Li Jing vs Qin Shi Huang

Li Jing led a Tang army of 100,000 men in a surprise attack against the Eastern Tujue Khaganate. He captured the khagan, Jiali Khan, near the Yin Mountains. This decisive victory destroyed the Eastern Tujue state and brought its territories under Tang control.

Li Jing commanded a Tang expedition against the Tuyuhun kingdom in the Qilian Mountains. He employed a strategy of rapid pursuit across difficult terrain, forcing the Tuyuhun ruler to flee. The campaign resulted in the submission of Tuyuhun to Tang suzerainty.

Emperor Taizong appointed Li Jing as Grand Chancellor (Shangshu You Pushe) and granted him the title Duke of Wei. This recognition honored his military achievements and placed him among the highest officials of the Tang court. He served in this role until his retirement.

Li Jing is traditionally credited as the author of the military treatise 'Questions and Replies between Tang Taizong and Li Weigong' (Li Weigong Wendui). This work, presented as a dialogue with Emperor Taizong, discusses military strategy, tactics, and historical battles. It became a classic of Chinese military literature.

Qin Shi Huang commissioned a vast mausoleum complex near Xi'an, guarded by thousands of life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots. The project employed hundreds of thousands of workers and reflected his obsession with immortality and imperial power.

From 230 to 221 BCE, Ying Zheng led the Qin state in a series of campaigns that conquered the Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan, and Qi states. This unified China under a single ruler for the first time, ending the Warring States period.

Qin Shi Huang ordered the standardization of Chinese script, currency, and weights and measures across the unified empire. This facilitated administration, trade, and cultural integration, laying a foundation for future dynasties.

After conquering the last independent state, Ying Zheng declared himself Shi Huangdi (First Emperor), founding the Qin Dynasty. He adopted a new title to signify his supreme authority and initiated centralized imperial rule.

Qin Shi Huang ordered the connection and extension of existing northern fortifications to create a unified defensive wall against nomadic Xiongnu raids. This project involved massive conscripted labor and became the precursor to the later Great Wall.

On the advice of Li Si, Qin Shi Huang ordered the burning of historical records and philosophical texts not aligned with Legalist doctrine. He also had 460 Confucian scholars buried alive to suppress dissent and consolidate ideological control.