Secrets of the Warrior King

Swords clanged. Arrows ripped through the air. The hooves of thousands of horses thundered across the blood-stained earth.

For the past 15 years, a young king named Zhao Zheng (jao jung) had waged war on the kingdoms of ancient China. He was determined to conquer them all, and he had a skilled army to help him do it.  

By 221 B.C., victory was finally within reach. If Zheng’s army won one last battle, the powerful king would do what no one had ever done: unite China’s fiercely independent kingdoms into one mighty empire. 

Swords clanged. Arrows ripped through the air. The hooves of thousands of horses thundered across the land. The ground was stained with blood.

For the past 15 years, a young king named Zhao Zheng (jao jung) had waged war on the kingdoms of ancient China. He was determined to conquer them all. And he had a skilled army to help him do it.

By 221 B.C., victory was finally within reach. Zheng’s army had to win one last battle. China’s kingdoms had been fiercely independent. But if this powerful king succeeded, he would do what no one had ever done: He would unite the kingdoms into one mighty empire.

In 221 B.C., China was vastly different from the country we know today. Back then, much of the present-day nation was divided into seven states, or kingdoms, that warred with each other over land and resources. Each state wanted to be the most powerful.

It was during this period that Zheng was born, in 259 B.C. His father was the king of Qin (chin), a large state with a strong military. When Zheng was 13, his father died, and Zheng was thrust onto the throne. Advisers guided him. 

Even at a young age, Zheng proved to be an ambitious leader. As a teen, he was committed to conquering the lands around his kingdom. By the time he was 30, he had built one of the world’s strongest armies, with about 500,000 expertly trained men.

Fueled by a thirst for power, Zheng launched relentless attacks on the other states. And in 221 B.C., when he was around 38, his army defeated the last one. 

Triumphant, Zheng gave himself a new name: Qin Shi Huangdi (chin shuh hwong-dee), the first emperor of what would become China.

Now an even greater challenge awaited him. He had to bring together 20 million people torn apart by war.

In 221 B.C., China was very different from the country we know today. Back then, much of the present-day nation was divided into seven states, or kingdoms. They warred with each other over land and resources. Each state wanted to be the most powerful.

Zheng was born during this period, in 259 B.C. His father was the king of Qin (chin). That large state had a strong military. When Zheng was 13, his father died. Suddenly, Zheng was on the throne. Advisers guided him.

Even at a young age, Zheng was an ambitious leader. As a teen, he was committed to conquering the lands around his kingdom. By the time he was 30, he had built one of the world’s strongest armies. It had about 500,000 expertly trained men.

Zheng was fueled by a thirst for power. He launched relentless attacks on the other states. And in 221 B.C., his army defeated the last one. He was around 38 years old.

Triumphant, Zheng gave himself a new name: Qin Shi Huangdi (chin shuh hwong-dee), the first emperor of what would become China.

Now an even greater challenge lay ahead. He had to bring together 20 million people torn apart by war.

Declaring that his dynasty would last for thousands of generations, Qin got to work. He set up an official system of currency and measurement, which until then had varied widely across the region. Qin also ordered his scholars to develop a standard system of writing. That system would lay the foundation for the Chinese characters, or written language, used today. 

What’s more, Qin oversaw the construction of new roads and canals. This made travel and trade easier within the young empire, which helped local economies.

To keep out invaders, Qin ordered that the walls at the empire’s northern border be connected. This project was the start of the Great Wall of China. The 13,000-mile stone structure still stands today. It is one of the world’s most famous landmarks. 

But Qin had a dark side. If anyone dared criticize him, he ordered their death. He burned history books to erase records of past rulers. He also forced people to work without pay.

Qin declared that his dynasty would last for thousands of generations. He got to work. He set up an official system of currency and measurement. Until then, these had varied widely across the region. Qin also ordered his scholars to develop a standard system of writing. That system would lay the foundation for the Chinese characters, or written language, used today.

Qin also oversaw the construction of new roads and canals. This made travel and trade easier within the young empire, which helped local economies.

Qin ordered that the walls at the empire’s northern border be connected. He wanted to keep out invaders. That project was the start of the Great Wall of China. The 13,000-mile stone structure still stands today. It is one of the world’s most famous landmarks.

But Qin had a dark side. If anyone dared to criticize him, he ordered their death. He burned history books to erase records of past rulers. He also forced people to work without pay.

Despite all his victories, Qin could not conquer his greatest fear: his own death.

He desperately searched for a way to live forever, traveling to distant corners of his empire in search of the secret to immortality. 

But he never found it. Qin died around age 49, in 210 B.C. Historians believe he accidentally poisoned himself by taking pills he thought would make him live forever. 

With Qin gone, warring groups tore apart his empire. It was reunited less than 10 years later by the Han Dynasty, which would rule for 400 years.

Qin had many victories. But he could not conquer his greatest fear: He was afraid of his own death.

He desperately searched for a way to live forever. He traveled to distant corners of his empire trying to find the secret to immortality.

But he never found it. Qin died around age 49, in 210 B.C. Historians believe he accidentally poisoned himself by taking pills he thought would make him live forever.

With Qin gone, warring groups tore apart his empire. It was reunited less than 10 years later by the Han Dynasty, which would rule for 400 years.

Archaeologists have been studying the burial complex for almost 50 years. So far, they have unearthed more than 2,000 life-sized clay copies of Qin’s soldiers. Each one is unique, with individual hairstyles and clothing. There are also other wonders to behold: clay horses, bronze chariots, and tens of thousands of weapons, including daggers, spears, and axes.

To this day, mysteries about Qin—and his final resting place—continue to fascinate people. Though his rule as emperor lasted only 11 years, experts say he remains one of China’s most important leaders.

Archaeologists have been studying the burial complex for almost 50 years. So far, they have unearthed more than 2,000 life-sized clay copies of Qin’s soldiers. Each one is unique. Each has its own hairstyle and clothing. There are also other wonders to see, such as clay horses and bronze chariots. There are tens of thousands of weapons, including daggers, spears, and axes.

To this day, people are still fascinated by mysteries about Qin and his final resting place. His rule as emperor lasted only 11 years. But experts say he remains one of China’s most important leaders.

“He was depicted as this cruel ruler, and partially that’s true,” says Duan. “But there are a lot of things he did that have had a long-lasting influence.” 

Indeed, Qin’s legacy is evident across China, from the parts of the Great Wall he ordered built to his contributions to Chinese language.

And in that way, perhaps Qin did achieve immortality after all. 

“He was depicted as this cruel ruler, and partially that’s true,” says Duan. “But there are a lot of things he did that have had a long-lasting influence.”

Indeed, Qin’s legacy is evident across China, from the parts of the Great Wall he ordered built to his contributions to Chinese language.

And in that way, perhaps Qin did achieve immortality after all.