The Dawn of Reform in Ancient Qin

The eastern sun rose over Liyang, capital of the Qin state, as the city gates buzzed with unprecedented activity. Since the implementation of sweeping reforms by chief minister Shang Yang, particularly the revolutionary land redistribution system, the rhythms of agricultural life had transformed completely.

In previous years, after the first frost, fields would lie barren as farmers retreated indoors for the long winter. The city gates would open to few besides foreign merchants. Now, before dawn’s first light, crowds of peasants gathered at the gates with their oxen and farming tools. By mid-morning, women and children streamed out carrying food, while carts laden with timber from cleared fields rumbled back into the city. The sunset no longer marked the end of work – people lingered in their fields until darkness forced them home.

A City Transformed by Policy

The reforms had unleashed remarkable energy. Magistrate Wang Shi adjusted gate hours three times before appealing to Shang Yang’s office. The chief minister ordered the gates open from the fifth night watch until the second – nearly continuous operation, unprecedented in the Warring States period except in Wei’s Anyi and Qi’s Linzi.

Farmers, now working their own allocated lands with hopes of bountiful harvests, came earlier and stayed later. This agricultural revival stimulated craftsmen and merchants as demand surged for tools, ironware, salt, and cloth. Workshops expanded, shops grew, and foreign merchants arrived while Qin traders ventured abroad. Liyang, once a sleepy fortress, now pulsed with activity day and night under Shang Yang’s radical order: “Keep the gates open always.”

The Shadow War Beneath Reform

While the city flourished openly, covert forces moved against the reforms. A covered carriage slipped through the southern gate toward the valley, carrying mysterious passengers. The carriage eventually stopped in a secluded forest where a remarkable hideout was revealed – an elaborate cave system with multiple chambers, originally built as a secret warehouse by a merchant named Bai.

The cave’s current occupants included a white-turbaned young man, his quick-witted companion, and a black-clad swordsman named Hou. Their conversation revealed plans for some significant operation that night in Liyang. As darkness fell, three shadows entered the city through the perpetually open gates, disappearing into the night.

The Ironworks Conspiracy

Meanwhile, Liyang’s government ironworks – the state’s largest – had become a hive of activity. After years of decline due to six-state embargoes, the foundry now struggled to meet demand for weapons, farm tools, and domestic implements. When thirteen skilled ironworkers from the eastern states suddenly appeared, Magistrate Wang eagerly hired them at premium wages.

Unknown to officials, these were actually Moist assassins led by Deng Lingzi. The Moist school, opposed to Shang Yang’s authoritarian reforms, had dispatched teams to eliminate the reformist leaders. Their plan: infiltrate as ironworkers, then strike when the city was vulnerable.

The Night of Confrontation

On the fateful night, as the legitimate workers slept, the Moist agents prepared to scout the city. Before they could move, mysterious attackers surrounded the compound. Arrows bearing warnings – “Cease disturbing governance, leave Qin immediately” – rained down. Though the Moists deflected the attack, the flaming arrows set buildings ablaze.

As the fire spread and attackers shouted accusations, Deng Lingzi realized their cover was blown. With troops approaching, he ordered retreat, leaving behind a bloody message on the wall: “The Moist school bears no blame; cruel governance invites retribution.”

The Aftermath and Legacy

When Shang Yang and officials arrived at the smoldering ironworks, they found no damage to equipment – only the missing “workers.” The chief minister calmly instructed Magistrate Wang to reassure citizens and rebuild. Within days, Liyang returned to its vibrant new normal.

This episode reveals the complex reality behind Shang Yang’s legendary reforms. While transforming Qin into a powerhouse, his policies faced resistance not just from nobility but from philosophical movements like the Moists. The night attack suggests other factions may have been protecting the reforms, though historical records remain silent about their identity.

Shang Yang’s pragmatic response – avoiding public panic while continuing reforms – demonstrates the political acumen that would eventually make Qin the unifier of China. The Liyang ironworks incident became a minor footnote in the grand narrative of Qin’s rise, yet it encapsulates the fierce ideological battles waged during this pivotal era of Chinese history.