Why didn't Guo Yan, the only relative of the Zhou Dynasty, have any chance?

The self-proclaimed Yan State was a public land, which was later destroyed by Qin State (about 65438 BC+0044 BC-222 BC). ) has a history of more than 800 years in China. In the long years of more than 800 years, Yan did not have much sense of existence:

Economically, Yan has a vast territory and is inferior to other six countries in agriculture, handicrafts, commerce and trade. Politically and militarily, Yan people, famous for their martial arts, were not famous in the Central Plains hegemony war.

The main reason should be geographical factors.

1, because Yan was located in the northernmost part of the Zhou Dynasty and had a cold climate, the conditions for developing agriculture were not as good as those of other vassal countries, and the grain output was not as good as those of other vassal countries.

Low grain production leads to a small population and insufficient soldiers. You know, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the war consumed many people. Insufficient population resources can't support frequent wars, and Yan has a fatal shortcoming in population.

Of the seven heroes in the Warring States period, only Yan and Qin were under-populated. When Shang Yang's political reform, Qin formulated? Lai Min? Policy. Shang Yang released Qin to the eastern vassal states by taking advantage of its vast territory and sparse population. Lai Min? Order: Anyone who comes to settle in the State of Qin will be given land and houses free of charge, and will be given many conveniences in taxation and corvee. It attracted a large number of Sanjin people to immigrate to Qin, which laid a strong foundation for Qin.

There are a large number of wasteland suitable for reclamation in the central area of Qin State, which can be developed into Tian Liang and finally solve the population problem. Without such conditions, Yan's population problem will never be solved. Therefore, Yan's army couldn't get up, and its strength was not enough. It is obviously impossible to exclude aliens in the north and strive for hegemony in the south at the same time.

2. Nomads near the north. The aliens such as Shanrong, Loufan, Donghu and Xiongnu are not fuel-efficient lamps. They are located in a cold place and in the transitional stage from primitive society to slave society. The attraction of Yan's civilization and rich resources to these backward nomadic people can be imagined. These aliens started a war every chance they got, and went all out to the south to snatch all kinds of resources. Therefore, Yan's foreign wars are quite frequent.

Different from the melee between the vassal States in the Central Plains, the war between Yan State and other nationalities is more cruel and consumes more national strength.

Warlords fight for hegemony, and everyone is Chinese. Winners often accept the surrender of the defeated, so that they can quickly expand their own strength. When the victors seize the land and population of the other side, they can quickly enrich their blood and quickly become a part of themselves. Therefore, the winner will get stronger and stronger.

Yan is different from other nationalities in the war, only losing but not earning. If you lose, your property will often become the trophy of the other side, and people will only die or be slaves. If you win, you will get nothing. Foreigners won't get any trophies except horses, cattle and sheep.

3. Siphon effect of Zhao and Qi on talents.

We all know now that people want to live a better life and will choose places with better economic development for employment. Economically developed areas are more attractive to talents.

Zhao and Qi are more developed in agriculture and commerce than Yan. Handan and Linzi are both metropolises with high cultural and living standards. Qi also founded Jixia Xuegong, which has a strong academic atmosphere. Yan is adjacent to Zhao and Qi, and domestic talents often choose to develop in Zhao and Qi.

During Yan's administration, he attached importance to talents and vigorously introduced talents. Xin Xi, Zou Yan and others all came to Yan at this time. With the help of these talents, Yan really rose. Qin Kai led the army to defeat the conference semifinals and expand territory. Le Yi led the army south, almost destroying Qi, and the king of Qi fled abroad. After Tian Dan, a famous soldier of Qi State, died in battle, Qi State was able to recover.

But after his death, he went to Zhao. Most others also left Yan State to find another way out. Without the guidance of talents, Yan soon returned to the old road of mediocrity.

Finally, sum up a sentence. Compared with the vassal States, Yan State has less food, fewer people and less money, and its comprehensive combat power is at a disadvantage, so it cannot participate in the hegemony of the Central Plains.