Qin campaign against the Baiyue

The Baiyue people lived in the coastal areas of southern China, known for their rich trade and fertile land. Their region, south of the Yangtze River, was very attractive to Emperor Qin Shi Huang because of its good weather, valuable trade routes, and luxury goods from Southeast Asia. In 221 BC, the emperor decided to conquer the Yue kingdoms there.

To achieve this, Qin Shi Huang sent armies to fight the Yue people. Between 221 and 214 BC, there were five big military campaigns. It was a long and difficult fight, but finally, in 214 BC, the Qin army defeated the Yue.

One old book called the Huainanzi says that 500,000 soldiers were used in these campaigns, but because it is a philosophical book and not a history book, we cannot be sure this number is correct.

Background

After Qin Shi Huang defeated the state of Chu in 223 BC, the Qin dynasty began a military campaign against the Baiyue in Lingnan. The goal was to bring the lands of southern China and maybe even parts of northern Vietnam into the Qin empire. The emperor sent large armies south to take over these areas and add them to his empire. Some records say there were as many as five hundred thousand soldiers, though others suggest the number was smaller when including support workers. The people living in Lingnan at that time were few in number, with estimates of around one hundred thousand. The emperor wanted to control this area because of its valuable resources and products, allowing him to focus his defenses elsewhere.

Campaigns

After taking control of the Yue state in northern Zhejiang, Qin Shi Huang moved to conquer areas in southern Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Fujian. The East Ou and the Minyue in Fujian became part of the Qin empire. The Qin army faced strong resistance from the Southern Yue in Guangdong and Guangxi. Southern China had rich land for growing rice and many valuable items like elephant tusks and pearls, and it was important for trade with Southeast Asia.

Qin Shi Huang sent a large army to conquer West Ou in today’s Guangxi. After three years, the Qin defeated West Ou’s leader, but the local people kept fighting using clever tactics. Even though the Qin army was not used to the jungle, they kept trying. They built the Lingqu Canal to help move supplies and soldiers. With better weapons and organization, the Qin eventually took control of Guangdong, Guangxi, and parts of northern Vietnam by 214 BC. They set up new government areas to manage these lands and encourage trade.

To make the local people more like the Han Chinese, Qin Shi Huang moved many people from northern China to the south and introduced the Han Chinese writing system. However, after the Qin dynasty ended, the Yue tribes became independent again.

Post Qin

Main article: Vietnam under Chinese rule

After the Qin dynasty ended, a general named Zhao Tuo took control of Guangzhou. He wanted to secure important coastal areas for trade. In 208 BC, Zhao Tuo reached Cổ Loa Citadel, the capital of the state of Âu Lạc. There, he defeated An Dương Vương and created a new kingdom called Nanyue.

Zhao Tuo divided the land into parts and made his capital at Panyu, which is now Guangzhou. He declared himself emperor of Nanyue in 207 BC. At its peak, Nanyue was strong and powerful. Zhao encouraged many people from Han China to move to the south.

Later, during the time of Han Wudi, the Han dynasty decided to take over Nanyue. In 111 BC, five Han armies moved toward Nanyue. The leaders of Nanyue agreed to join the Han empire and gave gifts to show their support.