In the early Warring States period, with seven major states vying for supremacy and frequent wars, the state of Wei, where Wu Qi was from, was relatively weak and became a target for stronger states. Born into a wealthy family and possessing great ambitions, Wu Qi, faced with his fragmented and war-torn homeland, spared no expense in his efforts to achieve something significant and contribute to the unification of his country. However, he failed to attain fame or fortune and exhausted his family's wealth, leading to ridicule and mockery from his hometown. In frustration, he left Wei for Lu to pursue studies.
In Lu, Wu Qi studied under Zeng Shen, a famous disciple of Confucius, studying day and night to learn the skills of governance. When his mother passed away, Wu Qi mourned loudly but quickly returned to his studies as usual. Seeing that Wu Qi did not return home for his mother's funeral, Zeng Shen considered him ungrateful and severed their teacher-student relationship. Recognizing the need for change, Wu Qi decisively abandoned Confucianism and turned to military strategy. After three years of study, he was recommended by Prime Minister Gong Yiti and appointed as a minister by Duke Mu of Lu.
In 410 BC, the powerful state of Qi attacked Lu. Duke Mu appointed Wu Qi as general, leading an army of twenty thousand to defend Lu against Qi. Given the disparity in strength between Qi and Lu, the Lu army was no match for Qi's forces. However, Wu Qi skillfully used strategies to avoid direct confrontation. When General Zhang Chou of Qi pretended to seek peace and came to spy on the Lu camp, Wu Qi hid his elite troops and left only the old, weak, and disabled to guard the camp. He entertained Zhang Chou lavishly, pretending to be hesitant about fighting. Deceived, the Qi army underestimated the Lu forces and launched an attack rashly. Seizing the opportunity, Wu Qi secretly redeployed his troops and led a surprise counterattack from three sides, causing the Qi army to collapse and retreat in defeat. This battle showcased Wu Qi's exceptional military prowess but also led to slander from Qi and criticism from ministers in Lu. Believing false rumors, Duke Mu wanted to punish Wu Qi, who then left Lu for the state of Wei, known for welcoming talents, hoping to make a new start.
At this time, Wei was undergoing reforms in politics, economy, and military. The ruler, Duke Wen of Wei, eagerly sought talented individuals and appointed Wu Qi as a general. Wu Qi successfully conquered five cities and occupied all of the Western River region (east of today’s Dali County in Shaanxi Province). He also assisted Yue Yang in eliminating the state of Zhongshan and joined forces with Han and Zhao to defeat Qi. Over the next 27 years in Wei, Wu Qi fought 76 battles against various feudal lords, winning 64 times, expanding territory in all directions and covering thousands of miles. Under his leadership, Wei became the strongest among the seven major states. Wu Qi accumulated extensive experience during these wars and wrote "The Art of War by Wu Qi," consisting of 48 chapters, leaving behind invaluable military theoretical knowledge.
Wu Qi was not only an outstanding military strategist but also a visionary and reform-minded politician. During his tenure as the governor of Xihexian in Wei, he implemented significant reforms in politics, economics, and military, achieving remarkable results and earning the trust of Duke Wu of Wei. Later, due to slander, he fled to Chu, where he served as Lingyi and assisted King Dao of Chu in implementing reforms. These reforms included enforcing laws strictly, dismissing incompetent officials, streamlining institutions, abolishing privileges of the nobility, cutting expenses, and strengthening military construction, which rapidly strengthened Chu. As a result, Chu subdued the Baiyue tribes in the south, annexed Chen and Cai in the north, dominated over Han, Zhao, and Wei, and attacked Qin in the west, gaining dominance and prestige across the land.
Wu Qi's reforms directly challenged the slave-owning aristocracy, angering the powerful nobles. After King Dao of Chu died, Wu Qi was killed by the old aristocrats. Nevertheless, his military treatise "The Art of War by Wu Qi" and his political reform proposals continue to have a positive influence even today.