ExclusiveAmbition and Rivalry: The Rise and Fall of Su Qin and Zhang Yi

In the twilight of China's warring states era, ambition ruled. This was a period when rival states sought dominance through alliances and intrigues, and two legendary figures, Su Qin and Zhang Yi, emerged as masters of strategy. It is said that Su Qin and Zhang Yi studied under the elusive philosopher Geguzi, who instructed them in the arts of persuasion and strategy. Geguzi, observing their remarkable potential, advised them to seek wisdom and higher ideals over worldly success. He said, you two are the wisest, should you sincerely learn the way, you will succeed. Why waste your talents in worldly pursuits, captivated by fleeting fame and profit? However, both men were driven by the lure of fame. They famously responded, good timber doesn't rot in the forest, nor should a sharp sword rest in its sheath. This choice set them on a path to glory, but would also lead to their downfall. Su Qin's career was born of grit and resilience. After early failures in Qin, he returned home, only to be ridiculed as a failure. Undeterred, Su Qin devoted himself to study, even pricking his thigh with an iron awl, to stay awake at night, an act that later inspired the idiom, suspending head and stabbing thigh, symbolizing relentless dedication. Discovering the infu classic attributed to Liu Shang, he immersed himself in it, honing his diplomatic vision. After over a year of intense study, Su Qin mastered the arts of alliance and opposition. He crafted a bold diplomatic strategy called Hezhong or vertical alliance, which involved uniting weaker states to form a coalition against the might of Qin, then the strongest state in China. Su Qin's powerful persuasion won over multiple kings, and his success propelled him to the highest ranks as chancellor for six states. He was now a figure feared by Qin, which hesitated to expand eastward in the face of Su Qin's alliance. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi rose through the ranks in Qin by promoting a rival strategy, Lianheng or the horizontal alliance. Instead of uniting against Qin, Zhang Yi persuaded neighboring states to align with Qin individually, isolating each state from the others and preventing them from forming a coalition against Qin. His strategy won him favor with Qin's king, who appointed him as a top advisor. Zhang Yi's approach gradually eroded Su Qin's alliances and set Qin on a path to conquer all of China. Yet modern archaeological discoveries reveal that Su Qin and Zhang Yi may not have been contemporaries, despite centuries of tradition linking their names. In 1973, a discovery in Changsha's Mawangdui Tomb revealed a set of silk manuscripts containing texts about Su Qin, including his activities and death, which conflict with traditional records. These findings suggest that Su Qin may have lived several decades later than Zhang Yi, indicating that the two strategists could be rivals only in legend rather than in reality. Based on historical records, Zhang Yi's true rivals may not have been Su Qin, but rather other prominent strategists like Gong Sun Yan of Wei or Chen Zhen of Chu. At the height of Zhang Yi's rise in Qin, Gong Sun Yan held considerable influence as Darliangzhao, a position akin to that of a general, where he played a critical role in Qin's military campaigns. One of his most significant achievements was the Battle of Diaoyin in 332 BCE, where he reportedly crushed Wei's forces, inflicting a devastating loss of around 80,000 troops. This victory not only solidified Gong Sun Yan's reputation as a formidable military leader, but also reinforced Qin's strategic positioning, marking a period of aggressive expansion that aligned well with Zhang Yi's diplomatic pursuits in the region. However, Zhang Yi's rise posed a direct threat to Gong Sun Yan's position. With his horizontal alliance strategy, Zhang Yi persuaded King Huiwen of Qin to support his diplomatic tactics over Gong Sun's military approach. As Zhang's influence grew, Gong Sun Yan's diminished. Eventually, he returned to Wei, where he regained prominence as the state's chancellor. Gong Sun then attempted to unite Wei, Han, Zhao, Yan, and Zhongshan under the coalition known as the Alliance of the Five Kings to counter Qin's expansion, yet internal rivalries and conflicting interests prevented its success. In the Mencius, a prominent figure, Jing Chen, famously praised Gong Sun Yan and Zhang Yi's influential presence. Are Gong Sun Yan and Zhang Yi not true men of valor? When they are angered, the feudal lords tremble, when they remain at peace, all under heaven is at rest. Jing Chen's remarks reflect the respect Gong Sun Yan commanded in his time, on par with Zhang Yi, and notably exclude Su Qin from this acknowledgment. The records of the grand historian also portray Zhang Yi's main rivals as Gong Sun Yan from Wei and Qin Zhen from Chu, indicating that Zhang Yi's contemporary competition primarily came from other strategists rather than Su Qin. However, the Warring States Stratagem, compiled from Marwong Dui's Silk Manuscripts, suggests Su Qin and Zhang Yi may have crossed paths briefly. According to these records, around 312 BCE, Su Qin, then serving as a lesser advisor, offered strategies to Qin Zhen of Chu on countering Zhang Yi during a clash between the alliances of Qin, Wei, and Han against Chu, Qi, and Song. This implies that by the time Zhang Yi's reputation was firmly established, Su Qin was just beginning to make his mark. As for why historians like Sima Qian and Lu Xian grouped Su Qin and Zhang Yi as contemporaries, it may have been due to scarce records or possibly other historiographical considerations. Without doubt, both Zhang Yi and Su Qin became famous with their unmatched eloquence and persuasive skills. Both achieved the heights of their ambitions, yet their success came at a high cost. The wisdom of Genghis Khan warns, those who seek to influence the world must act in harmony with heaven's way, pursuing what is just, those who go against it, though successful, will still face ruin. This notion of acting in harmony with natural principles suggests that achievements built upon integrity endure, while those founded on deception are ultimately doomed. Su Qin and Zhang Yi, two of the warring states' most brilliant strategists, exemplify this principle through their contrasting fates. Su Qin, with his strategy of vertical alliance to unify six states against Qin, resorted to manipulation, deception, and intrigue, sowing seeds of distrust. In the end, he met a tragic end, executed in a foreign land and torn apart by horses. And Zhang Yi with his horizontal alliance to isolate these states, similarly, achieved great influence in Qin but drew resentment from his peers, due to his shifting allegiances and shrewd maneuvers. His story is immortalized in the idiom, to serve Qin in the morning and Chu in the evening, which describes shifting loyalties for personal gain. In the end, alienated and fearing reprisal, he fled to Wei, where he soon died, in obscurity. Genghis Khan's wisdom, which emphasizes the importance of persuasion, strategy, and alignment with higher principles, can indeed be seen as a double-edged sword in modern contexts. Many people apply his teachings to navigate personal and professional interests effectively, often with an eye toward maximizing their gains. Just as Su Qin and Zhang Yi faced the consequences of their choices, modern individuals must recognize that leveraging wisdom for personal gain without regard for integrity can ultimately lead to downfall. A sustainable path to success involves not only strategy but also a commitment to authenticity and respect for others, reinforcing the idea that true influence is built on trust and integrity. That's it for today. Please comment, like and share. See you next time.