Chinese Generals Throughout History

Author: Zhao Xueru / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The War Gods of Chinese History: The Chinese Brave Warrior Meng Tian, the Flying General Li Guang, the Model Generals Wei Qing, the Great General of Cavalry Huo Qubing, the Victorious General Yue Fei, the Horseback Emperor Genghis Khan, the "Military Confucian" General Qi Jiguang, the Epic Hero Zheng Chenggong, the Righteous and Fierce General Zuo Zongtang, the Unyielding Iron-Bone Zhang Zichong, the Foreign-Land Loyalist Dai Anlan, and the War God Without a Commander Peng Dehuai. History is profound, and heroes are heroic. The heroic and tragic figures have left a deep mark on the thick history for us. After reading The War Gods of Chinese History, you will know that it is indeed the essence of that "mark." — Su Guanqun, Writer, Senior Journalist of a National Newspaper
Recreate Real History, Tell the Stories of Passionate Men. The same history, a different perspective; the same heroes, different stories. Experience the clashing of swords, the passion of the battlefield, the smoke of war, and The War Gods of Chinese History. — Feng Jianwei, Writer, Senior Journalist of a National Newspaper
The War Gods of Chinese History has profound ideological connotations, distinctive characteristics, magnificent momentum, and strong artistic and. It is a masterpiece that breaks through in major historical themes. — Leng Qiu, Writer, Editor-in-Chief of Union Review
Recreate Real History, Feel Real People; Show the Unyielding Iron-Bone, Give People Strength to Strive Forward. Heroic names always stir our emotions, and this book will stir them even more, as it carries the heroes and is enough for the heroes. — Li Yanjun, Executive Editor-in-Chief of People Weekly
Twelve War Gods, Twelve Times Drawing Swords, Twelve Times Thrilling and Spiritual Purification. This book once again lets us know what the true character of the Chinese man is, and what the true soul of the Chinese nation is. — Huang Fengwen, General Manager of Jiahai Culture Media
Where the Sword Points, It Overcomes All; The Spirit of Drawing Swords, Passing Down Through Generations. The Qin Dynasty had numerous generals, and Meng Tian was one of the shining stars among them. In fact, Meng Tian from over 2,000 years ago is so far removed from us that not only can we not have a real photograph of this general, but even a portrait of him is unobtainable. Even in historical records, there is little specific description of him. However, his glorious military achievements and loyal and righteous spirit have been deeply engraved in people's hearts, becoming a model for generations of famous generals to emulate and an eternal monument for patriotic scholars of all ages.
A Glorious War History, a Notable Family
Meng Tian's ancestors were from the state of Qi. His grandfather, Meng Yao, came from Qi to serve Qin Zhao Wang in the Qin Dynasty and rose to the position of Shangqing. In the first year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin (249 BC), Meng Yao, as a Qin general, attacked the state of Han, captured Chenggao and Xingyang, and established the Sanchuan Commandery (capital in present-day Luoyang, Henan). In the second year, Meng Yao captured another 37 cities in one go. In the third year of Qin Shi Huang (244 BC), Meng Yao attacked the state of Han again, capturing 13 cities. In the fifth year of Qin Shi Huang, he led his army to attack the state of Wei, capturing 20 cities and establishing the Dong Commandery. In the seventh year of Qin Shi Huang (240 BC), Meng Yao passed away. His son, Meng Wu, was Meng Tian's father. Meng Tian studied criminal law and became a prison official, responsible for managing documents and case records. Meng Tian also had a younger brother named Meng Yi, who later became a Shangqing and became a trusted assistant to Qin Shi Huang, becoming a key minister of the Qin Dynasty. The two brothers, one military and one literary, were truly inseparable. In the 22nd year of Qin Shi Huang (225 BC), the King of Qin sent General Li Xin with 200,000 troops to attack the state of Chu, with Meng Wu as his deputy. Li Xin attacked Pingyu (north of present-day Pingyu County, Henan), while Meng Wu attacked Qinqiu (present-day Linquan County, Anhui), defeating the Chu army. After Li Xin broke through Yan (present-day Yangling County, Henan) and advanced westward, he met Meng Wu at Chengfu County (east of Baofeng County, Henan) and was defeated by the Chu army. In the 23rd year of Qin Shi Huang (224 BC), Meng Wu served as a deputy general under Wang Jian, leading troops to attack Chu, defeating the Chu army and pursuing them to Qinan (northwest of Qichun, Hubei), killing the Chu general Xiang Yan, and returning victorious. In the 24th year of Qin Shi Huang (223 BC), Meng Wu led his army to attack Chu again, capturing the Chu King Fuchu and pacifying the Chu region. In the 25th year of Qin Shi Huang (222 BC), Meng Wu led his army south to conquer the Baiyue (present-day Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong), where the ruler surrendered, and Qin established the Jieshi Commandery (capital in Wuxian, present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu).
In the great endeavor of Qin Shi Huang to unify China, Meng Tian's grandfather, Meng Yao, and his father, Meng Wu, were both famous generals of the Qin Dynasty. They fought bravely for the Qin state, risking their lives to expand its territory and contribute to the unification of China under Qin Shi Huang. Therefore, Qin Shi Huang placed great trust and importance on the Meng family.
Defeating the Qiang Army and Watching the Xiongnu
By the time of Meng Tian, the family had surpassed its predecessors. When Qin Shi Huang went out, Meng Tian's younger brother, Meng Yi, accompanied him and rode in the same carriage. At court, the two brothers served on the left and right sides of Qin Shi Huang. One brother was responsible for military affairs abroad, while the other planned domestic politics, earning a reputation for being loyal and trustworthy to the state. No other generals and ministers in the Qin state could compete with the two brothers for favor. This shows that the Meng family had been generations of military officials with glorious achievements, and by Meng Tian's time, they had reached the peak of their career. In 221 BC, Meng Tian, as a descendant of a military family, became a general of the Qin state and led his army to break through the capital of Qi, achieving the unification of the six states that Qin Shi Huang had long dreamed of. Qin Shi Huang awarded him the position of Neishi. In fact, although Meng Tian did not achieve remarkable military exploits in the unification of the six states, he gained sufficient combat experience, and his talent was recognized by Qin Shi Huang.
When it comes to Meng Tian and the Xiongnu, it seems as if it was destined for them to be irreconcilable. In the era of Meng Tian, the border regions were frequently raided by the increasingly powerful Xiongnu, threatening the Qin regime. Moreover, before the Qin Dynasty unified the six states, the Xiongnu often looted the livestock and property of the people in the inland regions, causing great harm to the neighboring states of Yan, Zhao, and Qin. What was particularly serious was that during the later stages of Qin's conquest of the six states, the Xiongnu seized the Hetao region, known as "Hennan Land," taking advantage of the situation. This gave Meng Tian, who harbored ambitions of being loyal to the king and the country, a great stage to demonstrate his abilities. In the subsequent battles in the Hetao region, this Chinese Brave Warrior allowed the Xiongnu to taste the bitterness of repeated defeats. P003-005