A Kingdom Transformed: The Unrecognizable Capital

When the Chu envoy Jiang Yi arrived in Anyi, he scarcely recognized the once-elegant capital famed for its cultural refinement. The bustling avenues now stood desolate—merchant stalls shuttered, taverns closed, and only armories thrived. Wind-swept leaves danced through empty streets where armored troops marched in thunderous unison, chanting slogans of Wei’s revival. Gone were the leisurely aristocrats; every citizen moved with urgent purpose. Most startling was the abandonment of foreign merchant quarters—even the legendary Dongxiangchun, whose iron gates never closed, stood barred.

Forced to take refuge in the state guesthouse, Jiang Yi’s attempts to present credentials at the Wei palace met with brusque rejection. Guards mockingly turned away his chariot, shouting insults about “Chu envoys” being unwelcome. His subsequent visits to Chancellor Gongzi Ang, Crown Prince Wei Shen, and General Pang Juan yielded identical replies: all officials were “unavailable for three days.” The envoy sensed impending catastrophe—Wei was preparing for war.

The Secret Council: Delusions of Destiny

Behind guarded palace walls, King Hui of Wei convened a clandestine war council with five key figures: himself, Crown Prince Shen, Chancellor Gongzi Ang, General Pang Juan, and veteran commander Long Jia. The king, shedding his habitual indolence, stood sword-in-hand, invigorated by celestial omens. Court diviners had interpreted a recent comet—trailing through the western constellation Taibai—as Heaven’s mandate for Wei to conquer the warring states.

Chancellor Gongzi Ang proposed an audacious four-pronged invasion: “Dispatch 150,000 troops each to annihilate Qin, Zhao-Han, Qi-Chu, and Yan simultaneously! Unification within two years!” The bombastic plan drew Prince Shen’s scorn: “Father, dividing our forces risks logistical collapse. We must first consolidate the Three Jin states (Wei, Zhao, Han) before tackling distant Qin.”

Pang Juan’s Warnings: The Missed Opportunity

General Pang Juan, long wary of Qin’s reforms under Lord Shang, presented three strategies with uncharacteristic diplomacy:

1. Priority Conquest of Qin (Superior Plan): “While their military reforms remain incomplete, eliminating this western threat secures our rear for eastern campaigns.”
2. Subdue Zhao-Han First (Middle Plan): “Exploit Zhao’s political instability post-King Cheng’s death, then absorb Han—unifying Jin heartlands.”
3. Invade Chu (Inferior Plan): “Though vast, Chu’s disorganized territories would strain governance without immediate strength.”

Pang Juan emphasized Qin’s growing cavalry—inherited from nomadic traditions—and the suspicious military activity near Chencang Gorge. Yet Chancellor Gongzi dismissed these concerns: “Comets signify Qin’s impending collapse! Their primitive forces can’t match our century-forged army.”

The Fatal Decision: Marching Toward Disaster

King Hui—haunted by memories of his miraculous survival during succession wars—ultimately favored celestial optimism over strategic pragmatism. He approved:

– Western Front: Veteran Long Jia to defend against Qin.
– Eastern Front: Prince Shen and Gongzi Ang (8,000 troops) to deter Qi.
– Central Offensive: Pang Juan’s 200,000-strong invasion of Zhao.

When Jiang Yi finally secured an audience, the king laughed at Chu’s proposed alliance against Qin: “Tell your king to attack via Wuguan while we strike south—we’ll split Qin’s carcass!” Unbeknownst to Wei, Jiang Yi was already en route to Qi, seeking alternative alliances.

The Ironies of History: Legacy of Hubris

Wei’s mobilization exposed fatal flaws:

1. Underestimating Qin: Within decades, Qin’s fully reformed army would crush Wei at Maling (341 BCE) and Guiling, annexing their heartland.
2. Diplomatic Isolation: The simultaneous aggression alienated potential allies, driving Zhao and Qi into Qin’s orbit.
3. Cultural Blindness: Obsession with celestial signs over geopolitical reality mirrored the later downfall of Qin itself—a warning about the cyclical nature of hubris.

The comet of 364 BCE did portend unification—but for Qin, not Wei. Pang Juan’s thwarted advice became a tragic “what-if” of Chinese history, illustrating how short-term ambition and mystical thinking can eclipse rational statecraft. Anyi’s abandoned merchant quarters stood as early witnesses to an empire that chose the path of its own undoing.