Superior Location? Yes and No!
Why was Qin so successful in its military campaigns compared to the other six large states of the period? Clearly its strategic location in the Wei River basin surrounded by mountains provided a secure base for its expansions, but other states had geographical advantages as well or had created similar advantages through walled defenses.

The Mongolian Xiongnu nomads proved that a mountain wall itself is insufficient for defense when they invaded the Qin capital of Xianyang in 315 BC by advancing through the Ordos Desert and through the Jing River valley. A hard learned lesson that Qin did not forget and which prompted Qin's expansion and connection of The Great Wall around 221-210 BC.

Superior Armament? Not Really!
Qin's armies were not much better equipped than its neighbors. The Qin had not invented any particular new weaponry; the crossbow, the cavalry, individual armor and improved iron in halberds and swords were all known and used by the opposing armies. This is supported by archaeological finds which record no major differences proving otherwise.

Superior Discipline? Definitely!
What was different from the other states was the strict social discipline imposed by the (cynical? realistic?) Legalists enabling Qin to mobilize the manpower needed for its armies. Also the level and intensity of training in warfare of its armies far outstripped that of the other states. The reputation for ruthlessness and strength instilled fear of Qin's armies in its opposing troops before battles even began.

Superior Economy? To a Large Extent!
Another critical difference was Qin's strong economy with its emphasis on agriculture at the expense of trade and art. Even with the best of training and leadership, a strong and motivated army needs food, weaponry and peace at home. Shang Yang's reforms had made all of this possible far better than any other major state had been capable of. Qin's improvements in farming by building canals and irrigation networks and using fertilizer had been more successful than in other states because of the big rewards dished out to farmers  by the state as part of Shang Yang's "Farming and Fighting" reform policy.

Superior Advisers? Certainly!
The Qin rulers welcomed able advisers from competing states and rewarded them well for their contributions. Some of the other states outright contemplated execution of their own talented ministers so that they could not become renegades to the Qin. Three of the most renowned and influential "foreign" advisers are Shang Yang (from Wei), Han Fei (from Han) and Li Si (from Chu).

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