The pinnacle of Zhang Yi's horizontal technique should be taken as an example of "Xi Chu". In 313 BC, Qin planned to attack Chu to open up a southern front for the eastward advance, and at the same time, to suppress the expanding Chu state, which was also one of the important strategic objectives of the Qin invasion of Chu. However, if the state of Chu can become a powerful country that can compete with the state of Qin, it is obvious that the country cannot be full of wine bags and rice bags. Although King Chu Huai, who was the monarch of Chu at the time, was a little informal and capricious, he still had the pattern and vision that a leader of a great country should have. Although he believed that the state of Chu was thriving and becoming stronger and stronger under his rule, it was obvious that he also admitted that the national strength of the state of Chu was still at a disadvantage for the state of Qin, and if he wanted to contain the powerful state of Qin, it would not be enough to rely on his own strength. As a result, Qi and Chu formed an offensive and defensive alliance to resist Qin.

Qu Yuan, who was an important minister of Chu at the time, had already seen it thoroughly, although with the efforts of all parties, Chu gradually recovered some vitality from the blows of Wu and Yue's hegemony period, but the foundation was still unstable, although the vast territory and sufficient population gave Chu the confidence to gain a firm foothold in this troubled world, but in the face of the Qin army, the Chu army still had little chance of winning. He very seriously advised King Huai of Chu to maintain the stability of the alliance between Qi and Chu, and to deal with the issue of Qin resolutely and prudently.

Under such a political background, Zhang Yi still swaggered to the state of Chu, and talked about the friendship between Qin and Chu back then, and even vaguely revealed the signal that the king of Qin was willing to rule the world with the king of Chu, but behind such generous conditions, of course, there was a price: severing diplomatic relations with the state of Qi.

Although King Chu Huai was a little tempted, he also knew that the existence of the current Qi and Chu alliance might be one of the reasons why Zhang Yi was able to visit him politely and make a promise. Although he did not believe much in Zhang Yi's proposal to rule the world with Qin in the future, he still received Zhang Yi politely and began to negotiate on Zhang Yi's diplomatic proposals.

Although King Huai of Chu was skeptical of Zhang Yi's words, Zhang Yi suddenly threw out two tempting statements: first, that is, the state of Chu should have a leadership position in line with its own strong national strength, and the state of Qin was even willing to help the state of Chu in many ways after the severance of diplomatic relations between Qi and Chu; Second, after Qi and Chu officially broke off diplomatic relations and Qin and Chu united, they sent more than 600 li of Shang and Si land to Chu as a gift from the two countries.

King Chu Huai, who was not too tempted by the promise of Qin, could not break free from the trap of getting more than 600 miles of rich land for nothing. King Chu Huai felt that even if he had always maintained an alliance with the Qi State, in addition to being able to protect himself, he would not necessarily be able to get any tangible benefits, even if he was self-preservation, it would not be easy, but it would be very likely to make the Qin State vigilant, and even make enemies with it. And it seems easier to deal with diplomatic relations with one country than with many countries, and with more than 600 miles of fertile and fertile land, it is obviously worth a fight. So, King Chu Huai entertained Zhang Yi and made up his mind to break off diplomatic relations with Qi and make friends with Qin.

Now that the choice has been made, King Chu Huai is not a grinding monarch, and immediately issued a foreign traffic order to inform the Qi State that the two countries would break off diplomatic relations, and the Qi-Chu alliance would end here. King Qi was a little inexplicable, although he didn't know exactly what was going on, but as a powerful country with similar national strength to Chu, since the other party was determined to break off diplomatic relations, there was no need for him to continue to insist on anything.

After severing diplomatic relations with Qi, King Huai of Chu summoned Zhang Yi in a hurry and told him of the end of the alliance between Qi and Chu. Subsequently, a general was sent to follow Zhang Yi to receive the land, and after Zhang Yi returned, he pretended to fall from the carriage and horses, and delayed for several months on the grounds that he was too ill to report to the court and facilitate the agreement between Qin and Chu before. King Huai of Chu simply thought that Zhang Yi might think that the severance of diplomatic relations between Qi and Chu was not complete enough, so he deliberately did not go to court.

So King Chu Huai selected warriors from the country, went to the Song State to lend Fu Jie, and sent an envoy to Qi State with Fu Jie, and scolded King Qi Xuan, who was the monarch of Qi State at the time. After King Qi Xuan was inexplicably humiliated, he was furious, drew his sword, and cut off the runes. In this way, between Qi and Chu, they became enemies instead of allies. The alliance of the most powerful princes in the East, which was most likely to pose a threat to the overall strategy of the Qin state, completely collapsed.

Zhang Yi's illness was cured quickly, however, he told the generals of Chu who came to receive the land that the land promised to Chu was not six hundred li, but six li. The Chu general, who was helpless about Zhang Yi's rogue behavior, had no choice but to report back to King Chu Huai truthfully.

King Huai of Chu was furious and sent troops to attack Qin, and the essential difference in strength between the two countries made the blood of the Chu army stain the land red. Moreover, the Qin State was even cautious enough not to fight the Chu State only by virtue of its own superior military strength, but also pulled the King of Qi Xuan, who was offended by the Chu State, and severely damaged the Chu State, more than 80,000 Chu troops died on the battlefield, and the Danyang and Hanzhong areas of the Chu State were captured by the Qin army. The angry King of Chu Huai was unwilling to be defeated, and mobilized the whole country's troops, ready to fight to the death.

Chen Zhen, who had advised King Chu Huai not to listen to Zhang Yi before, once again made a suggestion, asking King Chu Huai to cede land and pay compensation, bribe Qin, unite the Qin army, and raid Qi. However, some wayward King Chu Huai refused, he felt that his anger could only be quelled by war and blood. Moreover, the state of Chu is such a big country, even if it faces the tigers, wolves and Qin people, it may not have the strength to fight, not to mention, he disdains this kind of conspiracy to bribe the enemy in battle and fight back.

As a result, the state of Chu once again raised the strength of the whole country and fought against the Qin people in Lantian. But many times, it's not morale and anger that balance the disparity in power. The Chu army was once again dealt a heavy blow, and tens of thousands of soldiers were killed on the battlefield.

Zhang Yi is the dynasty, and the envoy of Chu said: "The minister has six miles of Fengyi, and he originally offered the king about him." The envoy of Chu said: "The minister is ordered by the king to negotiate in the land for six hundred miles, and he does not hear about six miles." "Reported back to the king of Chu, the king of Chu was furious and sent troops to attack Qin. Chen Zhen said: "Can you speak? It is better to attack it than to cut the land to bribe Qin, and to attack Qi with its troops, it is I who came out of Qin and compensated for Qi, and the kingdom can still exist. The king of Chu did not listen, and sent troops to make the general Qu Kuo attack Qin. Qin Qi attacked Chu together, beheaded 80,000, killed Qu Kuo, and then took the land of Danyang and Hanzhong. Chu Fuyi sent troops to attack Qin, to Lantian, the battle, Chu was defeated, so Chu cut two cities to level with Qin.

- "Historical Records"

This tragic defeat finally calmed down King Chu Huai's somewhat hot head. And the Qin State also understands that such a powerful prince as the Chu State, just relying on the current military strength, it is difficult to defeat it at one time, once the oppression is too heavy, the Chu State will do whatever it takes, and if it fights to the death, it is also quite tricky for the Qin State that intends to be the world. Soon, after discussion, the Qin State proposed to exchange the land outside the Wuguan with the land of the Chu State in Qianzhong, and the two countries would calm down the conflict and form an alliance again. After learning of this, King Chu Huai's wayward temper flared up again: he hatefully put forward the absurd request of "don't want to be in the land of Wuguan, only Zhang Yi alone".

King Qin Hui sent people to tell King Chu Huai, please use Wuguan to change to Qianzhongdi. The king of Chu said: "I don't want to change land, I am willing to get Zhang Yi and sacrifice the land in Qianzhong." ”

——"Information Governance Tongjian"

For the King of Qin, the long-planned important land in Guizhou has a strong attraction, but if Zhang Yi is sacrificed, it will definitely be difficult to escape death when he arrives in the Chu State, and Zhang Yi, who has just made great contributions to the country, if he is betrayed for the sake of profit, I am afraid that it will chill the world's scholars, and he is no longer willing to assist the King of Qin. After all, it seems that the angry King of Chu Huai will definitely kill this lobbyist who caused the war between the two countries and caused the Chu State to suffer huge losses at any cost. However, what King Qin didn't expect was that Zhang Yi didn't care, and offered to be willing to become a bargaining chip for the country, and told King Qin that he was sure enough to get out.

Zhang Yi heard it, please do it. The king said: "Chu will be willing to be a son, so what can I do?" Zhang Yi said: "Qin is strong and Chu is weak, the king is here, and Chu should not dare to take ministers." And the ministers are good to their ministers Jin Shang, Jin Shang is fortunate to have Ji Zheng sleeve, and the words of the sleeve are all listened to. ”

——"Information Governance Tongjian"

As a result, after Zhang Yi bribed the ministers of Chu State, he bought off Zheng Sleeve, the favorite concubine of the King of Chu, and told her that when he came this time, King Qin knew that King Chu Huai would definitely kill him, and King Qin had prepared a large number of gifts and beauties, ready to send them to Chu State in exchange for himself, and once he was about to be killed, as soon as the beauties of Qin State arrived, Zheng Sleeve's status as a favorite concubine would be affected and affected!

As a result, Zheng Sleeve cried and cried to find King Chu Huai, and told the king that he wanted to return to his hometown for refuge, because the Qin State was so powerful, and Zhang Yi was deeply loved by the King of Qin.

After thinking about it again, King Chu Huai once again let Zhang Yi go.

But the land of Qianzhong, which promised to exchange Zhang Yi before, was very reluctant. So, Zhang Yi, who saw this, came to the court again and advised King Chu Huai: "If Qin and Chu are good, the children and heirs are intermarried, and the two countries are good for in-laws, why should they cede the land?" ”

As a result, King Chu Huai, who was reluctant to land in Qianzhong, agreed to Zhang Yi again. Qu Yuan, who had already seen the hint of Zhang Yi's plan to split the alliance and isolate the state of Chu from all the princes, advised the court to ask King Huai of Chu to abide by the agreement, hand over Qianzhong, kill Zhang Yi, and continue to maintain a distance from the state of Qin, so that he could continue to maintain relations with the eastern princes in the future. However, King Chu Huai rejected Qu Yuan and treated Zhang Yi favorably.

Zhang Yi went out but did not go, and when he heard that Su Qin was dead, he said that the king of Chu ...... So the king of Chu has obtained Zhang Yi and re-emerged from Qianzhong and Qin, wanting to allow it. Qu Yuan said: "The former king saw that he was bullied by Zhang Yi, Zhang Yi arrived, and the ministers thought that the king cooked it; Now even if you endure and kill them, and listen to their heresies, you can't do it. King Huai said: "Xu Yi won Qianzhong, and Meili also." Twice as much, not allowed. "The late pawn Xu Zhangyi, and Qin.

- "Historical Records"

As a result, according to Zhang Yi's strategy, the state of Chu broke away from the joint vertical front step by step. The seemingly unattainable strategic goal of dividing the Eastern princes, Zhongqi and Chu, was achieved under Zhang Yi's several persuasions. And the state of Chu broke away from the alliance of alliances, which also laid the groundwork for the future when Wu Anjun rose in vain and raided the state of Chu for thousands of miles, without the help of allies.

It's not that King Chu Huai isn't smart enough, it's not just that he's short-sighted and greedy. It's not that Zhang Yi is shrewd and deceitful, and no one in Chu State sees through his scheme. It's just that Qin's own strong national strength foundation has provided strong enough military support for Zhang Yi's lobbying, so that this lobbyist, who has excellent political vision and diplomatic talent, can always stand on an extremely active position, turning his hands into clouds and turning his hands into rain. In short, if the Qin State could not deter the great powers and defeat the Chu army, then all of Zhang Yi's methods and trickery would not be able to be realized. And Zhang Yi, who is supported by the strong strength of his country on the outside, and has the ability to control people's hearts and guide according to the situation, has become a legend of a generation that can turn things around in just three words and become famous through the ages.