A controversial figure of the Ming Dynasty, Li Jinglong. Many people may shake their heads at the mention of Li Jinglong, because in history he was known as the "often defeated general", and he played a very key role in the struggle between Zhu Di and Emperor Jianwen of the Ming Dynasty. Helping Zhu Di four times directly led to Emperor Jianwen's loss of power, is this because Li Jinglong is a straw bag, or is he secretly Zhu Di's undercover agent, and he did it intentionally?
Speaking of Li Jinglong, many people's first reaction may be, "Isn't that the one who helped Zhu Di usurp the throne?" Indeed, in the history of the Ming Dynasty, Li Jinglong's reputation was not very good. But is it really that simple? Let's start at the beginning.
In 1370, in the third year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang was crowned a meritorious hero, including Li Jinglong's grandfather Li Zhen. Li Zhen is not only Zhu Yuanzhang's brother-in-law, but also Zhu Yuanzhang's only relative who lived to the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Because of this special relationship, both Li Zhen and his son Li Wenzhong were named Cao Guogong. Li Wenzhong made great achievements in the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, and his status was second only to Xu Da and others among the generals.
Li Jinglong, the eldest son of Cao Guogong, has lived in the center of power since he was a child. He is not only as beautiful as jade, but also intelligent, and is deeply appreciated by Zhu Yuanzhang. After Zhu Yuanzhang's death, Li Jinglong's cousin Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne as Emperor Jianwen. Emperor Jianwen relied on Li Jinglong very much, and it can be said that he trusted him.
The good times did not last long, and in order to consolidate his rule, Emperor Jianwen began to cut the feudal domain, which directly touched Zhu Di's interests. Zhu Di has a strong military force in the north, and it is impossible for him to sit still. As a result, a coup d'état against Emperor Jianwen quietly brewed. And in this coup, Li Jinglong played an extremely key role.
According to historical records, Li Jinglong "helped" many times in the process of Zhu Di's army. Is the help here due to incompetence, or is there something else going on? There is a view that Li Jinglong may be Zhu Di's undercover agent, deliberately making mistakes in military operations to help Zhu Di succeed as soon as possible. But there are also those who believe that this is just an unfair evaluation of the loser by later generations. After all, there are too many factors that affect the victory or defeat of a war.
It is undeniable that Li Jinglong's military talent may indeed be inferior to that of other generals. But it seems too arbitrary to judge his life on this basis. Judging from his growth background, if he is really incompetent in the center of power, why would Zhu Yuanzhang have high hopes for him? Moreover, if he is really Zhu Di's undercover agent, why didn't Zhu Di give him higher honor and rewards after seizing the throne?
After Zhu Di launched the Battle of Jingjing, Li Jinglong's actions did repeatedly fuel Zhu Di's power. If this was just a simple military mistake, then his military talent was really unconvincing. But if this is a strategy, then how can his wisdom and courage be comparable to ordinary people? The rights and wrongs of this are only known to the parties themselves.
Let's take a look at Li Jinglong's personal qualities and career. He grew up under the influence of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di, two emperors, one of whom was the founding emperor and the other of whom was a highly decorated prince, whose political skills and military talents were both the choice of the moment. Li Jinglong was influenced by this, so naturally he would not be a simple character. The trajectory of his life is full of drama and variables, which also makes him a highly controversial figure in historical evaluation.
Another perspective that should not be ignored is that the writing of history often has a certain subjective color. As a historian after Zhu Di's seizure of power, he may intentionally or unintentionally belittle the figures who are enemies of Zhu Di, including Li Jinglong. This kind of historical "winner" logic is likely to distort Li Jinglong's true image.
And from a more macro perspective, Lee's actions, whether out of helplessness or otherwise, reflect the brutality of the power struggles of that era. His life is a microcosm of that turbulent era, and behind every decision, there may be complex human nature and helpless choices. These historical details make us have more thoughts and understandings about the character of Li Jinglong.
In general, the complexity and controversy of Li Jinglong, a historical figure, make him a very interesting subject for studying the history of the Ming Dynasty. He may be either a "often defeated general" who has been misread by history, or a wise man who is deeply hidden.