12 Facts About Bai Qi

Bai Qi was instrumental in the rise of Qin as a military hegemon and the weakening of its rival states, thus enabling Qin's eventual conquest of them.

Bai Qi is regarded by Chinese folklore as one of the four Greatest Generals of the Late Warring States period, along with Li Mu, Wang Jian, and Lian Po; he is remembered as the most fearsome amongst the four.

In 293 BC, Bai Qi led the Qin army to victory against Wei and Han forces at the Battle of Yique, reportedly slaughtering around 240,000 enemy soldiers in total while capturing some cities.

Sometime before 262 BC, after the split of alliance between Qi state and Wei state, Bai Qi was sent by the new king of Qin to lead 200,000 men to attack Han, where they met the opposition forces of Han and Wei states of 300,000 men.

Bai Qi managed to capture Yowang, and disrupt connection between Shandong and the capital of Han.

Bai Qi wanted to end Zhao once and for all, as they were weary and psychologically affected by the losses incurred from the Battle of Changping, but the prime minister of Qin, Fan Ju, who was persuaded by a talker from Zhao, feared Bai Qi's rising power, and recommended that the king stop the attack on the pretext that the Qin troops ought to be rested, and to accept a ceded territory negotiation.

Bai Qi stopped the attack; on his return journey to the State of Qin, he fell ill.

Bai Qi refused the king's command, using his illness as an excuse.

The king asked Bai Qi to become commander again, but he once more used his illness to refuse the request.

Bai Qi sometimes appears as a door god on Chinese and Taoist temples, usually paired with Li Mu.

Bai Qi is noted in Chinese history as a symbol of brutality rather than for his military talent.

The traditional Tofu dish of Gaoping, today's Changping, called Bai Qi meat, is well known.