I highly recommend this historical epic TV series. Need to have a strong command of Chinese to fully appreciate the subtleties of their dialogue. I've included some briefs on 商鞅, which is what this show is about.
Drop me a note if you think it's as good as I suggested.
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Suffering losses against Wei, Qin rulers were rigorously pursuing a reform and inviting foreign scholars, administrators, theorists, and generals under the reigns of both Duke Xian (秦獻公)and Duke Xiao of Qin (秦孝公).
The most significant event in the history of the Qin prior to the third century BC (early Warring States Period) was the advent of Shang Yang (商鞅). Shang Yang was one of the pioneering theorists, and the most successful implementer, of the theories of law in early warring states period.
His theories went through further elaboration by Han Fei (韓非) during the late warring states period in which Han Fei combined Shang Yang’s theories of law with Shen Buhai’s (申不害) theories in statecraft and Shen Dao’s (慎到) theories of authority to form the core of what is known as the philosophies of Legalism (法家). Shang Yang’s law theories advocate the belief that all people are fundamentally equal and that stringent laws and harsh punishments are required to keep them in order.
Shang Yang became prime minister of the Qin under the rule of Duke Xiao of Qin and gradually began transforming the state into a vigorously regulated machine, the sole purpose of which was the elimination of all rivals. Shang Yang swept away the aristocracy and implemented a meritocracy - only those who achieved could reach high places and birth privilege was reserved exclusively for the ruler of the state. In doing this Shang Yang made many enemies which includes the heir to the Qin title, the future King Huiwen of Qin (秦惠文王) by punishing him as if he was an ordinary citizen, and after the death of Duke Xiao he was sought after and eventually killed.
However, Shang Yang’s reforms had obvious virtues that resulted in Qin’s power on the rise from the moment he successfully implemented the legal systems that transformed Qin, as seen by other central and easterly states, from a rather backward feudal state out in the west that received respect only from the barbarians, to a highly centralized state with efficient administrative systems. Despite Shang Yang’s execution no subsequent ruler was foolish enough to undo the changes, and the strength that his reforms brought to Qin was the foundation stone for Huiwen of Qin’s self-proclamation as the first King of Qin.
Effects of the Successful Qin Reformation
The Qin continued to grow in power over the century that followed Shang Yang’s reforms owing to the extraordinary industriousness of its people. The Qin Kings put in place many projects to enhance their state including many large public works such as irrigation canals and large defensive walls.
One of the most obvious results of this program of reform was that in the military. Previously the army had been controlled by nobles and constituted of feudal levies. Now generals could come from any part of society, provided they had sufficient skill. In addition, troops were highly trained and disciplined. Most of all, however, Qin’s army rapidly swelled to enormous size and had the full backing of the state.
In 318 BC, a campaign involved a united force of five eastern states (Wei, Zhao, Han, Yan, Chu [魏, 趙, 韓, 燕, 楚]) against Qin managed to advance to Hanguguan, only to be defeated by Qin counterattacks due to lack of trust among the five states and lack of coordination between the united armies. The size of the advancing army was far more than when the state of Wei was attacking a century prior, but this later campaign with a larger united army was proof of the strength Shang Yang’s reform brought for the state security of Qin, compared to the earlier Wei campaign that was far more successful and saw Qin lose much more land, before its reformation.
Besides the effects on military strength, Shang Yang’s reform also brought enormous labour power for numerous public works projects aimed at boosting agriculture and made it possible for the Qin to maintain and supply a standing force of over a million troops - a feat that no other state (apart, perhaps, from the other semi-barbarian kingdom of Chu) could match. The conquest of the fertile states Ba (巴) and Shu (蜀) (today’s eastern and central Sichuan province, respectively) further expanded the Qin “backyard” for supplies and manpower. This was proven to be a crucial strategic success as none of the eastern states were able to launch an expedition against the Qin backyard to cut off its supply lines as the Ba Shu lands were deep in the mountains upstream of the Yangtze River and were relatively easy for Qin to defend. Further, due to the upstream location of Ba Shu, Qin was able to launch attacks against its greatest rival, Chu, which lies downstream of the Yangtze and was forced to suffer in a passive defensive position against Qin troops sailing down with ease.
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