The Qin Empire 2: The Qin Empire: A Nation's Fate Across the Land

The second installment of The Great Qin Empire, The Fate of the Nation: Vertical and Horizontal Strategies, consists of three volumes: the Upper Volume, Middle Volume, and Lower Volume. The six states form a vertical alliance to resist Qin. Qin appoints Zhang Yi as its chief minister, using a horizontal alliance to break the vertical one and pursue even greater growth as it rises to power.

King Huiwen of Qin joins forces with the reform faction, crushing the old nobility's rebellion with an iron hand and restoring order at court. He appoints young pillars of state loyal to the new laws, forming a vigorous new generation at the heart of power and making full preparations to advance east into the Central Plains. Meanwhile, the six states east of the mountains descend into chaos and warfare. Qin's new army seizes the opportunity to march east, winning one great victory after another and posing a formidable threat to the six states.

Two renowned scholars from Guiguzi's school emerge into the world. The fellow disciples Su Qin and Zhang Yi assess the state of the realm and agree to serve rival great powers. Yet both suffer major setbacks and are temporarily forced to withdraw. Su Qin endures humiliation and devotes himself to study for three years. After discerning the direction of the world, he returns to public life with the grand strategy of forming an alliance to resist Qin. He makes his breakthrough in Yan, successfully persuading the six states to unite. As chancellor of all six states, he joins forces with the Four Great Young Lords of the Warring States to form a coalition army, putting Qin under immense pressure. Qin resolves to stand against the six states and seeks out Zhang Yi, who is already confident he can break their alliance, appointing him as its chief minister. Zhang Yi proposes the grand strategy of a horizontal alliance and leads Qin in a diplomatic war of vertical and horizontal alliances, as well as an all-out contest of strength, against the six states east of the mountains. The coalition army invades Qin, but its weak foundations and repeated infighting lead to frequent defeats, and the alliance ultimately fails. Su Qin is assassinated by hired killers at the behest of the old nobility.

At this point, Qin's domestic politics shift. King Huiwen suffers from an unusual illness of unknown cause, while the violent Crown Prince conspires with Chief Historian Gan Mao to drive out his opponents. Generalissimo Sima Cuo is forced to resign and retire, while Zhang Yi resigns and leaves Qin for a life of seclusion in the countryside to avoid dismissal. The martial and bellicose King Wu of Qin leads a great army east to Luoyang, once again pushing Qin into a perilous situation.