This is a great epic series starring Hou Yong, Sun Xinzhi and Gao Yuan Yuan.
Highly recommend this to people who loves great epics.
Initially, I thought this is based on Qin Shi Huang, but I was wrong. This is the first of a six parter novel'series which traces from how a weak Qin became powerful under the leadership and reformations made by Qin Xiaogong.
The story starts off with Qin Xiaogong taking over Qin from his father Qin Xiangong. After 20 years of war with Chu to reclaim lost land, Qin was left in a deeply impoverished state. Famine was rampant, treasury was empty and Qin was facing a fate of being destroyed by the other six states. Even so, the blood of Qin people raged and thry dreamt about avenging their humiliation and reclaiming their homeland every moment. Commoners form militia to fight for their country. One thing stood in their way: poverty. They had no money to make weapons and armour, less so for food.
Almost by fate, Qin Xiaogong was able to meet and enlist the help of a genius statesman Shang Yang aka Wei Yang. Wei Yang is a learned man of Tao, Law and had many talents of great distinction. Through his reformation, Qin was able to become a powerful country that win battle after battle fighting the other six states in 20 years' time. Some of his reformations include drawing up a legal system with distinct punishments, promoting farming, improving foreign trade, abolishing tribal feuds and most importantly, building a military of the most powerful and organized calibre.
This may seem common in present time, but it was done during a time when a country was facing mass destruction, a country whom others thought had no future or hope. And this was done in a matter of 20 years.
Hou Yong gave an impressive presence as Qin Xiaogong, a leader with great integrity, understanding and benevolence who was able to attract talent to his country.