Chu Campaign

The great unification war where Qin's 600,000 strong army crushed the ancient house of Chu.

via Wikipedia: Chu (state) · see source

The campaign against Chu was a pivotal struggle of the Qin unification wars, culminating in the complete eradication of one of China's most ancient and expansive states. Following decades of tension, internal corruption, and failed alliances, the Qin state launched a massive invasion to unify the realm. The conflict centered on two distinct attempts by King Ying Zheng: an initial failure led by Li Xin with 200,000 men, followed by a monumental victory commanded by Wang Jian with an army of 600,000. This war was not merely a border dispute but a total conquest that saw the capture of Chu's capital at Shouchun in 224 BC and the final dissolution of the state in 223 BC after the capture of the last Chu king at Changping.

Quick Facts

Primary conflict: Qin vs. Chu
Key antagonist: Xiang Yan (Chu)
Key protagonist: Wang Jian; Ying Zheng
Historical era: Late Warring States Period

Lore & Background

Chu originated as a Zhou polity under Viscount Xiong Yi, eventually expanding from Danyang to Ying. For over four centuries, the state bore the clan name Xiong and the surname Mi. By the late Warring States period, Chu had become vast, covering present-day Hubei and Hunan, yet its government was plagued by corruption and inefficiency. The army, though large, suffered from low quality and a lack of resources to maintain positions for long. Sinologist Yuri Pines noted that Chu developed cultural assertiveness rather than being a mere 'barbarian entity.' Despite earlier successes under King Zhuang and the reforms of Wu Qi in 389 BC—which lowered official salaries and enacted new building codes—the state struggled against Qin's Legalist reforms.

Reader's Guide

To understand the fall of Chu, one must trace its decline from the Battle of Boju in 506 BC, where it lost its capital to Wu. Although it recovered and annexed Chen in 479 BC and Cai in 447 BC, internal decay set in by the late 5th century BC. The turning point came with Qin's conquest of Shu in 316 BC under Sima Cuo's advice that 'conquering Shu is conquering Chu.' In 278 BC, General Bai Qi captured Ying, forcing the court to move east to Shouchun in 241 BC. The final blow arrived in 225 BC when only Qin, Chu, Yan, and Qi remained. Despite Chu's size and resources, its corrupt administration failed against Qin's disciplined might. The conflict ended not with a treaty but with total annexation in 223 BC during the Qin's wars of unification.

Did You Know?

General Xiang Yan defeated Li Xin by secretly following his army for three days and nights before launching a surprise attack.
Wang Jian insisted on leading an invasion force of at least 600,000 men, whereas Li Xin believed fewer than 200,000 were sufficient.