Wang Jian (Qin)

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Wang Jian (simplified Chinese: 王翦; pinyin: Wǎng jiǎn;) (year of birth and death unknown), a military leader of Qin (state) in the Warring States Period. He was born in Guanzhong county, city of Pinyang, Dongxiang village (now as the northeast of Fuping in Shǎnxī Province).

[edit] Major Achievement

He led the Qin army in seizing Handan, the capital city of the State of Zhao; Defeated Yan (state), Zhao (state) and Chu (state). He along with Bai Qi, Lian Po and Li Mu were called the most prestigious 4 generals in the Warring States Period.

[edit] Conquest of Chu, 225-223 BCE

In 225 BCE, only two states remained independent, Chu and Qi. The King of Qin, Ying Zheng, decided to first defeat the strongest state, Chu. However, the first invasion was a disaster when northern style Qin troops were defeated by 500,000 Chu troops in the unfamiliar territory of Huaiyang, modern-day northern Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. The Qin general was Li Xing, who was inexperienced.

In 224 BCE, the older general, Wang Jian, was recalled to lead a second invasion with 600,000 men. Chu's morale was greatly increased after their success in defeating the seemingly invincible army of Qin the year before. The Chu forces were content to sit back and defend and believed it was Qin's intention to besiege Chu. However, Wang Jian tricked the Chu forces by appearing to play around in his fortifications but secretly training his troops to fight in Chu territory. After a year, Chu decided to disband its massive army due to inaction. Wang Jian invaded at the best moment with full force to overrun Huaiyang and the remaining Chu forces. During their peak sizes, both armies of Chu and Qin combined numbered over 1,000,000 troops, more than the massive battle of Changping between Qin and Zhao 35 years before. The excavated personal letters of two Qin regular soldiers, Hei Fu and Jin, tell of a protracted campaign in Huaiyang under general Wang Jian. Both soldiers wrote letters requesting supplies (clothing) and money from home to sustain the long waiting campaign.

Thus, Qin effectively unified China (Qi was essentially a skeleton state). Ying Zheng became Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China a few years later.