Only half a year after destroying Han, Qin State's great army finished resting and refitting and marched against Wei State, using the King of Wei's disrespect toward the King of Qin as its pretext.
The King of Wei showed considerably more backbone. Rather than surrender outright, he prepared to resist to the bitter end and even appealed to Zhao State for aid.
In the Wei capital, the King of Wei declared in a ringing voice, "In years past, King Huai of Zhou possessed only a single city. Surrounded by the Qin Army, he refused to surrender even though he knew he would surely die.
"In the end, he fell on the battlefield. Everyone under heaven remembered him fondly, saying that the fall of the Zhou royal house was a transfer of the Mandate of Heaven, not King Huai's fault.
"How difficult was it for the ruler of a fallen state to receive such praise?
"Since I ascended the throne, Wei State's strength has dwindled further and further, and the iron hooves of the Qin people have repeatedly trampled through its cities.
"Today, I fear Wei State will fall into the same plight as Han State. But I shall be like King Huai of Zhou-a king who dies on the battlefield."
When the envoy returned, he reported to the King of Wei, "Your Majesty, Zhao State is fighting Yan State over territory. It truly has no capacity to come to Wei State's aid."
The King of Wei did not grow angry at the envoy's words. Instead, looking utterly lost, he heaved a heavy sigh. "These fools-have they never heard that when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold?
"Qin State truly is going to take all under heaven."
Indeed.
Even now, at this critical moment when their states and peoples