Zhang Yi: Prime Minister of Qin and Founder of the Horizontal Alliance Strategy — The School of Diplomacy from the Perspective of "Records of the Grand Historian"

Brief Introduction

Zhang Yi (c. 323 BC – 309 BC), a native of Wei during the Warring States period, was a renowned diplomat of the School of Diplomacy (Zonghengjia) and served as the Prime Minister under King Huiwen of Qin. He was the primary implementer of Qin's "Horizontal Alliance" strategy, famous alongside Su Qin, who advocated for the "Vertical Alliance" to resist Qin. During the critical phase of the struggle among the Seven Warring States, Zhang Yi, with his exceptional diplomatic skills and strategic wisdom, assisted Qin in dismantling the alliance of the six states, laying a solid foundation for Qin's unification of China.

Core Knowledge Points

* Horizontal Alliance Strategy: Proposed by Zhang Yi, the "Horizontal Alliance" referred to serving a powerful state (Qin) to attack weaker states, thereby breaking the "Vertical Alliance" of the six eastern states against Qin. The core of this strategy lay in exploiting the contradictions among the six states, forming alliances with distant states to attack nearby ones, and defeating them one by one, allowing Qin to avoid fighting on multiple fronts.
* Diplomatic Scheming: Zhang Yi was known for his eloquence and skill in using lies and incentives to dismantle enemy states. The most famous case is "Deceiving Chu to Gain Territory." He promised the state of Chu 600 li of land in Shangyu, inducing Chu to break its alliance with Qi. Subsequently, he reneged on the promise, leading to a great defeat for Chu, allowing Qin to subdue the enemy without fighting.
* Historical Impact: Zhang Yi's activities spanned Chu, Wei, Qi, Yan, Zhao, and Han. His diplomatic efforts greatly weakened the eastern states, enabling Qin to exit the Hangu Pass, expand its territory, and open the prelude to the unification of the Qin Empire.

Connection to the "Records of the Grand Historian"

In Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian" (Shiji), Zhang Yi has an independent biography — "Records of the Grand Historian: Biography of Zhang Yi".
1. Narrative Style: Sima Qian extensively quotes Zhang Yi's persuasive speeches in the book, vividly showcasing his eloquence and insight into human nature. Through dialogue descriptions, readers can intuitively feel the style of the Warring States diplomats, reflecting the "Records of the Grand Historian's" characteristic combination of "truthful recording" and literary quality.
2. Character Evaluation: The "Records of the Grand Historian" pairs Zhang Yi with Su Qin in the same biography, contrasting their strategies. Although Sima Qian does not directly praise or blame, by recording Zhang Yi's deeds in assisting Qin's expansion, he objectively reflects his driving force in the historical process, implying the inevitability of Qin's unification.
3. Historical Value: This biography details how Zhang Yi assisted King Huiwen of Qin, from fleeing Wei to arriving in Qin, to eventually dying in Qin. It is a primary source for studying the political and diplomatic history of the Warring States, revealing how the "scholar" class influenced national fate through wisdom and strategy.

Conclusion

Zhang Yi was not only a meritorious figure for Qin but also a milestone figure in the history of Warring States diplomacy. Through the records of the "Records of the Grand Historian," we gain a glimpse into that era where "all scholars, whether virtuous or not, competed to advance." His Horizontal Alliance strategy, though viewed as scheming, concretely changed the course of history and is an indispensable key piece for understanding how Qin unified the world.