aelynthecreator

[aelynthecreator]

Han Cang • 341-296 • King Xiang of Han

The son of Han Hui, he initially served in Chu’s alliance against Qin, falling out with Wei Si due to his unwillingness to ally with Qin. After opposing their alliance, Han Cang is substantially defeated at the battles Yiyang and Rang by the Qin general Gan Mao and forced to submit to their hegemony. Following this, he joined the Qin alliance (truly headed by Wei Si) and defeated the Chu forces at the battle of Chuisha, killing Tang Mie in the process. However, when his son Han Ying died, a succession crisis would lead to Chu invading and besieging Yongzhi. With no choice but to request aid from his true enemy Qin, Han Cang was able to lift the siege.

He was succeeded in 296 by his son, Han Jiu.

[aelynthecreator]

Wei Si • 333-296 • King Xiang of Wei

The son of Wei Hui, he came to the throne at a young age. Intelligent, crafty and idealistic, Wei Si styles himself as a leader for the common people, seeking to establish peace between the rival states. He is an avid scholar, reading the Bamboo Annals.

In his early reign, Wei Si simply sought to bring a lasting peace between the neighbouring states. Advised by Gongsun Yan, Wei Si joins an alliance headed by Xiong Huai, the king of Chu, in an effort to limit the rise of Qin. He befriends Zhao Yong, Han Cang, Zi Kuai and Yuan Cuo, the respective kings of Zhao, Han, Yan and Zhongshan, who had also joined Chu’s alliance. However, upon learning that Xiong Huai sought to use the weaker kingdoms for raiding, Wei Si followed Zhang Yi’s advice and allied with Ying Si, the king of Qin, later lying siege to Chu’s city, Dengcheng. After being invaded by Qi’s king Tian Bijiang, Wei Si abandoned his peaceful methods in favour of all-out warfare.

Seeking to establish his kingdom as a hegemony, Wei Si befriended the young Qin king Ying Dang and prepared for a large scale war with Qi, Han and Chu in the future. However, when his ally died, his successor Ying Ji invaded Wei and conquered Puban. Wei Si re-established his friendships with Han Cang and Tian Bijiang to prepare them for a war against Chu, while eliminating the Qin threat through a show of tactical superiority. Later, Wei Si was able to deliver a devastating defeat on Chu’s forces. After establishing a stronger four-state alliance between Wei, Han, Zhao and Qi in order to eliminate Qin, Wei Si passed away.

He was succeeded in 296 by his son, Wei Chi.