Preface
In Chinese history, there are three famous generals who have achieved great achievements, and their bravery and talent are enough to challenge the emperor's position. However, despite their strength, the final outcome is very different.
In the smoke and smoke of war, who are the real heroes? Are those generals who are invincible with peerless martial arts, or those strategists who strategize and win decisive victories? Or those warriors who regard death as their home and do not care about fame and fortune?
Today, let us walk into those war years that shook the world and explore the truths that have been sealed in the dust.
The merit is high and the lord is shaken, who can avoid it?
During the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, a young man from humble background quickly became the core general of the Qin State by virtue of his extraordinary wisdom and courage. He is the famous military strategist Bai Qi.
Bai showed his strength at the beginning, and led the army to conquer the important town of South Korea in the Battle of Xincheng, which made a good start to his military career. Since then, he has repeatedly performed miraculous feats in a series of key battles such as Changping, Yu Yique, and Yan Ying, and has made great contributions to the expansion of Qin's territory.
Peerless strategy, wisdom and bravery
The Battle of Changping can be described as the pinnacle of Bai Qi's military career. In the face of the attack of more than 400,000 troops of Zhao State, Bai Qi used the exquisite tactic of "encirclement and reinforcement" to skillfully lure the Zhao army into depth, and then encircled and annihilated.
This battle not only completely destroyed the national strength of Zhao, but also changed the pattern of the late Warring States period and laid a solid foundation for the final unification of Qin. And in the battle of Yique, Bai Qi showed extraordinary strategy and perseverance.
At that time, the combined forces of Han and Wei totaled more than 200,000 troops, and any ordinary general was afraid that he would be secretly afraid. However, Bai Qi was not afraid, and personally led the army to the expedition, and with precise tactics and firm determination, he finally defeated the coalition army in one fell swoop, clearing the obstacles for the Qin army's eastward crusade.
Wisdom and courage are both complete, and they are finally ominous
However, just as Bai Qisheng was in power, an unexpected event happened. The confrontation between Qin and Zhao entered a critical stage, and Bai Qi insisted on the strategic proposition of completely defeating Zhao, which diverged from the position of King Qin Zhaoxiang's intention to temporarily suspend his troops. This disagreement deepened the Qin king's concern that Bai Qi might "not fall off the tail".
Finally, under the influence of Prime Minister Fan Ju, King Zhaoxiang of Qin ordered Bai Qi to withdraw his troops and deprived him of his military rights. Although Bai Qi was loyal and upright, in the face of the king's order, he still insisted on his beliefs and refused to go on the expedition. This stubborn behavior undoubtedly gave King Qin a heavy slap in the face.
The hero is in the twilight and has a bad fate
Having lost the protection of power, Bai Qi was soon liquidated by the imperial court. In 257 B.C., this once powerful military strategist was forced to commit suicide, thus ending his magnificent life.
Ostensibly, Bai Qi's death was due to disobedience to the king's orders. But in essence, his great exploits are like a double-edged sword, which not only made him, but also planted the root of his liquidation. The king of Qin was wary of this high-ranking general, and finally had to get rid of him with his own hands.
Han Gaozu and Han Xin
In the long river of Chinese history, there is another character whose fate is the same as Bai Qi. He is the famous military strategist Han Xin. Han Xin was born poor, his mother died early, and he was fostered at a relative's house since he was a child, and he endured all the hardships and hardships of life.
But the harsh environment could not kill his heroic heart. When he was young, Han Xin successively joined the armies of Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu, but he was never reused.
Wisdom and courage are both complete, and they show their strengths
It was not until 206 BC that Han Xin met Liu Bang and was selected by Xiao Hexiang, which began his brilliant military career. Under Liu Bang's command, Han Xin was like a fish in water, and his military talents were vividly displayed.
A series of classic battles, such as the secret crossing of Chencang, the Battle of the Back Water, and the Battle of Weishui, all embody Han Xin's wisdom and fearlessness. Especially in the last battle, Han Xin was outnumbered and used clever tactics to defeat the main force of the Zhao army in one fell swoop, demonstrating his extraordinary military command talent.
The hero is in the twilight and is suspicious
But just when the dust of the Chu-Han War settled, Han Xin's situation became precarious. Although he was named the king of Qi and the king of Chu by virtue of his outstanding military exploits, his huge power and vast fiefdom made Liu Bang suspicious.
Finally, under the slander of Empress Lu and Xiao He, Liu Bang ordered the arrest of Han Xin on the charge of "rebellion". In 196 BC, this generation of war gods was deceived to Changle Palace, unfortunately killed, and his life came to an abrupt end in his prime.
Heroes have no borders, and they can't escape death
Han Xin's tragic ending once again confirmed a cruel truth: even highly decorated generals were inevitably suspicious and framed by the monarch. Their great exploits instead became the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, which eventually led to their downfall.
In the Anshi Rebellion of the Tang Dynasty, Guo Ziyi became famous
In the middle of the Tang Dynasty, when An Lushan's rebels attacked like a storm and the Tang Dynasty was almost about to collapse, one person stepped forward and became the backbone of the fight against the rebels. He is Guo Ziyi.
Guo Ziyi was born in a military family and received a solid family education since she was a child. He not only inherited his family's keen insight into military and government affairs, but also had outstanding personal qualities, outstanding military talents and noble political wisdom.
Wisdom and courage are both complete, helping the crisis and calming the chaos
In the process of quelling the Anshi Rebellion, Guo Ziyi repeatedly performed miraculous feats. He not only led the army to recover the fallen Hebei and Hedong regions, but also cooperated with Li Jiao, the king of Guangping, to successfully recover the two vital capitals of Chang'an and Luoyang, which greatly boosted the morale of the Tang Dynasty army and people.
On the battlefield, Guo Ziyi is brave and good at fighting, and her command is determined; On the political stage, he judged the situation and skillfully maneuvered with various forces, won the trust of the royal family, and avoided the jealousy and framing of powerful ministers.
The merit is high and the master is retreated
Guo Ziyi also made a significant contribution to maintaining the peace and stability of the Tang Dynasty after the war. He put down many internal rebellions, such as the Fugu Huaien Rebellion, and effectively consolidated the authority of the central power. At the same time, he also negotiated with the Hui and Tibetan neighboring ethnic groups, showing excellent diplomatic skills.
With outstanding meritorious achievements and great authority, Guo Ziyi knows the truth of "high merit and great power". Therefore, when his career reached its peak, he chose to fade out of the government, try to avoid conflicts with the imperial power, and finally retired and spent his old age peacefully.
epilogue
History is like a mirror that pierces through the fog, reflecting those once glorious and tragic lives. Bai Qi, Han Xin, Guo Ziyi, they wrote a brilliant chapter with blood and life, but how did it end in the end.
Some people were suspicious and liquidated by the monarch because they insisted on their own opinions, and some people were framed for rebellion because of their high achievements; There are also people who are able to retire and enjoy their old age because they know how to advance and retreat. Whatever the outcome, they have become heroes that people will always admire.
However, the fate of these heroes is not a mirror, reflecting the cruelty and darkness of that era? The monarch's fear and uneasiness about the powerful generals doomed them to a tragic end. And this tragedy will continue for a long time until a new era arrives.