Ancient China · Young Qin general

Li Xin 李信

Attested BC 227 - BC 221

Passages: 12
Chapters: 2
Histories: 1

Overview

Li Xin was a Young Qin general.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 227 to BC 221 始皇二十年至二十六年間
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 126
BC 227 秦時
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 109, passage 2

Family

Ancestor of Li Guang (李廣)
his ancestor 其先 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 109, passage 2

Key source chapters

Places and affiliations

Qin 秦
Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 126
Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 109, passage 2

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Topic estimate that 200,000 troops would suffice against Chu · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Li Xin (李信)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 128

Events and relationships

Captured crown prince dan
Military · General · With Dan (丹)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 109, passage 2
Invaded Chu with 200,000 troops, won initial victories, and then suffered a major defeat
BC 227 to BC 221 始皇二十年至二十六年間 · Military · Commander · With Meng Tian (蒙恬)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 132, 134-136
Pacified Yan and Qi together with Wang Ben
BC 227 to BC 221 始皇二十年至二十六年間 · Military · Commander · With Wang Ben (王賁)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 168
Pursued and captured Crown Prince Dan with several thousand soldiers
BC 227 to BC 221 始皇二十年至二十六年間 · Military · Commander · With Crown Prince Dan of Yan (燕太子丹)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 126

Assessments and attributes

Assessment worthy and brave · Mode named-person-judgment Source Person Id First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 126
young, vigorous, and brave
Character
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 126

References in the histories

Search passages

History

12 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 11 passages

秦將李信者，年少壯勇，嘗以兵數千逐燕太子丹至於衍水中，卒破得丹，始皇以為賢勇。 Among Qin's generals was Li Xin, young and vigorous. He once with several thousand soldiers pursued Yan's crown prince Dan to the middle of Yan River, finally breaking through and capturing Dan. Shihuang considered him worthy and brave.

於是始皇問李信：「吾欲攻取荊，於將軍度用幾何人而足？」 Shihuang then asked Li Xin: 'I wish to attack and conquer Chu. In your estimation, General, how many men will suffice?'

李信曰：「不過用二十萬人。」 Li Xin said: 'No more than two hundred thousand men will suffice.'

李將軍果勢壯勇，其言是也。」 General Li is indeed vigorous and courageous. His words are correct.'

遂使李信及蒙恬將二十萬南伐荊。 He then sent Li Xin and Meng Tian to lead two hundred thousand men south to attack Chu.

李信攻平與，蒙恬攻寢，大破荊軍。 Li Xin attacked Pingyu, Meng Tian attacked Qin. They greatly defeated Chu forces.

信又攻鄢郢，破之，於是引兵而西，與蒙恬會城父。 Xin attacked Yanying once more and broke it. He then led his troops west to rendezvous with Meng Tian at Chengfu.

荊人因隨之，三日三夜不頓舍，大破李信軍，入兩壁，殺七都尉，秦軍走。 Chu people followed them, three days and nights without resting or camping, greatly broke Li Xin's forces, entered two walls, killed seven commandants, and Qin forces fled.

始皇聞之，大怒，自馳如頻陽，見謝王翦曰：「寡人以不用將軍計，李信果辱秦軍。 Shihuang heard of it and grew greatly angry. He raced personally to Pinyang and apologized to Wang Jian: 'I did not use your plan. Li Xin has indeed disgraced our Qin forces.

王翦果代李信擊荊。 Wang Jian did in fact replace Li Xin in the attack on Chu.

而王翦子王賁，與李信破定燕、齊地。 Wang Jian's son Wang Ben, together with Li Xin, captured and pacified Yan and Qi territories.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 109Biography of General Li · 1 passage

其先曰李信，秦時為將，逐得燕太子丹者也。 His ancestor Li Xin had served as a general under the Qin and was the man who pursued and captured Dan, the Crown Prince of Yan.