The Merchant and the Outcasts: Origins of an Unlikely Alliance

In the turbulent twilight years of the Warring States period (475-221 BCE), an extraordinary bond formed between one of history’s most famous merchant-politicians and a band of marginalized warriors. Lü Buwei, the ambitious merchant who would later orchestrate the rise of the Qin dynasty’s first emperor, established a private cavalry force unlike any other in late Zhou dynasty China.

This unconventional brotherhood began when Lü, then establishing his commercial empire, recognized the dangers of transporting goods across fractured kingdoms plagued by bandits and rogue soldiers. His initial attempts at paying protection money proved unsustainable, especially when supplying the besieged city of Ji during Tian Dan’s legendary defense against Yan invaders. After several disastrous encounters where hired guards betrayed his caravans, Lü turned to an unexpected solution – recruiting society’s outcasts.

Jing Yun: The Phoenix Rising from Prison

The linchpin of this warrior band was Jing Yun, a descendant of the famous Qin reformer Shang Yang’s bodyguard. Captured after leading a peasant revolt against Qi’s oppressive taxes, Jing Yun endured brutal imprisonment under both Qi and later Yan occupiers. His dramatic rescue reads like a Warring States epic:

Lü Buwei personally negotiated with Yan generals, including the renowned Yue Yi, paying double the standard ransom to free the tortured rebel. The merchant then invested 3,000 gold pieces – an astronomical sum – to acquire rare poisons needed for antidotes when Jing Yun hovered near death. For three months, the merchant personally tended to the warrior’s 66 wounds, an act that initially met with stony silence from the proud fighter.

Their relationship transformed one moonlit night when Jing Yun appeared before Lü wearing the ancient “thorned branch” ritual of fealty, blood streaming down his back. This marked the birth of a partnership that would last two decades, with Jing Yun recruiting and training 116 elite cavalrymen from society’s margins – pardoned convicts, escaped slaves, and displaced warriors.

Shadows and Steel: The Cavalry’s Covert Operations

Operating from hidden forest bases like the one described in our opening scene near Handan, this unconventional force developed unique tactics:

– Disguised Mobility: Horses wore leather armor while riders donned masks, creating an intimidating, uniform appearance that blurred individual identities
– Networked Intelligence: Jing Yun cultivated relationships with bandit groups across six states, enabling safe passage through information sharing
– Elite Training: The unit maintained constant readiness through drills in remote valleys, their skills honed to surpass regular soldiers

Their effectiveness proved staggering – after initial clashes, Lü’s caravans suffered no major losses despite transporting increasingly valuable cargoes across war-torn territories. The cavalry’s success stemmed from Jing Yun’s leadership philosophy, encapsulated in his four strict conditions for service: no business involvement, no public appearances, absolute anonymity, and loyalty solely to Lü.

The Twilight Dilemma: Brotherhood vs. Political Ambition

As Lü Buwei prepared his historic shift from commerce to politics – ultimately becoming Chancellor of Qin – he faced an existential crisis regarding his warrior band. The poignant forest gathering reveals the depth of their bond:

Lü had secretly settled each warrior’s family with 300 gold pieces and 200 acres of prime land, while clearing their criminal records. Yet when offered freedom, the masked riders unanimously refused, declaring: “If the Master does not leave Zhao, neither shall we!” Their loyalty transcended material compensation, rooted in the warrior code of renxia (humane chivalry) that valued righteousness above life itself.

The merchant’s emotional speech acknowledging their sacrifices – 13 dead, 96 wounded over years of service – highlights the mutual respect between practical businessman and idealistic fighters. Lü’s dilemma encapsulated Warring States’ changing norms: the emerging centralized states could tolerate no private armies, yet traditional warrior ethics demanded unbreakable personal bonds.

Legacy of the Forgotten Brotherhood

While history remembers Lü Buwei for his political machinations and the Qin dynasty’s rise, his cavalry force represents a fascinating transitional phenomenon:

1. Military Innovation: Their tactics presaged later Han dynasty irregular cavalry units
2. Social Integration: Demonstrated how marginalized groups could regain honor through service
3. Ethical Contradictions: Highlighted tensions between emerging state authority and traditional personal loyalties

The final image of drunken warriors celebrating under Hu Yang trees, their masks removed in rare camaraderie, symbolizes a fleeting moment when merchant, outcasts and ideals converged – soon to be swept aside by Qin’s bureaucratic machine. Yet their story endures as a testament to Warring States China’s complex social fabric, where even the most pragmatic ambitions sometimes required the steel of human bonds.

As Lü rode toward his destiny in Qin, the fate of these loyal warriors remains historically ambiguous – a fitting mystery for shadows who operated between society’s cracks, changing history while leaving barely a trace.