The Conquest of Chu occurred from 224 to 223 BC at the end of the Warring States Period when the 600,000-strong army of Qin, commanded by Wang Jian, conquered the southeastern kingdom of Chu.
Campaign[]
In 224 AD, Emperor Ying Zheng of Qin sent Li Xin and Meng Tian with 200,000 troops (much less than the advised 600,000 troops requested by Wang Jian) to conquer Chu. While the Qin forces initially made good progress, the Chu generals Xiang Yan and Lord Changping ambushed and nearly destroyed Li Xin's army. Ying Zheng was forced to apologize to Wang Jian and give him command of 600,000 troops for the final offensive against Chu. At Pingyu, Wang Jian repelled a Chu attack and launched a vicious counterattack as Xiang Yan's army withdrew, and the Chu army retreated to Qinan, where it was destroyed in battle; Xiang Yan placed a curse on Qin before cutting his own throat while mortally wounded. In 223 BC, the Qin captured the Chu capital of Shouchun, and King Fuchu was captured and Chu annexed by Qin. In 222 BC, the Qin followed up this victory by conquering the lands of the Baiyue, creating Kuaiji Commandery.