Wang Jian

Wang Jian, whose birth and death year is unknown, was from Dongxiang, Pinyang (now northeast of Fuping County, Shaanxi Province). He was an outstanding military strategist of the Qin Dynasty and was another famous general of the Qin State after Bai Qi. His son Wang Ben made great contributions in assisting Qin Shihuang to unify the six kingdoms (see the war to destroy the six kingdoms). Except for Han, the other five kingdoms were destroyed by Wang Jian and his son.

Wang Jian loved military tactics when he was young and served Qin Shihuang in war. In the eleventh year of the Shihuang (236 BC), Wang Jian led his troops to attack Zhao State Yanhe (now Heshun, Shanxi), and captured the Zhao Zhang River Basin. In the 18th year, he attacked Zhao State again, and took over a year, and captured Zhao Capital (see the Battle of Qin to destroy Zhao), captured Zhao King Qian, and Zhao became a county of Qin. The following year, the King of Yan sent Jing Ke to assassinate the King of Qin. The King of Qin sent Wang Jian to attack Yan State and defeated the main force of the Yan army in Yishui West. The King of Yan fled to Liaodong. Wang Jian pacified Yan Ji and returned victoriously (see the Battle of Qin to destroy Yan). Qin sent Jianzi Wang Ben to attack Chu, and fought back Wei, and the King of Wei surrendered (see the Battle of Qin to destroy Wei), and then settled the land of Wei.

Qin swept across the six countries, with a power that was unstoppable, destroyed the Three Jins, defeated the Chu army several times, and the King of Yan fled. Qin Shihuang wanted to destroy Chu, but he was devoted to the young and brave Qin general Li Xin, who believed that he was virtuous and courageous. Li Xin once led thousands of troops to pursue Prince Dan of Yan to Yanshui, and finally defeated the Yan army and captured Prince Dan. Qin Shihuang once asked Li Xin how many people needed to defeat Chu? Li Xin said 200,000. Qin Shihuang asked Wang Jian again, and Wang Jian said, "It must be six hundred thousand." The Emperor said, "General Wang is old, why is he afraid! General Li is strong and brave, and his words are true." ("Records of the Grand Historian-Seventy-Three Wang Jian Biography of Bai Qi

》) So Li Xin and Meng Tian sent 200,000 troops to attack Chu in the south. Wang Jian entrusted his illness to resign from his post and returned to Pinyang to take care of his old age. At this time, the Qin army under the leadership of Li Xin attacked Pingyu (now Pingyubei, Henan), Meng Tian attacked Qinqiu (now Linquan, Henan), and defeated the Chu army. Li Xin took advantage of the victory to attack Yan and Ying, and defeated them. So he led his troops west to meet Meng Tian's army with Chengfu (now north of Pingdingshan, Henan). The Chu army led by Xiang Yan took the opportunity to accumulate strength and followed the Qin army for three days and three nights. Finally, he defeated Li Xin's army, captured two camps, killed seven commanders, and fled.

Qin Shihuang was furious when he heard that the Qin army had failed. He made him know that Wang Jian had a vision, so he personally went to Pinyang to apologize to Wang Jian and said, "I did not obey the general. Li Xin finally humiliated the Qin army. Now the Chu army is moving westward. Although the general is sick, how can he bear to betray me?" Wang Jian said thanking and said, "The old minister is weak and sick, violent and rebellious, and I hope the king will choose another good general." The First Emperor insisted on Wang Jian leading the army. Wang Jian said, "If I had to use the old minister, I would give me a 600,000 army." The First Emperor promised. So Wang Jian led 600,000 Qin troops to attack Chu, and the First Emperor personally sent the general to Bashang. Wang Jian had many before his trip.

When seeking fertile land, houses and houses, the First Emperor said, "Since the general has sent troops, why worry about poverty?" Wang Jian said, "As a general of the king, he was not allowed to be a marquis. Therefore, when the king was close to his subordinates, he would seek more fertile land, houses and houses and houses to buy property for his descendants." The First Emperor laughed. After Wang Jian's army reached the pass, he sent envoys back to the court for fertile land five times. Some people thought that the general's request for rewards was too much, but Wang Jian said, "The King of Qin was rude and did not trust people. Now he has devoted all the national forces to me and I can only use the method of raising more land and houses as the foundation for his descendants to stabilize my family and dispel the King of Qin's suspicion of me."

Wang Jian replaced Li Xin to attack Chu. When the Chu army heard that Wang Jian gathered 600,000 troops and sent all the troops in the country to fight against Qin. As soon as Wang Jian arrived, he immediately defended the wall and refused to go out. The Chu army repeatedly challenged, but the Qin army never came out. Wang Jian asked the soldiers to rest and wash their stomachs every day, arrange good food to appease them, and at the same time, eating with the soldiers, intending to accumulate energy and consume the enemy's army, waiting for a desperate battle in the end. Soon, Wang Jian asked what soldiers were to use to entertain, and someone replied: "Throw a stone." , Long Jump Competition." So Wang Jian issued an order to send troops. The Chu army challenged several times but the Qin army did not come out. The Chu army led troops to the east. Wang Jian took advantage of this to send troops to attack, defeated the Chu army, chased to Qinan (now southeast of Suzhou, Anhui), and killed the general Xiang Yan (some say that Xiang Yan committed suicide), and the Chu army fled. Qin took advantage of the victory and pacified the city of Chu in one year, capturing King Fu Chu of Chu (see the Battle of Qin to destroy Chu), and Chu finally became a county of Qin. Wang Jian then led his troops to fight Baiyue in the south and won the victory. He was promoted to Marquis of Wucheng for his achievements.

In the 26th year of Qin Shihuang, Qin unified China. Historical books say that "Wang clan and Meng clan have many achievements, and their names were given to later generations." ("Records of the Grand Historian-Biography of Wang Jian Bai Qi")

Sir comment: Wang Jian was the most outstanding general in the early Warring States Period in my country. Destroying the Five Kingdoms was a hero, and Ping Wang was suspected to be a wise man. Such a famous general who gathered outstanding force and superior political minds was countable in Chinese history. Perhaps only Jiang Ziya can compare with him. Others such as Bai Qi, Li Mu, Han Xin, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing and others were brave, but they were much worse than Wang Jian's political mind. If you don't believe it, you can see from his fate: Wang Jian retired from the mountains and forests, enjoyed wealth and wealth and died of illness. How many other famous generals in Chinese history are as free as him! Bai Qi was given away, Li Mu was killed by King Zhao, Han Fei was beheaded by Empress Lu, Wei Qing finally died of depression and unsuccessfulness, Huo Qubing died early after working for a long time... I am sad that the famous generals are so miserable, so much so!
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