The Warring States era was a time of upheaval. Under King Wei of Qi’s reforms, Qi grew steadily stronger. He appointed Zou Ji as chancellor and instituted the rule of law, welcomed criticism and advice, and brought political order to the state. He also strengthened the military and reorganized the army, improving its combat power. Qi’s strength continued to grow under the next two rulers, King Xuan and King Min.
By King Min’s reign, Qi had reached its peak. Its territory was vast, its economy prosperous, and its military powerful enough to rival Qin. For a time, the two states were even known as the Eastern and Western Emperors, and Qi seemed poised to unify the realm.
But all things decline after reaching their height. King Min waged wars on every front, and his destruction of Song in particular alarmed the other states, gravely threatening their interests. Seeking revenge for Qi’s invasion of Yan, King Zhao of Yan gathered talented men and appointed Yue Yi to prepare for retaliation. Through his efforts, Yan successfully formed an alliance with Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin, bringing together five states to attack Qi.
The five-state campaign dealt Qi a devastating blow. The allied forces routed the Qi army at Jixi, after which Yue Yi led the Yan troops deep into Qi, capturing more than seventy cities. Qi came close to destruction. King Min was killed by Nao Chi, a general of Chu, while fleeing. The campaign left Qi severely weakened. Though Tian Dan later restored the state with his fire-cattle formation, Qi could only cling to a corner of the realm and struggle to survive. Its former glory was gone for good.
The scene is grand, recreating history 🙂🙂🙂🙂