In Chinese history, there were 422 emperors, and the three most widely recognized as the greatest are all called "Emperors of the Ages."

China's history spans five thousand years, with a total of 422 emperors. Among these emperors, opinions on who was a wise ruler, a virtuous one, a foolish one, or a tyrant differed between the common people of the past and those of today.

Out of these hundreds of emperors, only three can truly be called "Emperors of the Ages," with their achievements being immeasurable.

Who are these three "Emperors of the Ages"? What were their accomplishments? As the rulers of the entire nation, were they supported by the people during their reigns? And from our perspective today, how have their achievements impacted our lives?

Undisputed: Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng.

The achievements of the Chinese nation today are inseparable from the great actions of this "First Emperor." Whenever the conversation turns to which emperor's contributions were the greatest, Qin Shi Huang is a figure that cannot be overlooked.

If one had to choose a true "Emperor of the Ages," it would undoubtedly be Qin Shi Huang, as his accomplishments were truly extraordinary.

Had Qin Shi Huang not employed capable individuals and governed with diligence, the Qin state would not have become so powerful and might have missed the opportunity to unify the six warring states.

If the six states had not been unified by Qin Shi Huang, the consequences would have been immense. It could have led to the disintegration of China as we know it today, possibly turning East Asia into a region of fragmented, small states. The thought alone is frightening.

Qin Shi Huang’s greatest achievement was the unification of the six states, creating a true "beginning." Much like Pangu, the mythological figure who created the world, despite never engaging in any battles, Pangu is still regarded as the most powerful deity in Chinese mythology.

This is simply because he achieved the breakthrough from nothing to something. Similarly, Qin Shi Huang's accomplishment was the same—starting with the Qin Dynasty, the concept of a unified empire came into existence.

In addition to achieving unification, Qin Shi Huang implemented various policies across the nation that have benefited future generations immensely.

The most iconic among them is the standardization of writing, vehicles, and measurements: "unified script, standardized axle lengths, and uniform weights and measures." With a shared cultural heritage, people can trace their ancestry and connect with their roots.

As long as the Chinese language is spoken and Chinese characters are written, there remains a strong sense of cultural identity. This is the true significance of unification.

A man from Hebei brings 300 jin of apples to Guangdong. Even though he may not understand the local Cantonese, and the Cantonese people may not understand his dialect, there’s no need to worry about communication as long as he has a pen and paper—everyone can understand written Chinese characters.

He also doesn’t need to worry about his 300 jin of apples being measured as 260 or 270 jin, because the scales across all regions are the same.

Aside from everyday matters, the greatest project of Qin Shi Huang's life was the construction of the Great Wall. Although many lives were lost during its construction, the Great Wall has indeed protected us for thousands of years.

Without the barrier of the Great Wall, northern nomadic tribes would have been able to freely cross our vast northern borders, invading and disrupting China's northern territories, causing immense harm.

Once the Great Wall was completed, the Xiongnu, Turks, Khitans, Jurchens, and Mongols had to confront the wall if they wished to invade southward. As long as the Great Wall stands, northern forces cannot freely move south.

The Han and Tang dynasties serve as prime examples of this. However, during the Later Jin period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, Shi Jingtang surrendered the sixteen prefectures of Yan and Yun in the north, effectively dismantling the Great Wall and leading to decades of turmoil in the Central Plains.

It wasn't until the Ming Dynasty, when Zhu Yuanzhang reclaimed the sixteen prefectures of Yan and Yun, that the northern region stabilized, allowing Zhu Di to confidently establish the capital in Beijing.

Today, the Great Wall may not play a significant role in warfare, but it has taken on a symbolic significance as a representation of the Chinese nation and a cultural icon, continuing to serve its purpose in uniting people and embodying heritage.

Qin Shi Huang's achievements are extensive and undeniable, yet he was not without flaws.

For instance, many common people perished during the construction of the Great Wall, with each brick representing a craftsman's name. Consequently, he was labeled a tyrant by the people of his time, and the Qin Dynasty became known as "Cruel Qin."

Moreover, practices like "burning books and burying scholars" and "dismemberment" clearly show that he held little regard for life and often employed brutal punishments. This was a reflection of the era, as such methods were prevalent among emperors of that time.

Despite his shortcomings, these flaws do not overshadow his merits, and Qin Shi Huang remains an undisputed "Emperor of the Ages."

Military Aggression: Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che.

The Qin Dynasty, founded by Qin Shi Huang, could have lasted for generations. However, his son, Qin Er Shi, lacked his father's capabilities and was deceived by Zhao Gao, leading to the dynasty's quick downfall.

After Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, he passed away seven years later, leaving behind Empress Lü Zhi, who nearly destroyed the Han Dynasty and planted the seeds of the "power of the maternal relatives" as a time bomb for the future.

Before this time bomb exploded, the Western Han experienced a period of prosperity known as the "Rule of Wen and Jing," which led to rapid growth in national strength, a flourishing economy, and the well-being of the people.

However, when national power reached its peak and further development became impossible, there was a need to find ways to expend this "internal strength." The emperor responsible for this phase was Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che.

Before Emperor Wu, the Wen and Jing emperors managed domestic affairs well but paid little attention to external threats.

The Xiongnu took advantage of the turmoil during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods to occupy the western regions, now known as Xinjiang.

While Qin Shi Huang built the Great Wall, it only focused on the northern frontier, leaving the west vulnerable.

As a result, the Xiongnu repeatedly invaded the borders of the Han, and the dynasty could only endure the assaults without retaliating.

Before ascending the throne, Liu Che was already dissatisfied with this situation, and upon his rise to power, his first task was to devise strategies to counterattack the Xiongnu.

He aimed not only to defend against them but also to retaliate effectively, ensuring they would be deterred from future invasions.

War inevitably results in loss of life, but the benefits it brings should not be underestimated. During the campaign against the Xiongnu in the western regions, Zhang Qian unexpectedly opened up the road for the Han to the West.

After Huo Qubing captured the Hexi Corridor, Zhang Qian led a delegation to establish the "Silk Road," enhancing the ties between the Han and the western regions, with large territories coming under the Han Dynasty's control.

The territories gained through war under Emperor Wu were more extensive than those acquired by all previous emperors combined. However, these numerous conflicts took a toll on the common people.

In his later years, during a tour, Liu Che encountered veterans who had lost their families and homes due to the wars. This deeply impacted him, leading him to recognize his mistakes. Upon returning to the palace, he wrote a memorial of self-criticism.

Unlike later memorials of self-criticism, Liu Che’s document was genuinely meant to acknowledge his wrongdoings. Upon seeing the devastated villages, he immediately realized the harm caused by his years of military aggression.

Thus, alongside issuing the memorial, he instructed his ministers to announce policies aimed at allowing the people to recuperate and thrive, resolving to refrain from further military campaigns.

As the saying goes, "Qin Huang and Han Wu," Emperor Wu's strength lay in his martial prowess. Had he stubbornly refused to change and focused solely on warfare without regard for the people's well-being, he would not have earned the title of Emperor of the Ages.

However, Emperor Wu became an Emperor of the Ages precisely because he recognized his mistakes and was able to correct them in a timely manner.

Initially, during the "Witchcraft Incident," he forced his best son, Liu Ju, to his death, only to later realize that he had wrongfully accused the crown prince. He immediately punished those who slandered the crown prince and cleared his name.

Emperor Wu also constructed the Sizi Palace and the Guicome Wang Si Platform, where he often spent long periods in his later years.

Recognizing that his frequent military campaigns were causing distress among the people, he promptly issued a memorial of self-criticism and enacted measures to allow the populace to recuperate.

In his later years, he became obsessed with the pursuit of immortality, seeking out immortals and even sending people to sea in search of the mythical Penglai Island, though they returned empty-handed.

Soon, he realized that there were no such deities or spirits, so he dismissed the alchemists and stopped his pursuit of immortality, choosing instead to enjoy his later years peacefully.

Despite having waged many wars and acquired vast territories, leaving the people in disarray, Emperor Wu maintained a good reputation among the populace. His ability to recognize and correct his mistakes contributed to his legacy, earning him a place alongside Qin Shi Huang in history.

Bearing the Blame: Ming Taizu, Zhu Yuanzhang.

Since Shi Jingtang of the Later Jin lost the sixteen prefectures of Yan and Yun, the Song Dynasty established by Zhao Kuangyin became increasingly ineffectual, achieving little more than recognition for technological advancements during the Northern and Southern Song periods.

However, when faced with external invasions, the Song Dynasty had no effective response. Was it a lack of capable generals? No. Was it a shortage of troops? No. What they truly lacked was an emperor willing to fight.

The Southern Song Dynasty lingered for many years before ultimately being extinguished by the Yuan Dynasty.

However, the Yuan Dynasty did not last long either. Less than a century after the fall of the Southern Song, Zhu Yuanzhang overthrew the Yuan, driving the Mongols back to their homeland and reclaiming the lost sixteen prefectures of Yan and Yun, restoring a unified state.

The territories held by the Song Dynasty hardly qualified as a truly unified empire.

Zhu Yuanzhang rose from a street beggar to become the emperor who unified the realm, bringing an end to centuries of chaos in the Central Plains.

Even after becoming emperor, he could still recall his childhood as a farmer and a beggar. During his reign, he treated farmers exceptionally well, making this perhaps the best era for peasants in history.

To ensure that the Ming Dynasty would remain strong, Zhu Yuanzhang diligently trained his son, Crown Prince Zhu Biao, to be a benevolent and hard-working leader. Unfortunately, Zhu Biao passed away before his father.

To secure a stable succession for his descendants, Zhu Yuanzhang ruthlessly eliminated many of the court's loyal ministers. Although this approach was inhumane, it was the most effective means to consolidate his power, and he was willing to bear the blame for it.

Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, and Ming Taizu, Zhu Yuanzhang—these three emperors are highly regarded for their remarkable achievements. They each played significant roles in unification, territorial expansion, and the reclamation of lost lands. Each of them is a true hero and deserves the title of "Emperor of the Ages."