Wang Jian (Qin)

Wang Jian was a highly distinguished military general from the State of Qin. He lived during the Warring States period in ancient China. This era was defined by constant conflict between different states. Each state fought to become the most powerful and unified. Wang Jian is remembered as one of the four greatest generals of this late period. He was born in Dongxiang, which is in the Guanzhong region. His leadership played a vital role in the expansion of the Qin State.

Wang Jian's career began with significant military successes. In 236 BC, he commanded the Qin army to attack the state of Zhao. During this campaign, his forces captured nine different cities. This victory marked the beginning of the unification wars led by Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng would later become the first emperor, known as Qin Shi Huang. Following this, Wang Jian conquered the state of Yan in 226 BC. This occurred after an unsuccessful assassination attempt by a man named Jing Ke. His son, Wang Ben, also became a major general for the Qin.

The conquest of the state of Chu was a massive and difficult undertaking. By 225 BC, only two independent kingdoms remained: Chu and Qin. Chu was a large state with significant resources and manpower. However, the Chu government had become corrupt over time. They had abandoned the legalistic reforms once established by Wu Qi. These reforms had previously made Chu a very powerful state. To defeat the remnants of Chu, the King of Qin planned a massive invasion.

The first attempt to invade Chu ended in a major military disaster. The King of Qin initially chose General Li Xin to lead the campaign. Li Xin requested an army of only 200,000 men. This smaller force was met by 500,000 Chu troops at the Battle of Chengfu. The Chu forces were led by General Xiang Yan and Lord Changping. The Qin army was annihilated in the unfamiliar territory of Huaiyang. Because of this failure, the King of Qin had to call upon Wang Jian.

Wang Jian was very careful about how he managed his relationship with the King. When asked how many men he needed, he requested 600,000 soldiers. He also acted in a deliberately shameless way by demanding huge rewards. He did this to show the King he only cared about material wealth. This was a strategy to prevent the King from fearing a revolt. Wang Jian believed the King was naturally distrustful of powerful subordinates. By appearing greedy for riches, he proved he did not want the throne.

The second invasion of Chu began in 224 BC under Wang Jian's command. He used a clever tactic to overcome the Chu defense. He appeared to stay inactive within his own fortifications. While the Chu army waited, he secretly trained his troops for combat. After a year of waiting, the Chu army decided to disband most of its forces. Wang Jian then launched a sudden attack and overran Huaiyang. He eventually defeated General Xiang Yan at the Battle of Shouchun.

The fall of Chu was completed in 223 BC. During these massive campaigns, the combined armies of Chu and Qin exceeded 1,000,000 troops. This was a larger force than the famous Battle of Changping. Excavated letters from Qin soldiers named Hei Fu and Jin provide details of this time. These letters show that soldiers had to request money and clothing from home. Such long campaigns required constant supplies to keep the soldiers moving. The victory at Chu was a turning point for the Qin State.

After his successful campaigns, Wang Jian eventually retired due to old age. His family, the Wang clan, remained influential in Chinese history. His son, Wang Ben, continued the conquests against the states of Yan, Dai, and Qi. This work eventually ended the Warring States period in 221 BC. His grandson, Wang Li, also served as a military subordinate in later years. The legacy of Wang Jian is tied to the very foundation of unified China. His strategic mind helped shape the borders of an empire.