In the early Warring States period, Wei was the most powerful. What should be the best direction for Wei's expansion?
In the early Warring States period, the strength ranking of the seven warring states was: Wei, Qi, Chu, Han, Zhao, Yan, and Qin. The Wei State is in a land of four wars. The Zhao State, South Korea and the Wei State have the same origin. Although they are not as strong as the Wei State, they are still quite capable of fighting. If they are destroyed, it will be very painful. The Qi State is an old powerful country. It is necessary to destroy it. It is unrealistic; the Chu State is a giant, and it is in the land of the Southern Barbarians. It is difficult to attack and there is no advantage in occupying it; the Yan State and the Wei State are not bordering each other, and the Yan State is poor and weak and is protected by the Qi State. Attacking across Zhao Yan, got an enclave which is not good for digestion. Therefore, the best direction for Wei's expansion at that time was Qin in the west.
The State of Qin is located in the Guanzhong land, which is dangerous on the outside but flat on the inside. The Weihe River and the Jingshui River cross the Guanzhong Plain, making it a great geomantic treasure.
The Zhou Dynasty prospered because of the Guanzhong, and the Qin State was established because of the Guanzhong. If you occupy the Qin State, you can attack the five Central Plains countries if you advance, and you can protect thousands of miles of mountains and rivers if you retreat.
The land of Guanzhong was a gift given by God to the Kingdom of Wei, but the Kingdom of Wei abandoned it like straw sandals. If God does not accept it, he will be sent away by Heaven!
Wu Qi led Wei soldiers to fight with Qin's old army in Hexi. In one battle, he defeated Qin's main force of 500,000, and then occupied all the land in Hexi.
At this time, if Wu Qi does not leave the Chu Kingdom, but continues to gain the trust and importance of Wei Wuhou, then Wu Qi can wipe out the Qin Kingdom and drive the Qin people back to the Longxi Grassland to raise horses for the Wei Kingdom! Taking ten thousand steps back, when King Hui of Wei was young, Pang Juan commanded Wei Wu's soldiers. If Wei followed Pang Juan's policy and the Wei State advanced westward with all its strength, Qin Xiaogong would not be able to stop it, and the Qin people could only retreat to Longxi, and the Qin State would perish.
If Wei governs Qin well, Guanzhong will become Wei’s overlord!
Historically, the Wei State chose the wrong expansion direction: first unify the three Jin Dynasties, then destroy Qi and Chu, and then let two generals each lead an elite army to destroy the Yan State in the east and the Qin State in the west. In this way, the great cause of Wei's unification was completed.
But Wei failed in its first step, and the battle to unify the three Jin Dynasties was disrupted by Qi: Pang Juan led the army to destroy Zhao, Zhao was defeated and asked Qi for help, and Qi passed the Battle of Guilin. The Wei army was defeated in the battle; Pang Juan led the army to destroy Han, and South Korea resisted to the end. The Qi army rescued Han and eliminated the main force of the Wei army through the Battle of Maling. Pang Juan was killed by random arrows.
Wei lost all its elites, but Qin succeeded in reforming the country. Wei Yang led Qin's new army to attack Wei, regained Hexi in the first battle, and compressed Wei to the east bank of the Yellow River. So far, Wei has no power to expand. , the only way to survive is to protect yourself.