Wang Jian ( Qin ) Wang Jian ( ; ) ( year of birth and death unknown ) , a military leader of Qin ( state ) in the Warring States period . He was born in Guanzhong county , city of Pinyang , Dongxiang village ( now as the northeast of Fuping in Shǎnxī Province ) . Major Achievement . He led the Qin army in seizing Handan , the capital city of the State of Zhao ; Defeated Yan , Zhao and Chu . He along with Bai Qi , Lian Po and Li Mu were called the most prestigious 4 generals in the Warring States period . Conquest of Chu , 225 - 223 BCE . In 225 BC , only three kingdoms ( states ) remained independent : Chu , Yan and Qi . Chu had recovered significantly enough to mount serious resistance after their disastrous defeats to Qin in 278 BC and losing their centuries - old capital of Ying ( Jingzhou ) . Despite its territorial size , resources and manpower , Chu ' s fatal flaw was its largely corrupt government that mostly overturned the legalistic - style reforms of Wu Qi 150 years ago , when Wu Qi transformed Chu into the most powerful state with an area of almost half of all the states combined . Ironically , Wu Qi was from the same state ( Wei ) as Shang Yang , whose legalistic reforms turned Qin into an invincible war machine at this stage . The King of Qin , Ying Zheng , decided to finally defeat the remnants of the Chu state located in Huaiyang . According to Shiji ' s chapter on the great generals of the Warring States , Ying Zheng had first requested his great general Wang Jian to lead the invasion , and further inquired the military strength needed for the siege . Wang Jian stated that he needs a force of 600 , 000 men for the siege . However , when the same question was inquired to Li Xing , he requested only 200 , 000 soldier for the siege of Chu . The King , Ying Zheng , opted for the latter ' s opinion , and Wang Jian retired by claiming sickness . The first invasion was a disaster when 200 , 000 Qin troops were defeated by 500 , 000 Chu troops in the unfamiliar territory of Huaiyang , modern - day northern Jiangsu and Anhui provinces . The Qin general was Li Xing . Wang Jian was recalled and finally accepted to lead the second invasion force , requesting and receiving a force of 600 , 000 men that he had requested before . In 224 BC , the famed conqueror of the state of Zhao , Wang Jian , finally lead a second invasion with 600 , 000 men . Chu ' s morale greatly increased after their success in defeating a powerful Qin army the previous year . The Chu forces were content to defend and awaited a siege . However , Wang Jian tricked the Chu army by appearing inactive in his fortifications but secretly training his troops to fight in Chu territory . After a year , Chu decided to disband due to inaction . Wang Jian then invaded and overran Huaiyang and the remaining Chu forces . Xiang Yan , the Chu general , managed to resist and inflict bloody losses to Wang Jian until the King Fuchu of Chu was killed by Wang Jian ' s second in command , Meng Wu , father of Meng Tian . Xiang Yan later committed suicide . Chu was finally conquered in 223 BC . During their peak sizes , both armies of Chu and Qin combined numbered over 1 , 000 , 000 troops , more than the massive campaign at Changping between Qin and Zhao 35 years before . The excavated personal letters of two Qin regular soldiers , Hei Fu { 黑夫 } and Jin { 惊 } , records a protracted campaign in Huaiyang under general Wang Jian . Both soldiers wrote letters requesting supplies ( clothing ) and money from home to sustain the long waiting campaign . Popular culture . Wang Jian is one of the 32 historical figures who appear as special characters in the video game " Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI " by Koei . Wang Jian is also one of main characters of Warring States Period themed manga and anime Kingdom .