Preface:
History is always full of surprises, and even in the period of seemingly civilized elegance, characters who are alien to it will emerge. The Northern Song Dynasty was such an era, it advocated cultural rule, but there were also some outliers - martial arts generals. They seem to be aliens of this era and are out of step with the mainstream, but their legendary stories have also made this colorful history.
Prodigy He Guan: A martial arts dream in his youth
In 1082, a boy named He Guan was born into a family of military attachés in Kaifeng. It is said that He Guan's father was a local military attaché who was very strict in educating boys. He Guan has shown extraordinary diligence and studious since he was a child, he loves to practice martial arts, and once practiced bows and arrows behind closed doors for a month.
He Guan's martial arts talent can be described as amazing, and he can achieve a hundred steps through Yang, a skill that was considered a superb realm at that time. Once, He Guan mistakenly took a fruit on the tree for prey, hurriedly pulled his bow and released an arrow, and the arrow "whistled" straight through the fruit and nailed it to the trunk. This scene stunned the father, and then laughed: "Good boy, your archery skills will one day make the four sides look up!"
Since then, the young He Guan has vowed to become a general to defend his home and country, making the enemy fearful. He is diligent in honing his skills and has never been discouraged even when he encounters a bottleneck. An old man in the village often saw He Shuan practicing arrows alone in the woods, and he didn't mind the slightest when he was wrapped in a single coat in winter. "This kid is destined to be extraordinary." The old man sighed.
He Guan's love for bows and arrows comes from his childhood yearning for martial arts warriors, and he always thinks that when he grows up, he will be like a hero of the rivers and lakes, swords, fight off the invading enemy, and defend his hometown with martial arts. Whenever he came home from school, he would tirelessly ask his father for tips and secrets on archery. Over time, He Guan's skills far surpassed those of other children in the village, and he could easily shoot down fruits a hundred paces away.
"If you want to be a real master, you can't just practice shooting targets." My father said, "You need to cultivate the ability to perceive your surroundings in a complex and changeable environment, which is the true meaning of archery." So, He Guan began to chase birds in the woods and shoot, simulating the actual combat environment. He learned to hit targets in the dark by judging the enemy's position only by ear power. This laid a solid foundation for his future battlefield survival.
Meritorious achievements: He Guan's legendary achievements
After years of hard training, He Guan's arrow technique has been perfected. He participated in the martial arts exam in Kaifeng, and the examiner couldn't help but be impressed when he saw that his arrows were empty, and the arrows he shot through were deeply inserted into the bullseye. He Guan easily passed the exam with his extraordinary martial arts and gained the reputation of "auspicious charm". This meant that he had officially joined the ranks of martial arts masters, which made He Guan happy.
After serving as the inspector of the Volcano Army, He Guan's first battle of fame began. At that time, the Liao army repeatedly crossed the border to capture Ganquan at Jiahuquan, and He Guan led a small number of Song troops to intercept it, and shot all the enemy troops back on a single horse, which shocked the Liao state. Regarding this victory, many versions of the Song soldiers later circulated, all praising He Guan's divine bravery.
"The general was condescending, the clouds were light and the wind was light, and I saw the arrow strings loosened, and the arrows suddenly rained in front of the enemy army, and countless people who fell to the ground screamed miserably." A recruit with adoring looks on his face described the day to his colleagues. The super strength He Guan showed in this battle really shocked both the enemy and us. The general of the Liao State personally led a heavy army to try, and He Guan once again played the momentum of Mount Tai, and he shot several arrows in a row, all of which were shot on the cliff in the distance, calming everyone down, and the Liao army returned in vain.
These two victories made the still young He Guan famous. The soldiers of the Song Army respected him very much, and as long as He was there, they felt safe from the bottom of their hearts. He Guan may not be fully mature, but his tenacious backbone has deeply infected everyone. They began to believe that as long as they followed He Guan, they would be able to defeat the enemy and restore their homeland.
"How many times, we have seen the dawn of victory." A veteran of the Song Army said during a meal, "This all depends on the leadership of the general, so that we can see hope in a desperate situation." "The appearance of He Guan has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm to this weak division. In the face of a strong enemy in the north, morale has reached an unprecedented high at this moment.
Broken Ambitions: The Tragedy of the Bunji Dynasty
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, He Guan is already a middle-aged veteran. In the year of Hao Jing, the golden soldiers pressed the realm, and the war broke out again. In the face of the surging enemy army, He Guan advised the imperial court to stay strong and hold on, and not to throw all its elite into the north. However, at this time, the government of the dynasty was corrupt, and the prime minister did not adopt it.
He Guan was ordered to garrison Junzhou, but found that he only had a few thousand soldiers under him, which was in sharp contrast to the enemy's momentum. At this time, Liang Fangping, a famous general in charge of the garrison of the northern front, suddenly deserted and fled south, making the situation worse. The situation was critical, and He Guan had to return to the capital and was ordered to defend the Western Wall.
Compared with the ambition of his youth, He Guan's heart at this moment is full of powerlessness. He understood that he was born in a dynasty that suppressed martial arts, and the role of military generals was very limited, and he would even be targeted by all sides. The traitors in the DPRK are in charge, and the main force of the enemy is the military generals of Wen Chen, and it is simply difficult to play a role.
At this moment, He Guan couldn't help but think that maybe he was out of place from the beginning. The dream of achieving a career is destined to be a luxury in this era where culture is still the ruler. But as a soldier, when the country is in danger, he has no choice but to bravely take the lead and fight the enemy.
The Jin army soon invaded the city and was embattled on all sides. In this battle, He Guan became a hero, he was full of blood and breathless on the burning ruins, and he was only sixty-two years old. His subordinates were filled with grief and indignation, and several people worked together to highlight the encirclement, carrying He Guan's body on their backs and could not bear to abandon it. "The general's corpse is returned home, Fang is the goal of ten thousand people!" They muttered in a firm tone. Although he won the war, He Guan's spirit was forever engraved in the hearts of the people.
Successful retirement: The rise and fall of a legendary warrior
Throughout He Guan's life, he has sacrificed his life for the country many times and is a good person who is loyal. However, at an opportune time, his martial arts did not play a real role in forging peace for this weak dynasty. The depression is really suffocating.
He Guan and the Northern Song Dynasty suffered the same tragedy - the weakness of the armed forces led to the destruction of the country. If he was born in a dynasty of Chongwu, He Guan would definitely be able to achieve a great cause. But he was destined to be an outsider of this era, sailing against the tide, and eventually ending his life in despair.
As an outstanding martial general, He Guan could have become a hero passed down through the ages. However, he is destined to be a tragic figure in history. In the Northern Song Dynasty, which was under house arrest, military generals were like wildflowers in the corner, silently blooming and withering.
We can't predict what era we are in, but we still have to stick to our hearts, otherwise our lives will be empty and happy, and our lives will be short. He Guan's life has experienced ups and downs, but he has also left behind the spirit of dedication and dedication. This spirit still inspires every heart who gives their lives for righteousness.
Epilogue:
He Guan's life can be said to be legendary and tortuous, although he reached the pinnacle of martial arts, because he was born in a dynasty that revered the culture and suppressed martial arts, his ambitions were never fully realized. However, his spirit of loyalty and enthusiasm has been integrated into the blood of the Chinese people and has become one of the important factors for the Chinese nation's unceasing self-improvement.
Every era needs its outliers in order to break the rigidity and open up new ones. He Guan and the martial spirit he represents inspire everyone who still burns the spark of ideals in their hearts. Maybe against the tide, but as long as you don't forget your heart, one day, the ideal will become a reality. This is also the spiritual sustenance we should draw from the legendary life of He Guan.