The Last 46 Days of the Qin Dynasty and the Mystery of the Last King's Identity

According to the documentary "Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors" (Netflix, 2024), after Qin Shi Huang died, Prime Minister Li Si and Zhao Gao plotted to put the youngest prince Hu Hai on the throne. However, all three quickly met a tragic end.

After ascending the throne, the new emperor Hu Hai was incited by Zhao Gao to kill Li Si. Later, Hu Hai was also plotted to be destroyed by Zhao Gao.

Zhao Gao forced Hu Hai to commit suicide by drinking poison, then installed another person as a puppet emperor. But he did not expect to be killed by his own "chess piece".

That was Doanh Tu Anh, the third and last emperor of the Qin Dynasty, with a reign of only 46 days.

Doanh Tu Anh - The 3rd Emperor of the Qin Dynasty. Photo: Netflix

Mysterious origin

Doanh Tu Anh, posthumous name Qin Shang Di, also known as Qin Tam The De, Qin Hang Prince Tu Anh. To this day, his background remains a mystery.

In Sima Qian's "Historical Records" alone, there are three different records about Ying Ziying's background, divided into four theories. One theory is that he was the brother or son of the second emperor Hu Hai's brother. Another theory is that he was the brother or son of Qin Shi Huang's brother.

However, according to historical records, after ascending the throne, the Second Emperor Hu Hai had all his siblings killed. Therefore, many people tend to believe that Doanh Tu Anh was the younger brother of Qin Thuy Hoang - someone who was less likely to compete for the throne.

46 Days as Emperor

According to the documentary, after making Hu Hai Emperor, Zhao Gao held the power to run the court for many years. When the peasant uprising initiated by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang spread, the old vassal states of the Warring States period rose up to revive and fight against Qin.

At the end of 207 BC, the vassal army was about to march into Xianyang. The talented general Zhang Han surrendered to the Chu general Xiang Yu. Zhao Gao believed that Hu Hai would lose the country. Therefore, he killed Hu Hai and installed Ying Ziying on the throne.

Initially, Zhao Gao wanted to conspire with another general of Chu to destroy the Qin Dynasty and divide Guanzhong in two. However, the plan failed when Ying Ziying did not listen to his orders.

Zhao Gao told Zi Ying that before going to the ancestral temple to receive the imperial seal, he must fast for five days. Zi Ying knew Zhao Gao's intention, so he discussed it with his two sons and pretended to be sick and did not go.

Zhao Gao sent people to invite him many times without success, so he personally went to see Ying Ziying. At this time, the New Emperor's men killed Zhao Gao in the palace, then executed all three of Zhao Gao's relatives.

Zhao Gao was plotted to be killed by Doanh Tu Anh himself. Photo: Netflix

Doanh Tu Anh ascended the throne in late August 207 BC. At that time, the Qin army on the front line was very weak, continuously losing battles against vassal states.

In October 206 BC, Liu Bang of Chu entered Guanzhong. When he reached Bai Shang, Liu Bang sent someone to tell Zi Ying to surrender.

Doanh Tu Anh saw that he could not resist, so he tied the imperial jade seal around his neck, sat on an unpainted wooden carriage pulled by white horses, and brought the emperor's seal and talisman to surrender near Chi Dao, ending his 46 days as Emperor.

In November of that year, Xiang Yu entered Guanzhong, leading the vassals. Liu Bang handed Ying Ziying over to Xiang Yu, but Xiang Yu killed him. Afterwards, the Qin princes and clans were all exterminated.

The glorious dynasty founded by Qin Shi Huang officially ended from then on.

Source: https://laodong.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/46-ngay-cuoi-cung-cua-nha-tan-va-bi-an-than-the-vi-vua-cuoi-cung-1357944.ldo