Qin Shi Huang was the 36th king of the Qin state and the first emperor to unify China after defeating the six vassal states, marking the end of the Warring States period. However, just three years after his death, the Qin dynasty faced extinction.
Qin Shi Huang was very proud of his invincible army. Image: Sohu
As the first feudal dynasty in ancient Chinese history, the Qin dynasty, although short-lived, had a significant impact. Qin Shi Huang became famous for thousands of years and is considered one of the greatest emperors. At that time, the Qin dynasty was thriving in both political and military aspects. However, due to the despotism of the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, and the incompetence of the second emperor, Hu Hai, the Qin dynasty lasted only a brief 15 years before disappearing.
In fact, there have always been differing opinions on the causes of the Qin dynasty’s downfall. Some argue that it was destroyed by fate, while others believe it was the result of human actions. Although Qin Shi Huang was extremely autocratic and tyrannical, his capabilities and governance policies as the ruler of a nation were remarkably sound. He can be considered a model lord. Under his leadership, the Qin army was invincible, akin to the terracotta warriors and horses found in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, which had the power to shake the world.
Despite this, in the later years of the Qin dynasty, Zhang Han was defeated by Xiang Yu and sent a letter requesting reinforcements. Unexpectedly, Zhao Gao, feeling envious, intended to punish Zhang Han, which angered him and led to his surrender to Xiang Yu. This act left the Qin without soldiers, which was the most direct cause of the dynasty’s collapse. However, could the imperial army truly be so weak? Where had the soldiers who once swept through the six states and unified China gone? In reality, even by the end of the Qin dynasty, there were still 500,000 Qin soldiers stationed but inactive, as they were strictly following the orders of Qin Shi Huang! What had happened?
After the death of Qin Shi Huang, the Qin dynasty quickly declined and was destroyed within just three years. Image: Sohu
It turns out that in 214 BC, Qin Shi Huang left only 100,000 troops in the north and sent more than 500,000 troops south to expand territory. The terrain there was mountainous and heavily forested. Although initially defeated in early campaigns, the Qin army gradually succeeded in building a canal system, which helped transport large amounts of supplies to reinforce their forces in a second attack on the south. Subsequently, the Qin army continued to attack the territories of Fujian, Guangdong, and Guilin. The war dragged on endlessly, and Qin Shi Huang seemed to understand the importance of this land, so he ordered the 500,000 troops to hold their ground, stating that no matter what happened, they could not leave that area.
This is why, at that time, although the Qin dynasty seemed to have no soldiers left and was on the brink of extinction, those 500,000 troops did not appear and remained stationed in the south. It is possible that without Qin Shi Huang’s order to hold their ground, this army might have returned north to join the battle, and the fate of the Qin state could have taken a different turn!
