How Qin's Future Emperor Took Back His Throne | Qin's Unification Wars Part 2

00:00 The King's Revenge 01:08 The Boy King and the Three Powers 03:35 The Scandal of Lao Ai 09:28 The Fall of Lü Buwei 11:45 The Purge Continues 16:27 The Zheng Guo Canal 20:00 The Fugitive and the Prince of Yan 24:21 The Road to War Qin's Unification Wars continues. The Qin war machine was the most powerful force in ancient China — but before it could conquer the Warring States, its own king had to fight for control of his throne. In 246 BC, thirteen-year-old Ying Zheng inherited the kingdom of Qin. But behind the throne stood three powerful figures: his mother, Queen Dowager Zhao; the brilliant chancellor Lü Buwei; and the ambitious Lao Ai. They believed they could control the young king forever. They were wrong. In Part 2 of Qin's Unification Wars, we explore the brutal struggle that transformed Ying Zheng from a powerless young ruler into the man who would become Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor. This episode covers: • Lao Ai's rebellion and the palace conspiracy that nearly destroyed Qin • The downfall of Lü Buwei, the merchant who helped create a king • Ying Zheng's brutal purge of rivals and the consolidation of royal power • The Zheng Guo Canal and the economic foundation behind Qin's future conquests • The events that set Qin on the path toward unifying China Before Qin Shi Huang conquered the Warring States, he first had to defeat the enemies closest to him. Qin's Unification Wars continues.