Life and career Li Bing

the central sections of dujiangyan.

king zhaoxiang of qin (r. 306–251 bc) dispatched li bing joint military , civilian governor (shou) on shu, defeated state in sichuan province, southwest china, west of modern chengdu. according records of grand historian, li bing appointed governor of shu in c. 277 bc. however, chronicles of huayang place li bing in shu in 272 bc. arrived zhang ruo had put down last of marquis rebellions , moved out engage chu city of yan. zhang ruo did not leave incumbent ministers, , li bing had complete control on shu. (sage, 149) when arrived in shu, li bing witnessed sufferings of local people frequent flooding of min river. additionally, qin monarchy had been sending exiles state , qin military needed food , infrastructure.

li bing created “the largest, planned public works project yet seen anywhere on eastern half of eurasian continent.” called dujiangyan. (sage, 149) conducted extensive hydraulic survey of min river in order stabilize waters flooding settlements , plot out extension chengdu. extension fairway provide logistical military support chengdu supply lines. standard practice qin administrators routinely combine agricultural projects both civilian , military purposes. (ibid) min river 735 km long , largest , longest of yangtze tributaries.

li bing faced number of daunting tasks. firstly, qin administration more experienced working arid lands wet rice paddies. additionally, slowing water current, reduced river’s ability carry away large amounts of sediment. @ peak discharge, min flows @ 5000 or 6000 cubic meters per second. @ low water, lessens 500 cubic meters per second. (elvin, 121 edited) on other hand, water diversion have positive effect , qin system of land distribution wet paddy rice in chengdu plains.

but half of problem. other half had shu culture. native animist people of shu]believed min deity. recorded in shiji, “sima qian relates tale that, upon appointment administrator of po, province of wei, ximen bao discouraged superstition of people bride god of river , punished local gentry , bureaucrats took advantage of such superstitions.” (chi, 67) ordinary practice of administrators across region. but, ximen bao did not succeed. therefore, in order avert similar massive revolt, li bing set out end practice “by combination of tact , showmanship”. (sage, 150)

steven sage describes shiji first thing li bing did set temple honor min deity. offered own 2 daughters brides deity. first set large nuptial banquet along river. offered toast. deity did not drink glass of wine. offended, li bing runs off sword drawn. 2 bulls prepared in advance seen crowd fighting along river bank. symbolically, li bing in duel deity. li bing returns scene sweating if in battle , calls assistance. 1 of lieutenants ran bull li bing had pointed out deity , killed bull. river spirit subdued. “through medium of bull, li bing had won.”(sage 150-151{shiji, ch.116, xi nan yi lie zhuan, pp 2995–2996.})

“in 268 bc, li bing said have led tens of thousands of workers in initial stage of construction on min river banks.” (chn, strategic origins) these people exiles lands conquered qin, qin pioneers, , local population.