The Rise of Qin and the Making of a King

In the turbulent Warring States period (475–221 BCE), the western state of Qin emerged as a formidable power under the guidance of its chancellor, Lü Buwei. A merchant-turned-statesman, Lü Buwei had orchestrated the rise of Ying Yiren (later King Zhuangxiang of Qin) to the throne and became the regent for his young son, Ying Zheng—the future First Emperor of China.

Lü Buwei’s influence on Ying Zheng extended beyond governance; he instilled in the young king a philosophy of ruthless pragmatism. One of the most pivotal lessons was the doctrine of decisive action: eliminating threats without hesitation, even if they were family. This cold-blooded approach would define Ying Zheng’s reign and his eventual unification of China.

The 241 BCE Coalition: A Turning Point in Confidence

In 241 BCE, during Ying Zheng’s sixth year as king, Chu’s ruler King Kaolie (Xiong Wan) rallied four other eastern states—Zhao, Wei, Han, and the weak state of Wei—to form a coalition against Qin. This was a rare moment of defiance; under Lü Buwei’s leadership, Qin had grown dominant, and its neighbors had long been on the defensive.

When news of the coalition reached Ying Zheng, he was unnerved. He had never faced a united front of enemies before. But Lü Buwei dismissed the threat with contempt: “These eastern fools have tried alliances before. They’re a joke.” True to his word, when Qin’s army marched out of the Hangu Pass, the coalition forces scattered without a fight.

This humiliating retreat revealed a critical truth: the eastern states feared Qin to the point of paralysis. For Ying Zheng, it was a revelation. As Lü Buwei later remarked, “Sometimes, confidence is handed to you by foolish enemies.”

The Aftermath: Ruthless Retribution and a Lesson in Power

At a victory banquet, Ying Zheng laughed at the coalition’s cowardice. But Lü Buwei seized the moment to teach a darker lesson. “Is this truly amusing?” he pressed. Realizing the implied challenge, Ying Zheng’s mood shifted. “They dared attack us. Fools deserve punishment.”

Lü Buwei approved. Over the next three years, Qin exacted brutal revenge:
– Chu was forced to abandon its capital.
– Wei ceded territory and paid reparations.
– The tiny state of Wei, regretting its participation, surrendered all its cities.

But the most chilling lesson came in 239 BCE, when Lü Buwei targeted Zhao—and Ying Zheng’s own half-brother, Chengjiao.

The Betrayal of Chengjiao: A Calculated Purge

Lü Buwei insisted that 17-year-old Chengjiao lead the campaign against Zhao, despite Ying Zheng’s objections. “Your throne is insecure,” Lü Buwei warned. “The danger lies in Chengjiao’s bloodline. Eliminate threats before they manifest.”

Under mysterious circumstances, Chengjiao’s advisors sabotaged his campaign. Defeat followed defeat until, cornered by Qin’s draconian laws (which punished failure harshly, even for royalty), Chengjiao rebelled. His uprising was swiftly crushed by Lü Buwei’s forces.

The message was clear: Sentiment has no place in power. Chengjiao’s guilt was irrelevant; his potential as a rival was enough to justify his destruction. For Ying Zheng, this was a formative moment. He absorbed Lü Buwei’s creed—”Know what you want, and remove all obstacles without mercy”—but also recognized his own precarious position as a puppet king.

The Legacy of a Ruthless Mentorship

Lü Buwei’s teachings crystallized in Ying Zheng’s later reign. By 221 BCE, he had annihilated the six rival states, declaring himself Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor. His unification reforms—standardized writing, laws, and infrastructure—were revolutionary, but so was his brutality: burning books, burying scholars alive, and eradicating dissent.

Yet Lü Buwei’s fate was ironic. The mentor who preached cold pragmatism was himself purged when Ying Zheng came of age. In 235 BCE, accused of treason, Lü Buwei drank poison—a victim of the very ruthlessness he had instilled.

Modern Reflections: Power Without Conscience?

The Ying Zheng-Lü Buwei dynamic raises enduring questions:
– Can effective leadership exist without moral constraints?
– How much of China’s centralized governance traces back to this philosophy of absolute control?

For better or worse, Lü Buwei’s lessons shaped not just an emperor, but an empire. His legacy is a paradox: the brilliance of unification, shadowed by the blood it cost.