Author: CHUNG Yoon-Ngan
Date: 11-23-03 22:38
The attempt on the First Emperor's life
Gao Jian Li (高漸離) lived in the state of Yan (燕國 in the present day city of Beijing 北京) during the Warring States Period (戰國時代 453BC to 221BC). He was very fond of playing the musical instrument of Zheng Pa (箏琶 with 12 or 13 strings). He befriended a butcher and an adventurer, Jing Ke (荊軻) who was from the State of Wei (衛國 present day Pu Yang county 濮陽縣 in Hebei province 河北省). They often dined out, singing and playing music together.
Ying Zheng (嬴政), the King of the State of Qin (秦國 present day county of Feng xiang 鳳翔縣 in Shaanxi province 陜西省) wanted to conquer the State of Yan. Knowing that the only way to stop the State of Qin invading Yan was to have Ying Zheng assassinated. In 227BC, Ji Dan (姬丹), the Crown Prince of Yan employed Jing Ke with the help of Gao Jian Li to assassinate Ying Zheng. Jing Ke failed to kill Ying Zhang and Ying Zheng in turn had Jing Ke killed.
Discovering that the assassin was sent by Ji Dan, Ying Zheng was furious. The following year in 226BC, Ying Zheng ordered General Wang Jian (王翦將軍) to attack Yan. In the 10th Month Ji Cheng (薊城 present day city of Beijing 北京市) fell to the Qin Army. Ji Xi the ruler of Yan (姬喜燕王) and Prince Dan fled east to Xiang Ping (襄平 present day Liaoyang (遼陽 in province of Liaodning (遼寧省).
Unrelentingly, Ying Zheng ordered General Li Xin (李信將軍) to go after Ji Dan and Ji Xi. Ji Jia (姬嘉), the commander of the Yan Army, wrote to Ji Xi and told him that Ying Zheng hated Ji Dan and wanted Ji Dan's head. Ji Jia believed that the Qin Army would stop attacking Yan if the head of Ji Dan were presented to Ying Zheng. In order to save the country Ji Xi had his son, Ji Dan, executed and presented his head to Ying Zheng.
Indeed the Qin Army stopped attacking Yan. However, in 222BC, the State of Yan was subjugated by Ying Zheng. In 221BC Ying Zheng conquered all the States in the land and unified it under the great Empire of Qing. Ying Zheng proclaimed the formation of Qin Dynasty (秦朝 221BC to 207BC) and himself the First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇帝).
Gao Jian Li changed his surname and name and became a servant in a family by the name of Song (宋). One day, in a banquet in the Song family the musicians were playing the musical instrument, Zheng Pa, to entertain the guests. Seeing them playing Gao Jian Li commented to the head of the house servants that he could play much better than the musicians. Song Zi (宋子) requested Gao Jian Li to play for the guests. Indeed Gao was a good player in Zheng Pa.
Gao Jian Li comtemplated that he had no future being a house servent. He resigned from his job and became a professional Zheng Pa player. Indeed he was an excellent musician. News about his playing of Zheng Pa travelled far and wide. Someone reported to the First Emperor that Gao Jian Li, who had helped Jing Ke to assassinate him was still alive living in the former State of Yan. The First Emperor summoned Gao Jian Li to Xian Yang (咸陽 present day city of Xi An 西安), the capital of Qin. The First Emperor did not punish Gao Jian Li. Instead the First Emperor employed Gao Jian Li to play for him. In order to prevent Gao Jian Li from attempting on his life, the First Emperor had his two eyes gouged out. Gao Jian Li now became a blind man.
The First Emperor loved to listen to Gao Jian Li playing the Zheng Pa. One day, while the First Emperor was sitting next to him listening to him playing, with all his might, Gao Jian Li threw the Zheng Pa at the First Emperor with the intention of killing him. Gao Jian Li missed as he could not see. Knowing that Gao Jian Li was trying to kill him the First Emperor had him executed.
CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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Yoon-Ngan
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