How Did Qin Army Conquer Ancient China?
Qin Shihuangdi was the first known emperor to unify China as it is recognized today. But it had originally been just one of many squabbling states. In terms of equipment, tactics, and leadership, the Qin army was broadly the same as other states’ armies. All of the late Warring States armies were built on a core of levied troops armed primarily with spears, polearms and crossbows, supported by chariots of various types and cavalry. Their men also utilized the same armor, siege equipment, and strategic manuals. How was Qin Shihuangdi able to unite the states under his leadership, then?
Where the Qin army stood out was how it rewarded its conscripted soldiers In this, they were applying the Qin state’s legalist philosophy of harsh punishments and large rewards to motivate behavior that the state wants. Soldiers were given grants of land, social rank, and legal privileges based on heads taken in battle. The poor soldiers that made up most of the army would find these rewards life-changing. It was also the easier path to social mobility in the Qin state. Unsurprisingly, this system led the common Qin footsoldier to be unusually aggressive in battle, compared to the same poor farmers fighting against them. The downside of such aggression is a lack of discipline and cohesive action. Qin footsoldiers were also liable to fall for tricks and traps that separated them from their fellows and commanders.
In the final analysis, the unique aspects of Qin’s military were unlikely to have been the decisive factor which allowed Qin to triumph. Instead it was the boring details – governmental reforms a century earlier had led to the state a political and military juggernaut, and Qin’s geographic position meant it had specific advantages compared to the other states. Qin Shihuangdi only had to follow through with the momentum his ancestors had given him.
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