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Among the Four Lords of the Warring States Period – Pingyuan, Xinling, Chunshen, and Mengchang – Tian Wen, Lord Mengchang, stood apart. The others served their homelands with unwavering loyalty: Lord Pingyuan defended Zhao, Lord Xinling stole the tally to save Zhao, and Lord Chunshen died in service to Chu. But Lord Mengchang drifted…
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During the mid–Warring States period, Lord Mengchang (Tian Wen), once chancellor of Qi, fell out of favor with King Min of Qi and retired to his fiefdom of Xue (southeast of present-day Tengzhou, Shandong). Though renowned for hosting thousands of retainers and honoring talent, his growing influence had aroused royal suspicion.
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In 338 BCE, Duke Xiao of Qin fell gravely ill and died. His son ascended the throne as King Huiwen of Qin.