Why can't Li Guang, the flying general, be named Hou?

Li Guang, a famous Western Han Dynasty soldier, was born in Ji Cheng, Shaanxi Province (now Jingning South, Gansu Province). In the history of China, he is undoubtedly a tragic figure. Since the 14th year of Emperor Wendi (before 166), Li Guang joined the army and fought against the Huns because of the massive invasion of the border by the Huns, and he committed suicide in front of the army in the 4th year of Yuan Shou (before 1 19). He fought with Xiongnu for more than 70 years in his life, and served as a 2,000-stone official for more than 40 years, but he didn't get a seal until his death, leaving a "Li Guang hard to seal" for future generations. Sima Qian expressed infinite emotion and sympathy for Li Guang's experience in Biography of General Li in Historical Records, which made later generations cry "Li Guang refused to seal the marquis and wept". Tai Shigong himself was jailed because Li Guang's grandson Li Ling surrendered to the Huns and defended Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. However, he didn't reveal the deep-seated reason why Li Guang couldn't be blocked. Instead, he let the positive image of Li Guang's "Flying General" be passed down from generation to generation, which made later generations regret for more than 2,000 years. However, Wang Wei's "old general", "Wei Qing is invincible and Li Guang has no strange fate", is impulsive and irrelevant, and can't convincingly explain why Li Guang didn't seal Hou.

Because "Li Guang is hard to seal", we should think about history coldly.

Li Guang's youth coincided with the Wenjing period. At that time, the national strength was not enough to fight a big war with the Huns, and there was no place for Li Guang heroes.

At that time, the military policy was also based on defense. Even Wei Qing and Huo Qubing couldn't do anything at that time, but only passive defense. Wendi once lamented: "Sorry, my son is not in time!" If your son becomes Emperor Gao, why are there feet everywhere? "In that context, even the most talented generals can hardly make a difference. But even in this era, Li Guang has a chance to be rewarded for his bravery and fighting skill. During the Seven Kingdoms and Rebellion, Li, a captain, followed Zhou Yafu, a captain, in fighting against the rebels, and made great contributions to Changyi at the gates because he captured the handsome flag of the rebels.

Li Guang is brave and good at fighting, and has always played hardball, which often leads to casualties or fiasco.

After the rebellion of kings was put down, Li Guang was appointed as the Governor of Shanggu, and the Xiongnu was at war with Israel. Gong Sunkun, a classical country, wrote an evil letter: "Li Guang is brilliant, boastful of traveling westward, and afraid of death and fighting the enemy." So he was appointed governor of Shang Jun. Later, Li Guang worked as a satrap in Longxi, Beidi, Yanmen, Dai Jun and Yun Yun, and was famous for his ability to fight tough battles. Li Guang's bravery and good fighting skills are both advantages and disadvantages. Whenever he meets the enemy, he becomes "bold" with "high skills" and often attacks the superior forces of the enemy with inferior forces. Because of his high martial arts, the enemy can lead his horse back to camp even if he is captured. Although the personal performance is excellent, it is difficult to gather enemies with fewer and more casualties. After a battle, the comparison of enemy casualties is often not worth the loss, or the gains and losses are equal, so it is naturally difficult to make meritorious deeds.

In the battle of Mayi in the second year of Yuanguang (BC 133), Han used Mayi City (now Shuoxian County, Shanxi Province) to lure Huns into the fortress. Li Guang served as the general of Xiaoqi. Under the control of general Han Anguo, he sent an army to ambush in a nearby valley. This business is not secret. Khan found this situation and led the troops away. Three hundred thousand han army failed, general Li Guang natural failure.

In the sixth year of Yuanguang, Li Guang rode out of the Wild Goose Gate and was surrounded by the multiplied Xiongnu army. Being outnumbered, Li Guang was eventually injured and captured. Xiongnu Khan admired Li Guang's reputation for a long time and ordered his men: "If you get Li Guang, you will be born." Tarquin put Li Guang, who was injured and ill at that time, between two horses and let him lie in a net bag made of rope. After walking more than ten miles, Li Guang pretended to be dead. He narrowed his eyes and saw a Hun soldier riding a good horse beside him. Li Guang suddenly jumped on the horse of Xiongnu boy, pushed the boy off the horse, took off his bow and arrow, and rode south with a whip. Hundreds of people in tarquin followed. Li Guangbian ran and shot at the pursuer, and finally escaped, collected the rest and returned to Beijing. Li Guang was handed over to the judge by the Han court, and the judge sentenced Li Guang troops to heavy casualties. Be captured alive by Huns, beheaded, and then atone with money and become a civilian. On the one hand, because Li Guang was tired of fame and was surrounded by strong enemies, on the other hand, because Li Guang's style was always tough and his tactics were inflexible, which led to a fiasco.

Li Guang was not open-minded, which may be one of the important reasons why he was not appreciated by the emperor.

When Li Guang is free, he often takes Yingying's grandson Guan Ying to go hunting in Nanshan, Lantian. One night I rode out with a follower and drank with others in the country. Passing Baling Pavilion on the way back, the commander of Baling Pavilion was drunk and reprimanded Li Guang for not letting him pass. Li Guang's partner said, "This is the former general Li." Ting Wei said, "Even the current general can't spend the night, let alone the former general!" So they detained Li Guang and others and stayed under Baling Pavilion. Soon, the Huns invaded western Liaoning and defeated Han Anguo's army. So the emperor recalled Li Guang and appointed him the right Beiping magistrate. Li Guang immediately requested Emperor Wudi to send Baling Tingwei to go with him. In the army, Li Guang killed Tingwei, and then wrote to the emperor to apologize. It is not difficult for us to see that this Baling commandant died a little unjustly. Whether he is drunk or not, what he has done is beyond reproach. Since no general can pass at night now, what privilege does General Li have to break this rule? Just because I followed the rules, I swept the face of former general Li. When the current general Li became the current general Li and mastered the power of life and death, Pakistan had to strangle him. How can light be so narrow-minded? It's puzzling.

The ultimate reason why Li Guang can't be crowned Hou is that young talents come from behind, and Wei Qing and Huo Qubing have unparalleled brilliant exploits.

In the sixth year of Yuanshuo (BC 123), Li Guang became a post-general again, and went out from Wei Qing Army to make a crusade against Xiongnu. Many generals were awarded titles for their exploits, because they cut off the enemy's heads according to the prescribed number, but Li Guangjun failed.

In the second year of Yuanshou (BC 12 1), Li Guang, as a doctor, led 4,000 cavalry from right Beiping and went to Xiongnu with the troops of Bo Wang Hou Zhang Qian. Li Guang's troops marched hundreds of miles, and were suddenly surrounded by forty thousand cavalry led by Xiongnu Zuo. The soldiers in Li Guang were very afraid, so Li Guang sent his son Li Ganxian to explore the enemy. Li Gan led dozens of cavalry, rushed into the enemy lines, broke into the Xiongnu encirclement, copied out the enemy's wings and returned. After returning, he reported to Li Guang: "Xiongnu soldiers are easy to deal with." Li Guang's sergeant listened to this before settling down. Li Guang lined up in a circle, facing the enemies around. Xiongnu stormed the Han army, and the arrows rained down. More than half of the Han soldiers were killed and wounded, and the arrows were almost shot out. Li Guang ordered the soldiers to draw their bows and not to fire. He shot many Xiongnu generals with a strong crossbow "rhubarb", and the Xiongnu soldiers were greatly frightened and gradually dispersed. The next day, they fought with enemy soldiers, and only when reinforcements from Zhang Qian arrived did they solve the siege of Xiongnu. Li Guang's army was almost wiped out in World War I, and Li Guang's merits and demerits were offset, and he was not rewarded.

In the fourth year of Yuanshou (before 1 19), General Wei Qing and General Huo Qubing went deep into Mobei to fight against Xiongnu. Li Guang repeatedly asked to go out with the army, but Emperor Wu thought he was too old to use it. It was not until Yuan Shou was six years old that he was appointed as a former general to fight Wei Qing. After leaving the fortress, Wei Qing learned that Khan was stationed, so he decided to attack Khan with his elite troops. And make Li Guang, right general zhao from east road attack. The east road is far away, and the water grass is scarce, which is not conducive to marching. Li Guang asked to be a pioneer, saying, "My minister was a former general, and now the general wants to move my minister out of the host. My minister is fighting against the Huns. Now it's all right, I'll die first. " But Wei Qing was secretly instructed by Emperor Wu, and Li Guang was too old and unlucky to confront Khan. At that time, Wei Qing's good friend, Gongsun Aoxin, lost the Marquis, and served as a general to go out with the general. Wei Qing wanted to give him a chance to make contributions, so he drove Li Guang away and let Gongsun Aoxin play Khan with himself. Li Guang knew the story at that time and still resolutely refused to transfer it. Wei Qing refused to accept his request, ordered Chang Shi to write down a document and told Li Guang to go to his unit and do as the document said. Li Guang left without saying goodbye and went back to camp in great anger. He led the troops to meet the right general and set out from the east road. On the way, the troops lost their way without a guide and fell behind the general, delaying the agreed military deadline. Li Guang said to his men after returning to the division, "Guang has fought against the Huns for more than 70 times, and it is fortunate to succeed the general. The general turned to Guang Department and went back a long way, but he lost his way. It's just one day! Moreover, he is over sixty years old and can't get his sword and pen back. " To say it is to kill yourself. Li Guang's men and the whole army cried. When people heard about it, whether they knew him or not, whether they were old or young, they all shed tears.

It can be seen that the reason why Li Guang can't be named Hou is because he was unlucky and useless in his early years. Being overtaken by Wei Qing, Huo Qubing and other young talents with consorts background after middle age also has its own weaknesses: lack of political mind, poor strategic command ability, narrow-minded and often conceited and reckless. Therefore, the analysis and evaluation of him should be less morally cheap sympathy and more historically cold thinking.