Kingdom

Xin and Piao Grow Up as Slaves in the Countryside

Having lost their parents to war, Xin and Piao grow up as slaves in a Qin village. The two share a dream of becoming the greatest generals under heaven, training in swordsmanship every day.

Ying Zheng Ascends the Qin Throne at Age 13

Following the death of King Zhuangxiang, Ying Zheng ascends the throne of Qin at the age of 13. Real power lies in the hands of Chancellor Lü Buwei, leaving Zheng in a near-puppet role.

— Shiji, Annals of Qin Shi Huang. Ying Zheng acceded in 247 BC.

Piao's Assassination and Xin's Meeting with Ying Zheng

Piao is recruited to serve as King Zheng's body double in the palace, but is mortally wounded during a coup by Cheng Jiao's faction and returns to Xin. Using the map Piao left behind, Xin meets Ying Zheng.

Recapture of the Capital with Aid from the Mountain People

Ying Zheng secures the aid of Yotanwa, queen of the Mountain People, and successfully recaptures the capital Xianyang from Cheng Jiao's faction. Xin fights in the battle and carves out his own path with his sword.

Xin Rises from Centurion to Three-Hundred-Man Commander

Xin leads the Fei Xin Unit in successive campaigns, accumulating military merit and rising from centurion to three-hundred-man commander. During this period, major events such as the death of General Wang Qi unfold for Qin.

The Alliance Army Invades; Defense of Hangu Pass

Chu, Zhao, Wei, Han, and Yan form a five-nation alliance army and invade Qin, advancing on Hangu Pass. The Qin forces under General Teng hold the pass and repel the allied thrust.

— According to the Shiji, in 241 BC a four/five-nation alliance attacked Hangu Pass and was repulsed — the last multi-state alliance offensive against Qin in history.

Battle of Sai — the Alliance Army Reaches the Outskirts of Xianyang

A detached force of the alliance army bypasses Hangu Pass and advances to Sai, a small city just outside Xianyang. Ying Zheng personally stands on the walls to rally the populace until Xin's unit arrives. Qin narrowly averts destruction.

— The Shiji records that Pang Nuan led a Zhao-Chu-Wei-Yan force against Sai but failed to take it.

The Lao Ai Rebellion and the Fall of Lü Buwei

Queen Dowager's lover Lao Ai stages a rebellion but is suppressed and executed by dismemberment. Chancellor Lü Buwei, implicated in the affair, loses his position and later takes his own life. Ying Zheng seizes the opportunity to establish direct rule.

— Shiji, Annals of Qin Shi Huang: in 238 BC (year 9 of Shi Huang's reign), the Lao Ai rebellion was crushed and Lü Buwei was removed from office.

Wang Jian and Huan Qi Attack Ye in Zhao

Qin launches a three-pronged offensive under Wang Jian, Huan Qi, and Yotanwa against northern Zhao, capturing Ye and eight other cities. The campaign significantly reduces Zhao's territory.

— Shiji, Biography of Wang Jian: in 236 BC, Wang Jian, Huan Qi, and Yang Duanhe captured Ye and nine other Zhao cities.

Battle of Yi'an — Li Mu Defeats Huan Qi

Qin's Huan Qi attacks near Yi'an in Zhao, but Li Mu's Zhao forces encircle and crush the Qin army at Fei. Huan Qi is routed and, according to historical records, is killed in battle or executed thereafter.

— Shiji, Biography of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru: in 233 BC, Li Mu defeated the Qin army (Huan Qi) near Yi'an.

Fall of Han — the First of the Six Kingdoms to Fall

Qin General Teng leads an army into Han and captures King Hanan. The smallest of the Seven Warring States, Han becomes the first to fall, marking the true start of Qin's unification campaign.

— Shiji: in 230 BC (year 17 of Shi Huang's reign), General Teng captured King An of Han, destroying Han.

Wang Jian's Final Zhao Campaign and the Execution of Li Mu

Wang Jian launches a full-scale assault on Zhao together with Qiang Lei and Yotanwa. Zhao's celebrated general Li Mu repeatedly repels the Qin army, but Wang Jian's disinformation campaign causes the Zhao king to have Li Mu executed in 228 BC. With Li Mu gone, Qin captures Handan and takes King Youmiu of Zhao prisoner.

— Shiji: Wang Jian began the Zhao campaign in 229 BC; in 228 BC Li Mu was killed on the king's orders and Handan fell.

Qin Floods the Wei Capital and Destroys Wei

Qin's Wang Ben diverts the Yellow River to flood the Wei capital Daliang. After three months the walls collapse and King Jia of Wei surrenders. Wei is destroyed, and Qin extends its dominion further eastward.

— Shiji: in 225 BC (year 22), Wang Ben flooded Daliang and destroyed Wei.

Li Xin's Disastrous Chu Campaign — 200,000-Man Army Annihilated

Ying Zheng sends Li Xin with 200,000 troops to invade Chu, but the army is catastrophically defeated at Chengfu by Chu general Xiang Yan's counterattack and the defection of Changpingjun. Li Xin loses seven generals and flees.

— Shiji, Biography of Bai Qi and Wang Jian: Li Xin's 200,000-man Chu campaign was crushed in a pincer attack by Xiang Yan and Changpingjun.

Wang Jian's 600,000-Man Army Pacifies Chu

Wang Jian agrees to lead the Chu campaign on condition of receiving 600,000 troops. After exhausting the Chu army through a war of attrition, he captures King Fuchu of Chu in 223 BC and destroys the state.

— Shiji: in 223 BC (year 24), Wang Jian and Meng Wu captured King Fuchu of Chu, ending the state.

Fall of Yan and Dai

Wang Ben captures King Xi of Yan, ending the state. He then subdues the Dai remnant state, capturing King Jia. Only Qin and Qi remain of the Seven Warring States.

— Shiji: in 222 BC (year 25), Wang Ben captured King Xi of Yan and King Jia of Dai.

Qi Surrenders; China is Unified

Wang Ben invades Qi and King Jian surrenders without a fight. Having subdued all six rival states, Ying Zheng declares himself 'Qin Shi Huang' — the First Emperor — the first ruler to unify all of China.

— Shiji: in 221 BC (year 26), King Jian of Qi surrendered and Ying Zheng took the title 'Qin Shi Huang, First Emperor.'

The First Emperor's Reforms After Unification

The First Emperor unifies weights and measures, script, and currency, implements the commandery-county system, and fortifies the Great Wall, establishing a centralized imperial order. Xin continues on his path toward the rank of supreme general.

— Based on the Shiji and other sources; post-unification reforms are historically documented.