宁为鸡口，无为牛后 — “Better to be the head of a small entity than the tail of a large one”

During the Warring States period, the Central Plains were engulfed in warfare, with beacons of war rising everywhere. Feudal lords all sought to annex other states and dominate the world. Among these states, the strongest were Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin, collectively known as the 'Seven Warring States'. Qin, located in the west, grew increasingly powerful after Duke Xiao of Qin ascended the throne, appointing Shang Yang as his prime minister and implementing reforms.

As Qin's national strength expanded, so did its ambitions. No longer content with minor victories like occupying a few cities from neighboring states, its ultimate goal was to annex the other six states and unify the entire realm. The other six states, situated to Qin's east, recognized Qin's ambition. Led by Chu, they formed a north-south alliance to resist Qin in the west, a strategy known as the 'Vertical Alliance' (Hezong).

After King Hui, Duke Xiao's son, came to power, he adopted Prime Minister Zhang Yi's 'Horizontal Alliance' (Lianheng) diplomatic policy, traveling around to persuade and undermine the Vertical Alliance of the six states. At that time, a prominent politician named Su Qin, who strongly advocated for the alliance against Qin, learned that the King of Han was preparing to accept Qin's terms and align with Qin.

He immediately went to see the King of Han and advised him, saying: 'I have always believed Han to be a state of formidable strength. Han possesses superior geographical conditions, with natural mountains and rivers serving as barriers on all sides, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Han also commands hundreds of thousands of brave and skilled soldiers and generals, sharp weapons, and the world's finest strong bows and powerful crossbows. Furthermore, Han has a sagacious and benevolent ruler like Your Majesty. If you were to contend for supremacy with the other six states, you could certainly remain invincible. Why, then, would you bow to Qin?

Your Majesty must understand, once Han allies with Qin, it will be forced to submit to Qin. Given Qin's insatiable greed, they will surely make various unreasonable demands, even asking you to cede strategic Han territories like Yiyang and Chenggao. If Your Majesty gives them these lands this year, they will have new demands next year. Han's territory is finite, but Qin's covetousness is boundless. At that point, Your Majesty will only be able to hand over his long-coveted state to Qin, which would surely become a laughingstock among all under heaven. As the saying goes: 'Rather be a chicken's beak than an ox's rump.' If Your Majesty now bends the knee and becomes a vassal to Qin, how is that different from willingly remaining the ox's rump? For a ruler of Your Majesty's virtue, coupled with Han's elite soldiers and generals, to end up with the name of an ox's rump—even I feel ashamed for Your Majesty!'

Su Qin's words roused the King of Han. The King, full of righteous indignation, drew his sword, stood up, and shouted to the heavens, 'Han would rather be an independent small state than a vassal of the great state of Qin. Even if it means death in battle, we will never surrender to Qin!' Thus, Qin's Horizontal Alliance policy, orchestrated by Zhang Yi, was thwarted by Su Qin's efforts.