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In 260 BCE, the Battle of Changping ended in catastrophic defeat for Zhao. Over 450,000 Zhao soldiers – many buried alive – were annihilated by Qin forces under General Bai Qi. Flush with victory, Bai Qi sent word to King Zhaoxiang of Qin, requesting reinforcements and supplies to march on Handan and extinguish Zhao…
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Following Chancellor Fan Ju’s doctrine of “Ally with the Distant, Attack the Nearby” (Yuan Jiao Jin Gong), King Zhaoxiang of Qin strengthened ties with Qi and Chu while turning his armies toward neighboring states – starting with Han.