During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the title of marquis was not given to whomever the emperor liked, but there was a set of strict rules - of course, if the emperor liked a person, he could also give a knighthood. Liu Che's half-sister Jin Guo was given the title of county prince, apparently not in accordance with national law.
From a legal point of view, from the perspective of the emperor's favor, Li Guang was not enough to be a marquis.
You may not believe me when I say this, but it's true. "But to make the dragon city fly will be in, not to teach Humadu Yin Mountain", Li Guang has made meritorious efforts to defend the territory, defend the border, and is loved by the people. It's true.
However, the national policy of the Han Wudi period was not "people do not offend me and I do not offend", but to expand the territory. You think that Liu Che is just "defending" the attack of the Xiongnu, you are too simple.
In order to adapt to the national policy, Emperor Wu especially emphasized "beheading": how many enemies were killed, they could be promoted to the first rank; how many enemies were killed, they could be knighted. All are strictly regulated.
As mentioned earlier, Li Guang is a defensive general. It may be that he has lived and worked for a long time under the defensive national policy of Emperor Wen Jingdi, and he has developed a fixed defensive mindset. Although he had a great reputation and was quite a deterrent to the Xiongnu, when he was ordered to attack and penetrate deep into the enemy's territory, he did not even do the basic work of reconnaissance of the terrain, so that he "lost his way" several times and got lost.
The state policy changed, and the offensive and defensive momentum was different, but Li Guang did not adjust his command characteristics in time. Lost in his way, he did not reflect on his major negligence as a military general, but complained that "if you lose your way, is it not heavenly", thinking that this is god's unfairness to himself.
Such a general was not suitable for the offensive strategy, so in the active attack on the Xiongnu, he was repeatedly defeated, and even he himself was captured. The "Records of History" records that "Hu rode widely", "Guangxiang died", "Guang temporarily soared to huer horses, because of pushing fallen children, taking their bows, whipping horses south for tens of miles, and regaining the rest of the army", which is very legendary and also very lucky to escape back.
He had been tightly defensive for many years. But in the offensive war, he did not make enough merit, so he was not knighted.
A general who does not adapt to the offensive strategy and cannot implement the concept of leadership will find it difficult to gain the "likes" of Emperor Wu of Han, and it is impossible for him to be knighted because of his favor.