A Fateful Autumn Night in Handan

The autumn wind carried a biting chill through the nearly deserted streets of Handan. A covered carriage navigated the labyrinthine alleys until it reached the secluded lane of Lord Xue’s residence. In a modest thatched cottage on the estate’s periphery, an oil lamp still burned brightly. Inside, the eccentric scholar Mao Gong sat hunched over a weiqi board, playing both black and white pieces against himself. With each move, he took a swig from his gourd of wine, his wild white hair swaying as he muttered critiques of his own strategy—alternately praising brilliant plays and lamenting foolish blunders.

The scene was interrupted by a familiar voice: “Playing weiqi alone at this late hour, Elder Brother? What fine spirits!”

Mao Gong spun around to see Lü Buwei standing behind him. The old scholar erupted into laughter, thrusting the wine gourd toward his visitor. “Ah! So a night-rat still prowls! Excellent! Drink first, then sit!”

What followed was a conversation that would alter the course of history.

The Merchant Strategist and the Lost Prince

Lü Buwei was no ordinary merchant. Having amassed tremendous wealth through shrewd trade across the Warring States, he now pursued an audacious ambition: to place his protégé, the Qin prince Ying Yiren (later King Zhuangxiang of Qin), on the throne of the most powerful state in China.

Yiren, held as a hostage in Handan by the Zhao state, had recently emerged from a months-long stupor induced by heartbreak over a mysterious zither-playing woman. His recovery was critical to Lü Buwei’s plans. The merchant-statesman had invested not just gold but his entire political future in this discarded prince—a gamble that would either elevate him to the heights of power or destroy him completely.

The Web of Alliances

That night, Lü Buwei and Mao Gong pored over intelligence. A bamboo slip bearing an archaic zhòuwén inscription—the character “Qing”—connected the wealthy Qin widow merchant “Widow Qing” to Handan’s shadowy human trafficking networks. Though disturbed by this revelation, Lü Buwei recognized that in the chaotic Warring States era, even the most powerful merchants operated in moral gray zones.

Meanwhile, dispatches from Xianyang revealed troubling developments:

– The aging King Zhaoxiang of Qin had reportedly suffered a debilitating stroke, leaving him incapacitated.
– Chancellor Cai Ze had departed for Shu Province, leaving the government rudderless.
– Crown Prince Ying Zhui (Yiren’s father) had retreated to Zhangtai Palace, creating a power vacuum.

These events presented both danger and opportunity. If Yiren could be returned to Qin during this transitional period, Lü Buwei might engineer his rise as heir apparent.

The Personal Costs of Ambition

Complicating matters was the arrival of Zhuo Zhao, Lü Buwei’s spirited fiancée. The daughter of the wealthy merchant Zhuo Yuan, she had traveled alone from their estate, impatient with the delayed wedding. Their reunion exposed fundamental tensions:

“You care only about your grand plans!” Zhuo Zhao accused tearfully after Lü Buwei dismissed her eagerness to marry as trivial compared to state affairs.

Her presence created new dilemmas. She brought tantalizing clues to a hidden treasure—a potential financial windfall—but also emotional distractions Lü Buwei could ill afford. The merchant’s internal conflict mirrored the era’s broader tension between personal desire and political duty.

The Prince Reawakened

The true test came when Lü Buwei and Mao Gong visited Yiren’s lavish residence. They found the prince in a shocking state—naked, sweating, and half-mad with unrequited passion for the elusive zither player.

Through a combination of psychological manipulation and promises (including hinting they’d located his beloved), the two advisors snapped Yiren back to rationality. In a moment of startling clarity, the prince articulated a philosophy that would define his future reign:

“Where is the crime in a ruler’s love? The fault of King You and Fuchai lay not in their devotion to women, but in neglecting wise ministers and proper governance!”

This outburst revealed Yiren’s unexpected political acumen—a promising sign for Lü Buwei’s plans.

The Gathering Storm

As autumn leaves swirled through Handan’s streets, the pieces moved toward a critical juncture:

– Lü Buwei prepared to relocate to a new riverside estate, strategically positioned near escape routes.
– Secret communications flowed between Handan and Xianyang via merchant networks.
– Yiren’s transformation from lovesick hostage to determined claimant accelerated.

The stage was set for one of history’s most remarkable political maneuvers—one that would ultimately lead to the Qin unification of China under Yiren’s son, Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang).

Legacy of a Merchant-Kingmaker

Lü Buwei’s story transcends its ancient setting, offering timeless insights about:

1. The Power of Strategic Patience – His years-long cultivation of Yiren demonstrates how visionary goals require sustained effort.
2. Networks Over Force – While warlords relied on armies, Lü Buwei wielded merchant connections, information, and psychological insight as his weapons.
3. The Double-Edged Sword of Passion – Both Yiren’s romantic obsession and Lü Buwei’s political ambition show how desire can motivate greatness or enable downfall.

In the end, this autumnal night in Handan captures a pivotal moment when a merchant’s gamble began reshaping China’s destiny—proving that sometimes, the most powerful swords are forged not in armories, but in the quiet strategies of scholars and the calculated risks of traders.