

----Su Li

The king of Wu'an defeated the powerful Chu in the south and Wei Yan and Zhao in the north. He defeated and captured the city. He destroyed the city and fell into the city. He did not know how many of them. The merits of his ministers were not as good as they were.

(Wu'an Jun captured the enemy during the Warring States Period, but he did not know how many of them he had conquered; he attacked the city and fell into the city, but it was not possible to capture his number. The merits of his ministers were not as good as those of Wu'an Jun.)

----Zhang Tang

Chu's territory was thousands of miles away, and he had millions of halberds. Bai Qi led tens of thousands of troops to fight against Chu. In the first battle, he raised Yan Ying and burned Yiling. Then he fought in the south and merged with Shu Han. He also crossed Han and Wei and attacked and strengthened Zhao in the north.

The horses were imprisoned, and more than 400,000 people were slaughtered. They were all killed under Changping, and their blood flowed into rivers.

The boiling sound was like thunder, and they surrounded Handan, giving Qin an imperial status. Chu and Zhao were powerful countries in the world and Qin's enemies. From then on, Chu and Zhao were intimidated by those who did not dare to attack Qin, and their power was white.

After conquering more than seventy cities, his work was completed, and he was given a sword to kill Du You.

(The land of Chu [thousands of miles away] has millions of halberds. Bai Qi led tens of thousands of troops to fight Chu. He defeated Yan and Ying in one battle, burned Yiling in another battle, merged with Shu in the south, Han, and crossed Korea.

Wei, [and] attacked and strengthened Zhao, and the Northern Qian horses were ordered to kill the slaughter.

The crowd of more than 400,000 people, bleeding in rivers and boiling like thunder, made Emperor Qin Ye emperor. From then on, Zhao and Chu were intimidated and did not dare to attack Qin. The power was white. Those who surrendered, more than seventy cities

.The work has been accomplished, and I will die in Du You.)

----Cai Ze

Lord Wu'an defeated Qin and captured more than 70 cities, including Yan, Ying, and Hanzhong in the south, and Zhao Kuo's army in the north. Although Zhou and Zhao were summoned, Lu Wang's achievements were not of any use.

(Wu'an Jun therefore defeated Qin and captured more than 70 cities. Yanying was defeated in the south, Hanzhong and the army in the north were not killed. Even though Zhou Zhao and Lu Wang's achievements were no more than this. )

----Su Dai

My husband attacked the city and fell into the city. Please envoy Wu Anzi.

----Hanquanzi

Have you ever used a small number to defeat a large number and achieved victory like a god? How about using a strong force to defeat a weak one and using a large number to defeat the few?

----Ying Ji

Bai Qi was a general of Qin. He conquered Yan and Ying in the south and marched to the north to seize the city and territory. He failed to win and was sentenced to death.

(Bai Qi was a general of Qin. He attacked Yan and Ying in the south and pitted his horse in the north. He attacked the city and captured the territory. He was unable to win and was sentenced to death.)

----Chen Yu

In the past, Bai Qi was a general of the Qin Dynasty. He captured the capital of Ying in the south and pitted Zhao Kuo in the north. He punished Du You for his faults and had Du You killed. The people of Qin pity him and all of them shed tears.

----Gu Yong

In the past, Bai Qi became a general of Qin, conquered Han and Wei in the east, captured the capital of Ying in the south, responded to the marquis's disobedience, and ordered Du You to die;

---- Husan Husband Chengxing et al.

In the past, when the Qin Dynasty was white, some generals came out unexpectedly and planned to annex Sun Wu. Although Sun Wu came back to life, he did not do this. He was ordered by heaven. Isn't he a god?

"Twenty-Four Histories? Qi Shu? Volume Five? Wenxuan Benji? Volume Two"
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