Jing Ke vs Sang Hongyang

Jing Ke, sent by the crown prince of Yan, attempted to assassinate King Zheng of Qin (later Qin Shi Huang) at his court. He presented a map and a severed head as gifts, then tried to stab the king with a dagger hidden in the map. The attempt failed, and Jing Ke was killed.

Jing Ke was chosen by Crown Prince Dan of Yan to carry out the assassination plot. He was given the heads of two Qin generals and a map of Yan territory to gain access to the Qin court. The mission was a desperate attempt to prevent Qin's conquest of Yan.

After the failed assassination attempt, Jing Ke was killed by Qin guards. His death became a symbol of futile resistance against Qin's unification, and he is remembered as a tragic hero in Chinese history.

Sang Hongyang established government monopolies over the production and sale of salt and iron. These monopolies generated substantial revenue for the Han treasury, enabling Emperor Wu's expansionist policies, but also faced criticism for stifling private enterprise.

Sang Hongyang introduced the 'equalization and standardization' (junshu) system to stabilize prices and transport goods. The government bought surplus goods in regions of abundance and sold them in areas of scarcity, controlling commerce and increasing state revenue.

Sang Hongyang was appointed as Superintendent of Agriculture (Da Sinong) under Emperor Wu of Han. He became the chief financial officer responsible for implementing state monopolies on salt, iron, and liquor to fund military campaigns.

After Emperor Wu's death, Sang Hongyang was accused of conspiring with the regent Huo Guang's rivals. He was executed along with his family, ending his economic reforms temporarily, though many were later reinstated.