Chin Shi Huang Was the Illegitimate Son of One of History’s Greatest Adventurers
Chin Shi Huang was born into the Chin royal household, but was actually the biological son of a merchant named Lu Buwei, one of history’s most enterprising entrepreneurs. Lu Buwei’s adventure began when the Lady Huayang, favorite wife of Prince Ankuo, the aging heir to the Chin throne, found herself childless and with a husband who might die of old at any moment. Life was good for Lady Huayang, but if another wife’s son became king, her standing and power would vanish.
Lu Buwei looked at that scenario, and saw an opportunity. So he visited a neighboring state where Tzu-Chu, one of Prince Ankuo’s sons by a junior wife, was kept as a hostage to ensure Chin’s compliance with a peace treaty. Tzu-Chu lived in squalid conditions when Lu Buwei paid him a visit and made him an astonishing offer: “with your permission, I will invest 1000 pieces of gold to make you heir of Chin“. Tzu-Chu promised Lu Buwei that he would share the kingdom with him if he succeeded.
Having worked out a deal with Tzu-Chu, Lu Buwei set out for the Chin capital. There, he bought presents for Lady Huayang’s older sister, telling her that they were from Tzu-Chu, who was saddened by her sister’s childless condition. He then laid out his proposal, for the sister to convey to Lady Huayang: she should adopt Tzu-Chu, and make him Prince Ankuo’s heir.
Tzu-Chu was way down in the line of succession. If Lady Huayang catapulted him to the front of the line, he would be forever loyal and grateful. Thus, even after Prince Ankuo’s death, Lady Huayang would retain her influence as the new king’s mother. Lady Huayang saw the wisdom in that idea, and convinced Prince Ankuo to let her adopt Tzu-Chu, and to make him heir. Lu Buwei was appointed his royal tutor.
Lu Buwei rushed back to Tzu-Chu, bearing the good news. However, at a party celebrating their success, Tzu-Chu fell head over heels in love with a dancer, who happened to be Lu Buwei’s mistress. Tzu-Chu asked if he could have her, and Lu Buwei reluctantly agreed. He had nearly bankrupted himself to get that far, and he was not about to blow it now by alienating Tzu-Chu.
What Tzu-Chu did not know was that the dancer was already pregnant by Lu Buwei. Eventually, she bore a son – the future Chin Shi Huang – and Tzu-Chu married her. Finally, Prince Ankuo ascended to the throne of Chin, but died soon thereafter, and was succeeded by Tzu-Chu as king of Chin. He fulfilled his promise to Lu Buwei, granting him vast fiefs with 100,000 households, and named him prime minister.
Then, Tzu-Chu unexpectedly died, and was succeeded as king of Chin by his “son”. Lu Buwei had risen beyond even his most ambitious expectations. He was now the most powerful man in the kingdom. His former mistress, with whom he resumed the affair after king Tzu-Chu’s death, was the queen dowager. He continued as prime minister, was given the title “Second Father”, and became regent during the minority of the child king – his biological son. Things could not have been better for the enterprising adventurer. It could not last forever.