128 The First Emperor

A5.70|71|72 

In the first year of King Zhuangxiang (249 BC), he pardoned criminals on a large scale, rewarded the meritorious officials of the previous king, showed kindness and generosity to his relatives, and showed benevolence to the people. The King of Eastern Zhou conspired with the princes of various countries to attack the State of Qin. The State of Qin sent Prime Minister Lu Buwei to lead an army to attack the King of Eastern Zhou, and finally annexed all the territory of Eastern Zhou into the territory of Qin. But the Qin State did not cut off the Zhou Dynasty's sacrifices, and granted the land of Yangren to the King of Zhou, allowing him to continue the sacrifices there to the ancestors of Zhou. Meng Ao was sent to lead an army to attack the State of Han, and the State of Han offered Chenggao and Gong to the State of Qin. The territory of Qin expanded to Daliang, and Sanchuan County was established. In the second year, Meng Ao was sent again to lead an army to attack the Zhao State and pacify Taiyuan. In the third year, Meng Ao led his army to attack Gaodu and Jidi of Wei and successfully occupied them. He also attacked Yuci, Xincheng and Langmeng of Zhao, and occupied thirty-seven cities. In April, there was a solar eclipse. In the fourth year, Wang He led his army to attack Shangdang. The Taiyuan County was established. Wei general Wu Ji led the armies of five countries to attack Qin, and Qin retreated to the south bank of the Yellow River. Meng Ao was defeated and withdrew his troops after being freed from the siege. On Bingwu day of the fifth month, King Zhuangxiang died and his son Ying Zheng ascended the throne, becoming Qin Shi Huang, the fiist emperor of Qin. 

Twenty-six years after King Ying Zheng of Qin ascended the throne, he unified the country for the first time and divided the country into thirty-six counties. Ying Zheng was known as the First Emperor. The First Emperor died at the age of 51, and his son Hu Hai ascended the throne, becoming the Second Emperor. In third year, princes of various countries rose up in rebellion against the Qin State. Zhao Gao killed the Second Emperor and made Ziying the Emperor of Qin. More than a month after Ziying ascended the throne, he was killed by the princes, and the Qin Dynasty came to an end. The details are recorded in "The Annals of Qin Shi Huang the First Emperor". 

Taishigong the Grand Historian said: The ancestors of Qin had the surname Ying. Later, the land was divided into fiefdoms and the names of the fiefs they belonged to became their surnames. There were Xu, Tan, Ju, Zhongli, Yunyan, Tuqiu, Jiangliang, Huang, Jiang, Xiuyu, Baiming, Feilian, and Qin. However, Qin gave Zhaocheng to Zaofu, who then became the ancestor of the Zhao family. 

庄襄王元年，大赦罪人，修先王功臣，施德厚骨肉而布惠于民。东周君与诸侯谋秦，秦使相国吕不韦诛之，尽入其国。秦不绝其祀，以阳人地赐周君，奉其祭祀。使蒙骜伐韩，韩献成皋、巩。秦界至大梁，初置三川郡。二年，使蒙骜攻赵，定太原。三年，蒙骜攻魏高都、汲，拔之。攻赵榆次、新城、狼孟，取三十七城。四月日食。王龁攻上党。初置太原郡。魏将无忌率五国兵击秦，秦卻于河外。蒙骜败，解而去。五月丙午，庄襄王卒，子政立，是为秦始皇帝。

秦王政立二十六年，初并天下为三十六郡，号为始皇帝。始皇帝五十一年而崩，子胡亥立，是为二世皇帝。三年，诸侯并起叛秦，赵高杀二世，立子婴。子婴立月余，诸侯诛之，遂灭秦。其语在始皇本纪中。

太史公曰：秦之先为嬴姓。其后分封，以国为姓，有徐氏、郯氏、莒氏、终黎氏、运奄氏、菟裘氏、将梁氏、黄氏、江氏、脩鱼氏、白冥氏、蜚廉氏、秦氏。然秦以其先造父封赵城，为赵氏。

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