After the collapse of Su Qin’s Vertical Alliance (Hezong), a new threat emerged to Qin’s ambition: the alliance between Qi and Chu, the two most powerful eastern states. United, they could block Qin’s path to unification.
To counter this, Zhang Yi, Chancellor of Qin under King Huiwen, devised a bold plan: shatter the Qi-Chu alliance through deception. His first target – Chu.
A Grudge Rekindled
Zhang Yi, a native of Wei, had once sought office in Chu under King Wei, but was rejected. He became a retainer of Prime Minister Zhao Yang, only to be falsely accused of stealing the legendary Heshi Bi jade. Beaten and humiliated, he fled back to Wei.
Now, years later, as Qin’s envoy, he returned to Chu – not as a beggar, but as a master strategist.
King Huai of Chu, son of King Wei of Chu, remembered Zhang Yi’s past suffering and feared revenge. Yet he also hoped for peace – and profit.
Zhang Yi began his campaign not with the king, but with Jin Shang, the king’s favorite courtier, gifting him lavish presents to secure influence.
The Six-Hundred-Li Lie
Before King Huai, Zhang Yi laid out a seductive offer:
“If Chu breaks ties with Qi, Qin will grant you 600 li of Shangyu territory – triple gain: land, weakened Qi, and Qin’s friendship.”
Blinded by greed, King Huai rejoiced:
“Why cling to Qi if Qin offers such riches?”
Only Chen Zhen, a guest minister, and Qu Yuan, the Three Clans’ Grandee, warned against it.
“Qin fears Chu only because of Qi,” Chen Zhen argued. “Cut off Qi, and you’re defenseless.”
“Zhang Yi is a liar!” Qu Yuan declared.
But Jin Shang, bribed and smiling, dismissed them:
“Without breaking with Qi, why would Qin give land?”
Convinced, King Huai of Chu sent Pang Houchou with Zhang Yi to Xianyang to claim the land – and immediately severed ties with Qi state.
The Sting: Six Li, Not Six Hundred
In Xianyang, Zhang Yi feigned a leg injury and vanished for three months. When Pang Houchou finally confronted him, Zhang Yi smirked:
“I offered my own six li – not 600! Did the king mishear?”
Pang Houchou realized the truth: it was all a trap.
Furious, King Huai of Chu launched an invasion of Qin in 312 BCE with 100,000 troops. But Qin, now allied with Qi (angered by Chu’s betrayal), struck from two fronts. Han and Wei joined the fray, seizing border lands.
The result?
- Chu’s army annihilated; generals Qu Gai and Pang Houchou killed.
- Hanzhong – 600+ li of Chu territory – lost to Qin.
- Chu, once mighty, lay broken and humiliated.
Desperate, King Huai sent Qu Yuan to Qi to apologize and Chen Zhen to Qin to beg for peace, offering two more cities.
But Qin demanded Qianzhong (in modern Hunan) in exchange for Shangyu. King Huai, obsessed with vengeance, replied:
“Forget land – just hand over Zhang Yi, and I’ll give Qianzhong freely!”
The Diplomat’s Gambit: Walking into prison
Qin’s ministers urged:
“One man for hundreds of li? Take the deal!”
Zhang Yi, calm, said:
“Perhaps I won’t even die.”
King Huiwen let him go.
In Chu, Zhang Yi was imprisoned, awaiting execution at the ancestral temple. But he had already bribed Jin Shang, who in turn persuaded Lady Zheng Xiu, the king’s favorite concubine, to plead for mercy.
“Kill Zhang Yi,” she whispered, “and Qin will never forgive you. Keep him alive, and peace remains possible.”
King Huai, swayed and reluctant to lose Qianzhong, released Zhang Yi.
Back in Qin, Zhang Yi advised returning half of Hanzhong to restore relations. Flattered, King Huai praised him:
“Zhang Yi is a true friend!”
For his success, King Huiwen of Qin granted Zhang Yi five cities and the title “Marquis Wuxin”, ordering him to spread Lianheng (Horizontal Alliance)across the realm.
The Dominoes Fall: Converting the Kings
Zhang Yi first went to meet King Xuan of Qi and said to him,
“The King of Chu has already betrothed his daughter to the Crown Prince of Qin, and the King of Qin has also betrothed his daughter to the young prince of Chu. The two great powers have become allies. The four states of Han, Zhao, Wei, and Yan, in order to preserve themselves, have all ceded some land to Qin. Now that all five states are friendly with Qin, why does Your Majesty still refuse to wholeheartedly align with Qin? Please, Your Majesty, think carefully.”
King Xuan of Qi was convinced by his words, which were a combination of flattery and intimidation.
When Zhang Yi arrived in Zhao, he said to King Wuling of Zhao (the son of Marquess Su of Zhao):
“Chu and Qin have become allies through marriage, Han has long submitted to Qin, and Qi has also sent gifts to sue for peace. The powerful states have all aligned with Qin, leaving Zhao isolated and surrounded by enemies on all sides. Isn’t this far too dangerous? “
King Wuling of Zhao was also intimidated by Zhang Yi’s words.
When Zhang Yi arrived in Yan, he said to the new ruler, King Zhao of Yan:
“Your state only knows to guard against invasions from Zhao. Yet now, Chu, Qi, Han, Wei, and Zhao have all submitted to Qin, and each of them has offered several cities as gifts to the King of Qin. If Your Majesty remains isolated and refuses to establish ties with Qin, the King of Qin need only send one envoy to order Zhao, Han, and Wei to attack your honorable state. How could it possibly survive?”
Frightened by his words, King Zhao of Yan agreed to cede five cities east of the Huan River to the King of Qin.
With Qi, Zhao, and Yan now aligned with Qin, Lianheng (Horizontal Alliance) was complete.
Triumphant, Zhang Yi returned to Qin – only to find King Huiwen dead.
The Final Maneuver: Exile and legacy
The new king, King Wu, despised Zhang Yi. Advisers whispered against him.
Rather than face disgrace, Zhang Yi proposed a final stratagem:
“Let me go to Wei state. Qi hates me – they’ll attack Wei. While they fight, Qin can seize Han and march on Zhou, claiming the Mandate of Heaven.”
King Wu, eager to reach the Zhou capital, gave him thirty chariots.
In Wei, King Xiang welcomed him as chancellor.
True to prediction, Qi – now leading a revived Hezong coalition (Vertical Alliance) – declared:
“Capture Zhang Yi, and receive ten cities!”
Qi invaded Wei.
But Zhang Yi sent his agent Feng Xi to Qi state with a revelation:
“This is Qin’s trap! While you fight Wei, Qin takes Han and marches on Zhou.”
King Xuan of Qi slapped his forehead:
“I nearly played into their hands!”
He withdrew his army.
Without firing a single arrow, Zhang Yi saved Wei – and cemented his legend.
Soon after, he fell ill and died in Wei, ending the life of history’s greatest diplomatic illusionist.
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