Zhang Yi
Broke up the alliance of the six states with the horizontal alliance strategy and expanded Qin's territory.
Life
My tongue is still here
Zhang Yi was a native of the State of Wei and studied under Guiguzi alongside Su Qin. Early on, while lobbying in Chu, he was suspected of stealing a jade disc and given several hundred lashes. Back home he asked his wife, "Is my tongue still there?" saying that as long as he still had his tongue, that was enough.
Horizontal alliance strategy
After entering Qin he became chancellor and advocated the horizontal alliance, that is, having each of the six states ally with Qin separately so as to break up the vertical alliance. In 313 BCE he went as envoy to Chu and promised to cede 600 li of land, luring King Huai of Chu into breaking with Qi, but afterward claimed he had promised only six li. King Huai of Chu angrily attacked Qin and suffered a crushing defeat.
The six-li deception
After King Hui of Qin died, King Wu of Qin disliked him, so he left Qin for Wei, where he died in 309 BCE.
Legacy
Zhang Yi was a leading figure of the School of Diplomacy, and his diplomacy won the State of Qin large tracts of territory without major wars.
Major works & achievements
- Helped Qin expand through horizontal alliances
Did you know? In the story of "Zhang Yi Deceiving Chu," King Huai of Chu, after being tricked, was later detained by the State of Qin and died there far from home.
Key dates
- 328 BCEBecame chancellor of Qin (approx.)
- 313 BCEEnvoy to Chu: deceiving Chu into breaking with Qi
- 312 BCEQin defeats Chu at Danyang
- 309 BCEDied