Wei Ran
Maternal uncle of King Zhao of Qin; four times chancellor, he recommended Bai Qi and expanded the frontiers.
Life
Installed King Zhaoxiang
Wei Ran was the younger half-brother, by a different father, of Queen Dowager Xuan, mother of King Zhao of Qin. When the princes fought over the succession after King Wu of Qin died, he put his nephew King Zhao of Qin on the throne, suppressed the revolts, and from then on took control of the court.
Recommended Bai Qi
He served as chancellor of Qin four times and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Rang. He recommended Bai Qi as general; Bai Qi took Yan and Ying from Chu in the south and defeated the Three Jin states in the east, greatly expanding Qin's territory.
Expelled beyond the pass
His power was immense, and his fief of Taoyi was as rich as a state. In 266 BCE Fan Ju told King Zhao of Qin that the queen dowager and the Marquis of Rang were monopolizing power, so King Zhao stripped the queen dowager of power and drove the Marquis of Rang out beyond the pass. He eventually died in his fief of Taoyi.
Legacy
Wei Ran was a key driver of Qin's eastward expansion, and Sima Guang went out of his way in the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance to defend him, arguing that his achievements should not be erased.
Major works & achievements
- Installed King Zhaoxiang of Qin
- Recommended Bai Qi
Did you know? His fief, Taoyi, was one of the richest commercial cities in the world of its day.
Key dates
- 306 BCEInstalled King Zhaoxiang of Qin
- 294 BCERecommended Bai Qi as general (approx.)
- 280 BCEDuring his four terms as chancellor
- 266 BCEBrought down by Fan Ju; leaves the pass for his fief