The Weakest Kingdom’s Desperate Gamble

In the turbulent era of the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), the state of Han stood as the most vulnerable among the seven major powers. Plagued by weak leadership and sandwiched between aggressive neighbors, Han’s survival hinged on desperate strategies. Its greatest threat? The ascendant state of Qin, whose expansionist policies under the “Ally with the Distant, Attack the Near” doctrine made Han the primary target.

Enter Zheng Guo—a name often mistaken for a state but belonging to a brilliant hydrologist from the conquered state of Zheng. After his homeland fell to Han, Zheng Guo’s engineering prowess earned him a position in Han’s water ministry. His talent soon caught the eye of King An of Han, whose “genius” plan to save his kingdom was as audacious as it was shortsighted.

The “Fatigue Qin” Scheme: A Plan Doomed by Irony

Facing relentless Qin aggression, King An devised the “Fatigue Qin” stratagem: dispatch Zheng Guo to Qin under the guise of aiding their obsession with hydraulic projects. The goal? Trick Qin into diverting resources into a colossal canal, exhausting its manpower and buying Han precious time.

When Zheng Guo heard the plan, his reaction bordered on disbelief. King An, inflating his own wisdom, cited the ancient strategist Su Qin’s manipulation of Qi’s infrastructure projects as precedent. But Zheng Guo saw the fatal flaw: Qin was no Qi. Feeding a tiger meat to distract it only ensured it grew stronger—a metaphor for Qin’s inevitable dominance. Yet, bound by duty, Zheng Guo embarked on his mission.

From Saboteur to Savior: The Canal That Changed History

Arriving in Qin in 246 BCE, Zheng Guo leveraged his expertise to gain favor with Chancellor Lü Buwei and young King Ying Zheng (later Qin Shi Huang). When asked about his skills, Zheng Guo pitched an ambitious vision: a 300-li (93-mile) canal diverting the Jing River to irrigate the arid plains north of the Wei River.

The project, he argued, would transform wastelands into fertile fields, boosting Qin’s agricultural output exponentially. Despite Lü Buwei’s warnings about delayed unification, Ying Zheng greenlit the endeavor—unwittingly playing into Han’s hands.

For years, Zheng Guo oversaw construction with unexpected zeal. By 237 BCE, a third of the canal was complete. But when Qin officials exposed his “spy” status, Ying Zheng’s fury nearly cost Zheng Guo his life. In a dramatic interrogation, Zheng Guo turned the tables: “The canal will give Qin endless grain. Han gains a few years; Qin gains millennia.” The king, recognizing the strategic boon, spared him.

Cultural Shockwaves: Paranoia and the Purge of Foreign Talent

The Zheng Guo affair intensified Qin’s distrust of outsiders. Earlier scandals involving Lü Buwei (a merchant-turned-chancellor) and Lao Ai (a rebellious consort) had already stoked xenophobia. Now, Ying Zheng issued an expulsion decree targeting all non-Qin advisors—a move that nearly upended the career of Li Si, a Chu-born legalist whose memorial famously argued: “Talents, like jewels, know no borders.” The decree was reversed, but the episode underscored Qin’s ideological pivot toward centralized control.

The Zheng Guo Canal: Legacy of an Unintended Masterpiece

Completed in 236 BCE, the Zheng Guo Canal irrigated over 40,000 hectares, doubling Qin’s grain yields. Historians credit it as a keystone of Qin’s military-industrial complex, fueling campaigns that crushed Han (230 BCE) and unified China (221 BCE). Ironically, Han’s “sabotage” had armed its destroyer.

The canal’s legacy endured for millennia. Even today, remnants function in Shaanxi province, a testament to unintended consequences. Meanwhile, Zheng Guo’s story epitomizes the Warring States’ chaos—where a spy’s pragmatism outsmarted his king’s folly, and infrastructure proved deadlier than swords.

Lessons for the Modern World

The Zheng Guo affair resonates in contemporary geopolitics and project management:
– Short-Term Tactics vs. Long-Term Strategy: Han’s myopic “Fatigue Qin” plan ignored Qin’s capacity to convert burdens into assets.
– The Double-Edged Sword of Expertise: Zheng Guo’s professionalism overrode his loyalty, highlighting how skilled individuals can reshape destinies beyond political designs.
– Infrastructure as Power: From ancient canals to modern Belt and Road initiatives, controlling resources remains a timeless lever of influence.

In the end, Zheng Guo’s canal did more than water crops—it irrigated the roots of an empire. And King An? His name survives chiefly as a cautionary tale: in the game of thrones, the cleverest-seeming moves often dig one’s grave.