How was Emperor Qin able to create the impossible?

The "impossible" would be the unification of China, which
had been disunited for some time. China had gone through a period of intense turmoil,
known as the "Period of the Warring States." This time frame had been so devastating
that many thinkers of the time began to ponder the nature of society itself. A number of
important Chinese philosophies developed from this time of thought, including Legalism,
Daoism, and most importantly, Confucianism.

Qin Shihuangdi
proclaimed himself the first true Emperor of China in 221 B.C.E. He and earlier Qin
rulers were able to consolidate rule by taxing agricultural produce, and using the taxes
to equip a massive army which fought with iron weapons. Their opponents weapons were no
match for iron. Qin was able to rule from a central location without reliance on the
nobility, whom he ignored. He dismantled military forces who might have threatened him
and tore down their fortresses. He also standardized weights, measures, and currency and
most importantly the written Chinese language.

Qin
predicted that his regime would last a thousand years. In fact, it ended with his death
in only fourteen years. He was heavy handed in dealing with dissent, and upon his death,
rebellions broke out which overwhelmed his government. He did, however, lay the
groundwork for the Han dynasty which followed and lasted until 220
C.E.

Qin did leave a magnificant tomb for prosperity which
can still be viewed. It was constructed by over 700,000 workers, many of whom were
executed and buried with him. Among the items in the tomb was a complete army of 15,000
life sized soldiers constructed of terra cotta. To prevent robbers from raiding his
tomb, a series of traps including spring loaded cross bows were placed in the tomb to
keep it secure.