Three Qins

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The "Three Qins" refer to three of the 19 principalities created by Xiang Yu in the aftermaths of the collapse of Qin Dynasty in 206 BC.

Originally, according to the pledge made by Mi Xin (羋心), Prince Huai of Chu, Qin proper (modern central Shaanxi) should have been given to Liu Bang, because Liu entered Qin proper first. However, Xiang Yu, jealous and fearful of Liu's accomplishment, effectively exiled Liu by giving him the Principality of Han (modern Sichuan, Chongqing, and southern Shaanxi) instead. Xiang instead divided Qin proper into three principalities, which he awarded to three former Qin military leaders:

Yong (雍), given to Qin general Zhang Han (章邯), who had been forced to surrender to Xiang, occupying modern central Shaanxi
Sai (塞), given to Zhang Han's deputy Sima Xin (司馬欣), occupying modern northeastern Shaanxi
Zhai (翟), given to Zhang Han's assistant Dong Yi (董翳), occupying modern northern Shaanxi

Xiang, however, either did not realize or ignored that the people of Qin despised Zhang, Sima, and Dong, for having been sole survivors of Xiang's massacre of Qin forces that Zhang had surrendered to Xiang.

In autumn 206 BC, Han forces, led by Liu's general Han Xin, made a surprise attack against the three Qins and easily conquered them. Sima and Dong surrendered quickly. Zhang was sieged in his capital of Feiqiu (廢丘, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) for nearly a year, and finally committed suicide in summer 205 BC. Feiqiu then surrendered.

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