Ziying and the Fall of Qin (207 BCE)

Yan Le returned and reported to Zhao Gao, who summoned all the great ministers and princes and told them how the Second Emperor had been killed. He said: “Qin was once a kingdom. The First Emperor ruled all under heaven, so he took the title Emperor. Now the six states have reestablished themselves, Qin’s territory has shrunk, and to retain the empty name of emperor will not do. It is better to return to the title King.” He installed Ziying, a son of the Second Emperor’s elder brother, as King of Qin. The Second Emperor was buried as a commoner in Yichun Park south of Du. Ziying was ordered to purify himself before appearing at the ancestral temple to receive the royal seal. After five days of purification, Ziying plotted with his two sons: “Chancellor Gao killed the Second Emperor at Wangyi Palace. Fearing that the ministers will execute him, he pretends to enthrone me out of justice. I hear that Zhao Gao has made a pact with Chu to destroy the Qin imperial family and become king of Guanzhong. Now he has sent me to purify myself before visiting the temple because he means to kill me there. I shall claim illness and refuse to go. The chancellor will surely come himself; when he comes, we will kill him.” Gao sent men repeatedly to summon Ziying, but he refused. Gao indeed came himself and said: “The ancestral temple rites are of the greatest importance. Why will Your Majesty not go?” Ziying then had him stabbed to death in the purification palace, exterminated the three branches of Gao’s family, and displayed their bodies throughout Xianyang. Ziying had been King of Qin for forty-six days when the Chu general known as the Lord of Pei defeated Qin’s army, entered Wu Pass, advanced to Bashang, and sent envoys to arrange Ziying’s surrender. Ziying bound his neck with a silk cord, rode in a plain cart drawn by white horses, and presented the imperial seals and tallies as he surrendered beside the Zhidao road. The Lord of Pei entered Xianyang, sealed its palaces, treasuries, and storehouses, and returned to camp at Bashang. Just over a month later, the armies of the lords arrived. Xiang Ji, commander of the allied forces, killed Ziying and the Qin princes and their kin. He sacked Xianyang, burned its palaces, took its sons and daughters captive, gathered up its treasures and wealth, and divided them among the lords. After destroying Qin, they divided its territory into three kingdoms, Yong, Sai, and Di, called the Three Qin. Xiang Yu became Hegemon-King of Western Chu and presided over the division of the realm among the kings and lords. Thus Qin came to an end. Five years later the realm was pacified under Han.

Yan Le returned to report to Zhao Gao. Gao summoned all the great ministers and princes and told them how the Second Emperor had been killed. He said: “Qin was originally a kingdom. The First Emperor ruled the whole world, so he called himself emperor. Now the six states have declared themselves independent again, and Qin's territory is shrinking. We cannot keep an empty title like ‘emperor.’ It is better to return to calling our ruler ‘king.’” He installed Ziying, the son of the Second Emperor's elder brother, as King of Qin. The Second Emperor was buried as a commoner in Yichun Park south of Du. Ziying was ordered to purify himself before appearing in the ancestral temple and receiving the royal seal. After five days of purification, Ziying plotted with his two sons: “Chancellor Gao killed the Second Emperor at Wangyi Palace. Afraid the ministers would execute him, he has pretended it is right to make me king. I have heard that Zhao Gao has made an agreement with Chu to destroy Qin's ruling family and become King of Guanzhong. Now he tells me to purify myself and appear at the temple, intending to kill me there. I will claim to be ill and refuse to go. The Chancellor will surely come himself, and when he does, we will kill him.” Gao sent several groups of men to summon Ziying, but Ziying would not go. Gao came in person, as expected, and said: “The ancestral temple is a matter of great importance. Why will Your Majesty not go?” Ziying stabbed Gao to death at the purification palace, had three generations of Gao's family killed, and displayed their bodies in Xianyang. Ziying had been King of Qin for forty-six days when the Chu general, the Lord of Pei, defeated the Qin army, entered Wuguan Pass, and reached Bashang. He sent someone to arrange Ziying's surrender. Ziying tied a silk cord around his neck and came in a plain carriage drawn by white horses. Carrying the Son of Heaven's seals and tallies, he surrendered beside the Zhidao Road. The Lord of Pei entered Xianyang, sealed up its palaces, government storehouses, and treasuries, and withdrew his army to Bashang. After a little more than a month, the armies of the other states arrived. Xiang Ji was commander of their alliance. He killed Ziying and the princes and relatives of Qin's ruling family. He put Xianyang to the sword and burned its palaces, captured its women and children, and seized its treasures and valuables for the rulers to divide among themselves. After destroying Qin, they divided its land in three, appointing the Kings of Yong, Sai, and Di. These kingdoms were called the Three Qins. Xiang Yu became Hegemon-King of Western Chu and took charge of appointing rulers and dividing the world among them. Qin had come to an end. Five years later, the Han dynasty brought the world under its rule.