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COURT OF QIN SHI HUANGDI “The reason why China suffers bitterly from endless wars is because of the existence of feudal lords and kings” – Qin Shi Huangdi

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COURT OF QIN SHI

HUANGDI

“The reason why China suffers bitterly from endless wars is because

of the existence of feudal lords and kings” – Qin Shi Huangdi

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COURT OF QIN SHI HUANGDI FLCS V

Esteemed Delegates,

Welcome to the Court of Qin Shi Huangdi, first Emperor

of China! My name is Megan Guyton and I will be your director

for the weekend. I am a fourth-year International Studies Major

from the lovely state of Tennessee. When not studying in the

library, you can find me either hanging out on the comfy

couches at Kappa Kappa Gamma or out exploring the booming

metropolis of Gainesville. I am the President of Model United

Nations here at the University of Florida. I have been an active

member of this organization for the past few years and am so

excited to direct at FLCS, a conference near and dear to my

heart.

When choosing committee topics, I decided to explore

Ancient China. After hearing the story of my cousin falling off

the Great Wall of China (no worries, he’s fine), I decided to take

a closer look at the man behind the wall, Qin Shi Huangdi.

Through great military prowess, he was able to unite the

warring states of China to create his empire. The creation of

nations is something fascinating and complex, which we

struggle with to this day. To spice things up, there was always

an abundance of court intrigue. I hope that together we can lay

the foundations for the great Empire of China.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to

contact myself or our wonderful secretariat at

[email protected]. I look forward to seeing you all in

committee.

Sincerely,

Megan Guyton

Letter

from

the

Director

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Parliamentary Procedure Committee will operate in a perpetually moderated caucus. All delegates must vote

during a procedural matter and procedural motions will require a simple majority to

pass.

Point of Order

A point of order may interrupt a speech and may be used when a delegate feels the

chair or another delegate is incorrectly following parliamentary procedure.

Point of Inquiry

A point of inquiry may not interrupt a speech and may be used to direct a question to

the chair, but speeches will not be entertained using points of inquiry.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry

A point of parliamentary inquiry may be used to ask a question to clarify a

parliamentary procedure and cannot interrupt a speech.

Point of Information

A point of information may not interrupt a speech and can be used to clarify a point

or motion, or to bring substantive information to the attention of the chair. Speeches

will not be entertained using this point.

Point of Personal Privilege

A Point of Personal Privilege can be used when a delegate’s ability to debate is

harmed for any reason. This can be used to address temperature of the room or a

delegate’s inability to hear the speaker. This point can interrupt the speaker.

Right of Reply

Right of Reply can be used when a delegate feels that their dignity or integrity has

been deliberately offended. Right of replies is to be written and sent to the chair. The

chair will use chairs digression as to when to invoke it.

Motion for a Moderated Caucus

A motion to enter a moderated caucus must specify the topic, length, and speaking

time. Much of the committee will be spent in a moderated caucus.

Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus

A motion for an unmoderated caucus must only specify the length of time.

Unmoderated caucuses should be used to work on notes and directives.

Motion to Introduce Documents

A motion to introduce documents must be made in order for them to be discussed in

debate.

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Motion to Split Directive Clauses

A motion may be made to vote on directive clauses separately; requires a second

and a majority to pass.

History of Qin Shi Huang

The legend of the Son of Heaven begins with a love story. There once was a

Merchant, Lu Buwei. He was a greedy malicious man, who had a wife, Zhao Ji. Zhao

Ji was a beautiful woman, who had not wanted to marry Lu Buwei. She saw his heart

turned to stone from desire for power. One day, Lu Buwei saw a golden opportunity

and formed a plan. Knowing that his wife was pregnant, Lu Buwei introduced Zhao Ji

to a young prince. The prince and Zhao Ji fell in love and she became his head

concubine. Months later, she gave birth to a baby boy, Ying Zheng. The prince

believed the boy to be his own. Lu Buwei’s nefarious plan had worked.

Years later at his father’s passing, Ying Zheng became King of Qin. He

began his rule as Qin Shi Huang at the age of eleven. Lu Buwei, his true father,

ascended to the role of prime minister and he began to rule through Ying Zheng as

they unified all of China. Yet even that was not enough for him. Lu Buwei hatched

another plan. With great discretion, he arranged for the meeting of Zhao Ji and a

man named Lao Ai. They fell in love and had two sons. Lao Ai decided that he had

the right to the throne because of his relationship with Zhao Ji. He began to raise

arms against Qin Shi Huang. Qin Shi Huang, Son of Heaven, stopped this

disgraceful man and his heathen army.

On the morning after Qin Shi Huang crushed the rebellion, he publicly

executed Lao Ai and his sons to set an example. They were executed at the rise of

the morning sun. For his mother, Qin Shi Huang made an example of her and placed

Zhao Ji under house arrest for the rest of her days. As she pleaded with her Son,

Zhao Ji revealed that Lu Buwei was the one who had introduced her to Lao Ji. Qin

Shi Huang was furious at the betrayal of his prime minister. Wishing never to see his

face again, Qin Shi Huang banished Lu Buwei. Torn with the grief of leaving his son

and the failure of his plan, Lu Buwei committed suicide, an act that removes all honor

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from the soul. It was with these bloody beginnings that Qin Shi Huang rose to begin

his true reign.

Of course, this is only a legend and not entirely truth. The true story of the

rise of Ying Zheng to Qin Shi Huang is not known in its entirety to anyone, but the

Emperor himself. The legend is rooted in truth; Ying Zheng grew up in the royal

household, treated as a son and successor of the prince. He succeeded his father

and spread the Qin dynasty to its current size.

In the years before Ying Zheng assumed the throne, the Qin had gradually

grown more and more powerful. They began by taking over smaller states such as

the Shu. They continued to display their military prowess as they conquered more

and more states. Within the span of nine years, the Qin conquered the last five

remaining states: Han, Wei, Chu, Yan, Zhao, and Qi1. After these states were

conquered, the empire was unified under the rule of the great Qin Shi Huang.

The Legal System

Many years before the birth of the Son of Heaven, the Duke of the Qin

decided that his state was in need of change. He wished to organize his people to

prepare them for war. He contacted a man by the name of Shang Yang to create an

organized state ready for war. Shang Yang evaluated the state and developed a

strategy to transform it. He presented his plan to the Duke, who was very pleased

with Shang Yang.

First, he set out to group the people into manageable units. Each unit was

composed up of five families. Every person in that unit was responsible for the

others. If one committed treason and his fellows did not report it to the officials, they

were all guilty and punishable for his crime. Each family also contributed one man to

represent their family in the army. These men were responsible for each other and

constituted the basic military unit in the army. If a man was lost or killed, the head of

1 “Warring States Period”, New World Encyclopedia, 2 April 2008,

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Warring_States_Period .

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the enemy who was responsible for his death was required as compensation to their

head officer.

Shang Yang next established a system to rank all of the men. Each man

received a ranking based on his social status and military achievements. Out of

seventeen different ranks, commoners could not rise above rank level eight2. Men

ascended in the ranks by presenting the head of an enemy to their commanding

officer. Officers rose in the ranks each time their subordinates gave them a head of

an enemy.

One change that helped to increase the conscription size of the army

reached beyond government regulations and structures to alter the very fabric

of Chinese culture. The government encouraged men to live in their own

households, not those of their parents. This increased the number of

households and allowed the government to draft additional men from the new

household units. Once they were finished with their service, these men were

encouraged to take up farming instead of business to support the growing

army. In addition to these changes, the state helped its people by keeping

order3.

Unfortunately, not all states made these types of reforms. Since the

unification of the empire, the states have different types of governmental

organization, resulting in much confusion and discord. Seeing the disjointed

structure of the new empire, Qin Shi Huangdi, Son of Heaven, has abolished

the main system, which characterized the other states. Cities were their own

entities and bound to one ruler; however, there were no legal ties between

cities. By tying together all cities under his rule, Qin Shi Huang will create a

unified China. He is greatly influenced by the great Shang Yang and wants to

emulate his works.

The main points the Son of Heaven wishes to be addressed in the new

legal system are:

1. An Overarching and Unified Structure

Before the unification, many of the states consisted of

individual city-states under one ruler. Cities were bound to each

other by their shared ruler but each had their own system of

government and infrastructure. This will be one of the biggest

obstacles in uniting the states as the cities are accustomed to their

2 Jane Portal and Hiromi Kinoshita, The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army (Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 2007), 64. 3 Ibid, 35.

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independent structures and may be hesitant to adopt a new one

that will bind them together under the Son of Heaven.

2. A Government Structure Based on Merit

In the past, most governments have had hereditary ceremonial

positions, passed from father to son, generation to generation. It

was often the case that the son was not worthy of the position

handed down to him and could not fulfill the position’s

responsibilities. Thus, the Son of Heaven wishes for any man, who

is willing and able, to fill the positions available in the government. It

is up to the Court to decide how the merit of these men will be

evaluated and the positions distributed.

3. Standardized Trade Measures: Coins and Balances

In order to ensure that trade is consistent across this vast

empire, a set of balances, weights, and measures must be created

as a standard. Many of the cities used their own set of standards,

which made trading between them difficult. A monetary system

must also be developed in order to homogenize payment. By

standardizing a measurement and monetary system, the empire will

be able to trade with other peoples more easily.

Religion During the time period of the Warring States, the people turned to religion

and philosophy for solace. These many religions and philosophies are known as the

“Hundred Schools of Thought”. The main schools were Legalism, Confucianism,

Mohism, and Taoism. While some of these schools of thought are focused on beliefs

which do not threaten the good of the empire, other may be deemed dangerous to

the overall wellbeing of the empire.

Legalism is the school of thought that man is inherently immoral and order is

found through a strict legal structure. With a strict legal structure, immoral men can

work for the good of the whole and their personal selfish intentions4. This school of

thought is most similar to his Highness’. With the focus on government and attention

the good of the whole, this school of the thought s the least harmful to the Emperor’s

view for the empire.

Confucianism is a school of thought where morality is brought to the forefront.

It is believed that one can achieve harmony through balance of relationships and

morals5. This school of thought is possibly the most dangerous of them all. Many of

4 “Legalism in Chinese Philosophy”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 10 December 2014, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/chinese-legalism/ 5 “Confucianism: Beliefs and Practices”, World Religions, 2015,

http://www.worldreligions.com/confucianism/beliefs-and-practices.

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the Confucian followers believe that the Emperor’s ways are too harsh and must

change. If the followers are not convinced otherwise, the Emperor will seek

vengeance on them for their opinions.

Mohism is the belief that through reasoned debate, morals can be found

through multiple intrinsic goods6. This school of thought brings logic into scruples.

This school of thought is popular amongst scholars, because of the reasoning

approach. While this school of thought is highly popular, it is not as dangerous to the

Emperor’s view of the empire as others are.

Taoism refers to a pursuit of the harmony and balance. Through self-

development and feng shui, Taoist followers serach for immortality7. This school of

thought is falling out of favor as the Confucian thought becomes more popular. While

morals are still important to the Taoists, principles are not the primary objective of

this school of thought.

Military

The Qin army is one of the most organized in all the Chinese states. Due to

this organization, the Qin were able to conquer the rest of the states. The structure of

the army is built upon the pre-existing structure of a basic infantry and additions from

other fighting forces. The four divisions of the army are the chariots, infantry, cavalry,

and baggage train. Prior to the unification of the states, the Qin mastered the design

of the chariot by adding spokes to enhance the stability and durability of the chariot

as a whole8. The infantry are divided into two units, light and heavy. The unit of light

infantry is equipped with little armor and weapons such as spears, dagger-axes,

halberds, lances, and archers with long bows9. The unit of heavy infantry is equipped

6 “Mohism”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 6 November, 2015,

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mohism/. 7 “Taoism at a Glance”, British Broadcasting Channel, 24 August 2009,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/ataglance/glance.shtml. 8 Portal, The First Emperor, 40. 9 Ibid, 42.

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with lacquer coated leather armor and weapons such as crossbows and spears10.

The genius of the Qin is in the crossbow technique where the men reload as others

shoot. The design of the cavalry is derived from the steppe nomads11. They are

equipped in light gear and used most often for scouting and stealth strike teams12.

Military training is very important in the Qin state. Once men reach a certain

height, they go through a year of military training. After that year, they must serve at

either the capital or the edges of the state13. If a man shows exceptional prowess in

training, he moves to charioteer or cavalry training. This training is imperative to

military success. However, it has drained the Empire as men have been away from

their farms fighting the Emperor’s wars. The court must find a way to transition the

men into the farming profession or risk mass starvation.

Threats to the Peace In the process of unifying the states, Qin Shi Huangdi made many enemies.

The Son of Heaven came from a family that took nothing for granted and embraced

every opportunity to advance the family. Those who remained alive after the carnage

of the war were left with little resemblance of the life they lived before. Leaders of the

conquered states saw their families destroyed; their land stripped from their power;

and they were in most cases killed. Any surviving members could seek to avenge

their family. The nobility also have a just cause to seek vengeance as the Emperor

has stripped their social status from them by denying them the prestigious positions

in the government that their families have held for generations and replacing them

with upstart commoners. There is unrest within the Qin family, as some have not

received the honor due to them as member of the royal family. Qin Shi Huang has

always been wary of his family members and allows only those closest to him to stay

with him in the palace. He has taken great measures to ensure that he hears of any

treachery before it is enacted. However, there are many who slip through the cracks.

Another threat to the peace is the Xiongnu, a nomadic people of the steppes.

As so much attention was focused on the warring states, the nomadic peoples have

remained quiet for many years. The Xiongnu are a constant thorn in the side of the

northern states. At first, the Xiongnu simply organized raids on the villages in the

Zhao and Yan states. Then as they grew in numbers, they became bolder and began

organizing attacks on the bigger cities. To combat the Xiongnu, the Zhou and Yan

states joined forces to address the Xiongnu threat. They fought many battles in

which the Zhou and the Yan suffered great losses. The guerilla fighting of the

Xiongnu came as a shock to the Zhou and Yan conventional forces. The Xiongnu

would strike when the soldiers were at rest, and wholly unprepared. As a final act of

defense, the Zhou and the Yan states built a wall to deter the nomadic invaders. This

plan appears to have worked, as there is silence from beyond the wall. Rumor has it,

10 Ibid, 43. 11 Ibid, 36. 12 Ibid, 44. 13 Ibid, 46.

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the Xiongnu have been growing in number. It is up to the Court to decide whether to

venture beyond it or to build a better wall.

Expanding the market is another issue the Empire must face. Before the

unification, the cities within the states would trade solely with one another. Now that

they are united, in order to grow, the empire must look outside its own borders. If it is

to become the greatest empire, the market must expand. Many tribes such as the

Rong, Yi, Man, and Hu tribes lie just on the border14. Across the waters lie rumors of

more peoples. The rumors state that the people are much like the Qin and are

peaceful. They are not quite as advanced as the Qin, yet offer many resources and

goods that the empire does not have access to, such as a precious stone called a

pearl. The rumors also say that the people across the sea have advanced medicine

practices and live much longer than the Qin. This rumor in particular has interested

the Son of Heaven greatly.

Positions Shang Shu, Minister of Works

A loyal and faithful man from Jiang in the previous Jin state, Shang Shu has

worked hard for where he is today. Son of the chief town carpenter, he learned the

trade at a young age and knows the value of hard work. As Shang grew, he made

his talent for organization more apparent. After a horrible fire, Shang organized the

rebuilding of the city, making Jiang one of the best-built towns in all of China. His

Highness, Qin Shi Huangdi, appointed Shang Shu to Minister of Works with the hope

that he will build monuments and buildings to last for generations to come. Hopefully,

the demand of this great position will not be too much for him.

Kong He, Minister of the Palace Guard

Discipline and Strength have made Kong He the man he is today. When he

was a boy, Kong He grew up as the second son of a noble family in the state of Qin.

He joined the military at a young age to escape his home. With his iron-will and

growing strength, Kong He rose quickly in the ranks of the Qin army. Kong He leads

and maintains the palace guard. His job will be difficult one as assassins plague the

court of the Emperor.

Qian Lao, Minister of Justice

From Luoyang, Qian Lao was a city clerk during the unification. He had a

mind for justice and knowing appropriate consequences for actions. He has always

been a man, who believes that the punishment should be equal of the crime. Qian

understands that rules are in place for a reason and those who do not follow them do

not deserve pity. For this reason, Qian Lao is the Minister of Justice. As the son of a

poor merchant, Qian has no sympathy for the nobility, which may cause

disagreement amongst himself and Yao Li.

14 Ulrich Theobald, “Chinese History – Rong,” China Knowledge, 2013, http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Altera/rong.html.

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Chi Fu, Minister of Finance

There is no man who handles money better than Chi Fu. During the Great

War between the states, he was able to raise incredible amounts of funds for his

hometown of Anyang, to build a new municipal building and repair roads. Chi Fu is a

man who invests where he sees a profit. Once he saw that his Highness would

triumph, he changed his alliances. Chi Fu has much to prove coming from the other

side of the war. His task is to organize the new tax system for the empire. He must

create the funds with which Qin Shi Huangdi will create his new empire.

Fa Zhou, Minister of the Masses

Fa Zhou is the Minister of the Masses. The son of a farmer, Fa Zhou is from a

small village outside of Kaifeng. When Fa Zhou’s father died in a tragic accident, Fa

Zhou rose to the challenge. He worked hard on his family farm to provide for his

family. As a result of his valiant efforts, he was recognized as a hero in the

community. Rumor has it that at this time Fa Zhou received a visitor carrying a book

of Mohism. If the rumor is true, Fa Zhou will need to choose better books to read. As

Minister of the Masses, Fa Zhou is the representative of the people. He carries the

voice of the people to the court. His opinions are highly valued, as long as they do

not contradict His Highness.

Zuo Zhuan, Minister of Ceremonies

Zuo Zhuan grew up in a large family of 12, with understanding that family is

the most important thing in life. However, he always felt there was something more to

life than just family. At the age of nineteen years old, Zuo disappeared into the

woods. Returning to his family home two years later, Zuo had found his inner peace.

His notoriety spread from Hangzhou to the remainder of China. His Highness asked

Zuo Zhuan to become his Minister of Ceremonies. Zuo Zhuan is in charge of

monitoring the spiritual well-being of the Empire, ensuring that it falls in line with His

Highness’ views.

Zhuang Bo, Minister of Herald

Zhuang Bo comes from the border state of Zhao. He grew up knowing much

about the world beyond the decaying walls of China. In the opinion of his friends,

Zhuang speaks with the sweetness of honey. What truly makes him special is his

demeanor. Zhuang is the type of person to whom everyone tells his or her secrets.

He is the one of the people, who knows every secret of the court. Because of this

talent, Zhuang is the Minister of Herald. He will deal with all of the foreign

ambassadors and foreign affairs.

Yao Li, Minister of the Nobles

Yao Li is the first son of Chien Po, a noble from Chu. He learned the ways of

the nobility, as a young child. When His Highness united the warring states of China,

Yao Li wished to have a place in this new government. He approached His Highness

and begged for a position in the new government. Yao Li is the court’s link to the

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nobility. He will be crucial in the creation of the new government and creating a place

for the nobility. He often conflicts with Fa Zhou, Minister of the Masses, as they both

fervently advocate for their people.

Li Guang, Minister of Scholarship

As a child, Li Guang was curious. Li Guang wanted to learn all there was in

this world, so his grandfather, a great scholar, took him under his wing and taught

him all he could. Li owes his knowledge of the arts, letters, and values to his

grandfather’s tutelage. To this day, Li reads everything he can, which can be a

dangerous thing at court. According to court gossip, Li once listened to the teachings

of Confucius. If rumors were proven true, his time would be short at court. While Li

Guang does value respect and responsibility, wisdom is his most important value.

Li’s task is to set up a system of education to be used to train future bureaucrats.

This will be an onerous task with the compiling of what knowledge should be tested

to become a bureaucrat and how to test such knowledge. However, due to his

growing knowledge, Li Guang is the only man up for the task.

Ying Lao, Minister of Agriculture

Ying Lao is the Minister of Agriculture. He is the best friend of Fa Zhou.

Growing up, Ying Lao had a talent for creating innovative ways to farm efficiently

enough to create a generous profit. For this reason, His Highness asked him to join

the court. He will be in charge of organizing the agricultural division of the

government and setting regulations. As the system of nobles and serfs has been

broken down, the empire needs stability in the area of agriculture. Ying Lao is the

man who can bring this stability.

Zhang Yimou, Minister of the Household

Zhang Yimou is the Minister of the Household. Zhang Yimou was the head

servant in the house of Qin. He ran the household without a flaw. Everything was

taken care of months in advance. Zhang is the type of man who is crucial in a crisis.

He breaks down the crisis and deals with it piece by piece. He deals with crises

efficiently and realistically. Zhang Yimou’s role in the court is make sure everything

runs according to His Highness’ needs. Zhang will ensure that the household of the

emperor is prepared for any event, which may occur at the palace. Because of his

position, Zhang often hears everything that goes on in the household. He is a man of

many secrets and is willingly to stay silent for a price.

Sima Tan, Minister Steward

Sima Tan was the personal servant of His Highness for many years. He

watched His Highness grow throughout his childhood and into adulthood. Sima Tan

is the one of the few people who knows His Highness best. Sima understands His

Highness’ paranoia and the effects it has on his mind. Despite all of this knowledge,

Sima cannot calm him down when he is in one of his moods. Sima is one of the most

important people in His Highness’ court. He oversees everything, which deals with

His Highness directly. Sima will stand for the emperor’s voice in the committee, yet

he does not have the power to veto any of the court’s decisions or deny access to

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the emperor. Despite his devotion, Sima Tan gives the other members of the court a

malevolent feeling, which they cannot seem to place.

Yuen Woo, Minister of Astrology

From an early age, Yuen Woo looked to the stars. The beauty of the stars

dazzled Yuen. He began to learn astrology and driven by the thirst for knowledge

began to look towards different healing practices as a way to reach the divine. He

plays an integral part in the court of His Highness as he advises His Highness on the

Zodiac and other sources of power and knowledge. His Highness highly values his

input on day-to-day functions, as he does not want to incur any bad luck.

Chang Liang, Minister of Order

As a young boy, Chang Liang paid close attention to feng shui. He would

reorder things around his home, until one day his father was given a promotion in the

army. His family rejoiced for his success, in balancing their home according to feng

shui. As the war between states raged, Chang Liang’s fame grew. After Qin Shi

Huang’s victory, the Son of Heaven himself approached Chang. Chang Liang has

been given one of the most important positions in the council, Minister of Order. After

the disorder from the war, Chang Liang must lead the rest of the ministers in creating

the new order. From rebuilding trade lost in the war to beginning anew with a new

governmental structure, Chiang will bring order to China.

Qiang Tián, Minister of Coin

Qiang Tián is a man you want on your side. He is always looking for the best

deal. When he was younger, to prove to his father that he could run the family stall at

market, Qiang set up his own stall and sold his family goods for a lower price and

higher profit. He raised his family up from the meager status of a farming family to

one of the most highly regarded families of merchants. The Son of Heaven has

asked Qiang Tián, as Minister of Coin, to turn his eyes to the land with the most

potential for profit and expand the reach of Chinese Trade.

Gang Féng, General

Gang Féng grew up with his twin brother, Jian, playing war games. They

grew to be two of the strongest warriors in all of China. Gang Féng is talented in

grand military strategy. As a result of his fighting in the War Between the States,

Gang was granted command of the infantry. One thing, which Gang will have to

watch in the Imperial Court, is his outspokenness. The Son of Heaven will not stand

for a General who does not know his place in court.

Jian Féng, General

Jian is very close with his brother, Gang. Where Gang is loud and outspoken,

Jian exhibits a contemplative demeanor and silent strength. When the brothers were

granted command of the Son of Heaven’s army, Jian was granted command of the

cavalry and chariots. Because of his tendency to listen more than speak, Jian excels

in preemptive scouting measures and can predict the movements of the enemy

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before they are made. Jian is one of the few people in the court who listens more

than he speaks; because of this he often hears things he should not.

Mei Han, First Wife

Mei Han is the First Wife of Qin Shi Huang and constantly walks a precipice.

As the most important woman in the life of the Son of Heaven, she holds the heart of

the emperor. However, she must counteract the treasonous acts inflicted upon him

by his own mother. Besides Huan Chéng and Sima Tan, she is one of his closest

confidantes. When Qin Shi Huang was moving towards the Han state, she pleaded

with him to spare the lives of her family, the Han. Qin Shi Huang was so touched by

her bravery and loyalty that he took her as his wife. Mei has great beauty and is

sought after by many, however, she must deal with her admirers carefully as the Son

of Heaven is a jealous man.

Huan Chéng, Friend and Advisor

Huan Chéng is a childhood friend of the Son of Heaven. His father was one

of the head advisors for Qin Shi Huang’s Father. Huan Chéng has been by his side

since the beginning. Huan was one of the few who possesses a thorough knowledge

of the Qin policies. There is a small yet growing rift between the Son of Heaven and

his friend due the implication that Huan’s father was involved in the betrayal of Qin’s

family. Huan has always been considered family of the Son of Heaven, but it is up to

him to show Qin Shi Huang the true level of his loyalty.

Important things to remember 1. We are dealing with Ancient China. As there are few historical accounts of this

time period, there is not much research, which can be done on the subject. This

background guide should your first point of contact for this committee.

2. Imagination is necessary, if not mandatory.

Position Papers No Position Papers are required.