During the Warring States period, King Min of Qi (r. 323–284 BCE) presided over a state at the height of its power – thanks to the legacies of his grandfather King Wei and father King Xuan. Confident in Qi’s strength, he even entered into an agreement with King Zhaoxiang of Qin to divide the world: Qin would be the Western Emperor, Qi the Eastern Emperor.
The Hubris of King Min of Qi
In 286 BCE, Qi, allied with Chu and Wei, annihilated the once-mighty state of Song, seizing most of its territory. But King Min, unsatisfied, turned on his allies and seized hundreds of miles of their land. This betrayal alienated Chu and Wei, who then aligned with Qin against Qi.
Worse still, King Min declared his ambition to overthrow the Zhou dynasty and proclaim himself Heavenly King. When Mengchang Jun warned him against such arrogance – citing Song’s recent downfall as a cautionary tale:
“The state of Song was destroyed by Your Majesty precisely because of its arrogance and the offenses it committed against the other states. I urge Your Majesty not to follow its example. Although the Son of Heaven has lost his power, he remains, after all, the common sovereign of all the feudal lords. How can Your Majesty speak of attacking the Son of Heaven?”
King Min of Qi dismissed him, saying:
“Tang of Shang waged war against King Jie of Xia, and King Wu of Zhou waged war against King Zhou of Shang. Why can’t I be like Tang or Wu? You’re just no Yi Yin or Jiang Ziya!”
Thus, the ruler and his minister fell into disagreement. Stripped of his chancellorship, Mengchang Jun fled to Wei, seeking refuge with Lord Xinling, the nobleman of Wei.
Now unchallenged, King Min grew ever more reckless – until his hubris invited catastrophe.
The Revenge of Yan
Decades earlier, in 314 BCE, Yan was engulfed in internal strife. Seizing the opportunity, Qi had invaded Yan during its civil war, briefly annexing it. Though Yan later restored its monarchy under King Zhao, the humiliation festered. King Zhao of Yan spent years rebuilding: repairing temples, reforming governance, recruiting talent – including the brilliant general Yue Yi (Le Yi).
When news came that King Min had exiled Mengchang Jun and threatened the Zhou court, Yue Yi saw his chance. He advised King Zhao:
“Qi is isolated. If we ally with Zhao, Han, Wei, and Qin, we can crush it.”
King Zhao agreed. In 284 BCE, a five-state coalition – led by Yue Yi as supreme commander – marched on Qi. Among the generals were Bai Qi (Qin), Lian Po (Zhao), Bao Yuan (Han), and Jin Bi (Wei).
Yue Yi led from the front. His ferocity inspired the allied troops, and Qi’s army collapsed. King Min fled Linzi, the capital, as the coalition seized dozens of cities. Satisfied with their gains, Qin, Zhao, Han, and Wei withdrew, leaving Yue Yi to finish the conquest with Yan forces alone.
Within six months, Yue Yi captured over 70 cities. And King Min of Qi was also killed in the battle. Only Ju (Jucheng, or Ju City) and Jimo held out.
The Strategy of Benevolence
Rather than storm the last two cities, Yue Yi adopted a policy of winning hearts:
- Abolishing Qi’s harsh laws,
- Reducing taxes,
- Honoring local customs and elders.
For three years, he besieged Ju and Jimo – but gently, even allowing civilians to gather firewood unmolested. His goal was not just conquest, but reconciliation.
But back in Yan, suspicion grew.
A minister named Qi Jie whispered to Crown Prince Hui:
“Yue Yi could have taken the cities long ago. He’s waiting to be crowned King of Qi!”
The prince believed him so he relayed this to the King of Yan. Upon hearing it, King Zhao of Yan leapt to his feet, scolded him as an ungrateful beast. He said,
“Who was it avenged the former king’s death for us? Yue Yi’s merit is beyond words. We should regard him as a benefactor and fear we do not honor him enough – yet you dare to speak ill of him? Even if he truly declared himself King of Qi, he would deserve it!”
After reprimanding the Crown Prince, King Zhao of Yan went so far as to send an envoy to Linzi to meet Yue Yi and offer to make him King of Qi. Deeply moved by King Zhao of Yan’s sincerity, Yue Yi swore to heaven that he would rather die than accept this command to become king.
When King Zhao died in 279 BCE, the new king – King Hui of Yan – recalled Yue Yi and sent Qi Jie to replace him.
Yue Yi, fearing execution, chose exile in Zhao, where he was enfeoffed as Lord Wangzhu.
The Rise of Tian Dan
In Jimo, a minor officer named Tian Dan – a distant relative of the Qi royal house – had been appointed general after the previous commander died in battle. Humble and courageous, he shared hardships with his soldiers and placed his own family on the front lines. The people trusted him completely.
Knowing Yue Yi was too skilled to defeat, Tian Dan waited. But when Qi Jie took command, Tian Dan saw his opening.
He launched a psychological campaign:
Tian Dan also sent spies disguised as civilians outside the city to spread rumors. They said,
“General Yue was too lenient in the past – he treated captured prisoners well, so of course the people in the city weren’t afraid. But if the Yan army cuts off the noses of their prisoners, would the Qi people still dare to fight?”
Others added,
“Our ancestors’ graves are all outside the city. What if the Yan army really starts digging them up?”
These discussions reached the camp of Qi Jie. Upon hearing them, Qi Jie, eager to appear ruthless, actually ordered the noses of all captured Qi soldiers to be cut off. He also commanded his troops to dig up the graves outside the Qi city and burn the bones of the dead.
The people of Jimo wept in rage, vowing revenge.
The Fire-Bull Ambush
Tian Dan prepared his counterstrike.
- He gathered:
- 1,000 oxen,
- 5,000 elite warriors (the “Dare-to-Die Corps”).
Each ox was draped in painted silk, horns fitted with blades, tails wrapped in oil-soaked reeds. The warriors painted their faces in fierce colors.
At midnight, they breached the walls, lit the oxen’s tails, and unleashed them into the Yan camp.
The burning oxen charged like demons – horns slashing, eyes wild. Behind them, the Dare-to-Die Corps roared, while citizens pounded bronze pots and drums, creating a deafening cacophony.
The Yan army, half-asleep, saw only monsters and ghosts. Panic erupted. Men trampled each other. General Qi Jie was killed on the spot – “crushed like a bedbug,” as the chronicles say.
The Restoration of Qi
Tian Dan pursued the fleeing Yan forces. City after city rose in rebellion, slaughtering Yan garrisons and welcoming Qi’s return. Within months, all 70+ cities were reclaimed.
Since King Min of Qi had been killed in the battle. Tian Dan was urged to take the throne, but he refused and chose to remain loyal. He escorted Prince Fazhang – heir to the Qi line – from Ju to Linzi, where he was crowned King Xiang of Qi.
In gratitude, King Xiang enfeoffed Tian Dan as Lord Anping and pledged to rebuild Qi.
But the war had drained Qi’s strength. It would never again rival Qin for supremacy.
Epilogue: Regret and Reconciliation
King Hui of Yan, devastated by defeat, wrote to Yue Yi begging his return. Yue Yi replied with a dignified letter explaining his impossible position. To appease him, Yan enfeoffed Yue Yi’s son Yue Xian (Le Xian) as Lord of Changguo.
Yue Yi became a bridge between Yan and Zhao, shuttling between courts as a respected elder statesman – until his death in Zhao.
Thus ended one of the most dramatic reversals in Chinese military history:
From near-total annihilation to miraculous resurrection – all ignited by fire, fury, and a thousand charging bulls.
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