Chapter 32 Famous generals in Chinese history

There is a special point in Chinese cultural tradition, that is, there is no strict distinction between civil and military concepts.Famous generals and generals in history led troops to fight. At that time, most of them were literati and scholars, elegant and elegant, rather than professional figures who were born in the army.During the reign of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Baisi asked to set up martial arts.Mingzu said: "There is no difference between civil and military." Mingzu's rise was reckless, and neither civil nor military was worthy, but he accurately pointed out the relationship between civil and military in Chinese history.This article is about to clarify the words of Mingzu from the perspective of Chinese history.

In the feudal era of ancient times, the aristocratic class, the ruling party inside, and the general army outside, were all civil and military.And only nobles are eligible to serve in the army.Therefore, it has become the custom of the ancients to hang out the door for male birth.During the Spring and Autumn Period, when Jin and Chu fought in Pu, Duke Wen of Jin sent out his army to seek the marshal. Zhao Shuai said: "Quejike, who talks about rites and music, but writes poems and books." This example can be used to generalize the rest. Under the Warring States Period, there is "Sun Tzu's Art of War", the author of which is unknown.However, it has been highly respected by European and American countries, and it has been designated as the textbook of their highest martial arts schools.This book does not specifically talk about military affairs, but it can also be said that it covers both the highest philosophy of life and political philosophy.The military is a matter in life, and it is attached to politics.If you don't understand life or politics, how can you understand military affairs?Therefore, the highest military philosophy must be developed from the highest life philosophy and political philosophy.Confucius said: "My way is consistent." Zhuangzi said: "Technology advances into the way." This achievement can only be achieved in traditional Chinese culture.In the West, each is still specialized, and there are so-called military experts.It is very different from the Chinese concept of self-appropriateness.

The State of Yan had Yue Yi, and later generations called Guan Yue together with Guan Zhong of the Spring and Autumn Period.Regardless of the martial arts in his life, his "Book of Reporting to King Yanhui" was one of the most famous and widely read articles in the Warring States Period.Not only because of the good articles, but also because of the acquaintances of the monarch and his ministers revealed in his articles, their origins, fame and grievances.Therefore, a great military strategist is at the same time a great statesman and a great philosopher among the sages. Down to the Han Dynasty, because of Han Xin under his crotch, Xiao He called him the unparalleled scholar of the country.He can recite the art of war, he can drive people to fight, and he can do as many as possible.He also knew how to learn from Li Zuoche, who was defeated.Moreover, he has a large army and is the only king, but he vows not to betray the King of Han.According to these things, he is really a general, a great general, and he can also be called a Confucian general.

Among the generals of the Western Han Dynasty, such as Zhou Yafu resisted the seven kingdoms of Wu and Chu, Yan helped Fuhai to save Dongou, such as Zhao Chongguo's western Qiang farming, and carefully read their historical biographies, and I knew that they were not only warriors.In particular, Zhao Chongguo's articles are well-organized, capable and accessible, just like a modern expert. Guangwu Zhongxing of the Eastern Han Dynasty was in the army for a while, such as Wang Ba, Wu Han, Geng Yan, Kou Xun, Pi Tong, Feng Yi, Cen Peng, Deng Yu, and Ma Yuan. In that group, there was no one who had received military training. Military expertise.It is only to understand personnel, but also to understand political affairs, and also to understand military affairs.It can also be said that there are many military geniuses in Chinese history. It is because the Chinese have always known how to respect and pay attention to human affairs, so they become a reasonable person and can also be an ideal soldier.Ban Chao, as a low-level official, went to thirty-six countries in the Western Regions and became famous abroad.Just because he has experienced official affairs, official affairs are also personnel affairs.Although it is a literary matter, it can be combined with military affairs and military affairs.

During the Three Kingdoms period, such as Cao Cao and Zhuge Liang, could it be that they had a comprehensive collection of books and brilliant literary talents, which were beyond the reach of a generation of literati.Their military excellence is irrelevant today.Guan Yuzhi's "Spring and Autumn" is also well known to everyone.In addition, it is difficult to count.What makes future generations yearn for it is like the confrontation between Wei Yanghu and Wu Lukang, and the mission is always successful.Anti-legacy Hu wine, Hu drink without doubt.Resist and ask for medicine from Hu, Hu gives it, and takes it immediately.Said: "How can there be a poisonous man, Uncle Yang?" Compared with Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi's socializing in front of the battle, he is more leisurely and generous, and I don't know how much better it is.If we read "Chunqiu Zuo Shi Zhuan", we know that this style also has its own origin.This is called cultural tradition.However, in the military confrontation in the declining and troubled times, there is such a good saying, so high in the sky, unattainable, it really makes people wish for it.

Du Yuping Wu, his "Spring and Autumn Zuo Shi Zhuan Zhuan" was included in "Five Classics of Justice" and "Thirteen Classics" and has not been replaced until now.According to historical legends, if he does not straddle a horse, he will not be able to shoot, but he will win with troops, which is beyond the reach of all generals.That can be regarded as a scholar-type general. Tao Kan was the general of the Eastern Jin Dynasty who conquered the West. In the army, people who tasted the words said: "The sage of Dayu cherishes every inch of Yin. As for the people, he should cherish the division of Yin." This saying has been passed down through the ages, and it is praised by everyone today.The story of his luck is also known to everyone.Taste ship control, bamboo and sawdust, all of which are borrowed from the palm of the hand, and will be useful everywhere in the future.At that time, people said that his machine god was like Wei Wu, loyal and hardworking like Kong Ming, and Lu Kang couldn't match it.Tao Kan is able to rank first in handling personnel affairs, so it is more than enough to deal with military affairs.

Huan Wen is also a literati and a capable general.But with the saying that "a man can't live forever, he should also be stigmatized for thousands of years", a wrong thought will ruin his reputation.So in later generations, Tao Kan is comparable to Zhuge Liang, and Huan Wen can only be compared to Cao Cao.It can be seen that soldiers are like all other people. In addition to military affairs, political affairs, personnel affairs, economics, knowledge, and self-cultivation, there must be a character at the top.This is the supreme characteristic of Chinese cultural tradition. Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, was brilliant in military and martial arts, and he was incomparable in ancient and modern times.But he was just an official son who stayed behind Li Yuan in Taiyuan at that time.He joined the military with his father and was still young.Once, when he was in the army, he did not eat for two days and was not disarmed for three days. There was a sheep in the army, and he shared it with the soldiers and ate it.If this is a small section, then the one who is worthy of the post of a general is here.Now let's talk about it on the other hand.In the army, he has a large number of subordinates, including Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.Fang Shanmou and Du Shanjuan are their manifestations in the military government.It's not that you don't know until you take the power of the country in the future.Taizong had eighteen scholars, all of whom were in the military mansion.All the talents of generals in Chinese history must be able to know people well and make good use of them.What is known and used is not only the frontline warriors, but also the Chinese behind the scenes.If you don't understand the language yourself, how can you know how to use it well.The overlord of Chu is all-powerful, and he has overwhelmed the world, but there is a fan that cannot be used.Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty was far inferior to the King of Chu, but he could use Han Xin, Zhang Liang, and Xiao He as the former commander-in-chief of the enemy, as the general staff, and as the logistics.In the modern West, it was only known that there were three major tasks in the military, but Han Gaozu's employment had coincided with it long ago.The staff of Han Guangwu Army is the founding father of the country.The shogunate of Emperor Wu of Wei was rich in talents, and there were many scholars and advisers, especially in Han Guangwu.Tang Taizong was even more so.For example, Zeng Guofan's shogunate staff in modern times were even more famous for a while.The Military Mansion is a large group that brings together the brains and efforts of all kinds of talents for temporary use.Then the military government is a small government, and the bravery of an ordinary man can do it.

Another example is that during the Anshi Rebellion, Yan Zhenqing and Yan Gaoqing were both involved in the military as literati, and they all performed outstandingly.It's more like Zhang Xun guarding Yongqiu, and Lei Wanchun as a general, who met the bandit general Linghu Chao in the city, shot him in the face with a crossbow, hit six arrows, and did not move.Suspecting that it is a wooden man, but knowing that it is wrong, it is a big shock.Chaoyu patrol said: "When you see General Lei, you know the order of the emperor's army, but it is like the way of heaven." The patrol said: "If you don't know human relations, how can you know the way of heaven." , to shield the Jianghuai River and preserve the vitality of the Tang Dynasty, which is deeply and hugely related to the history of China for the next thousand or hundreds of years.Although Zhang Xun, Xu Yuan, Lei Wanchun, and Nan Jiyun's disciples all died together, they were eaten in the south of the Yangtze River in the temple, and even when I was young, I still worshiped him personally.But the New Culture Movement denounced it and said: "Rules eat people." This is also because they don't know human relations, how can they know the way of heaven.And the Ming ancestor's theory that civil and martial arts are not two ways is also proved to be true.

Another example is the rebellion of Wu Yuanji in Caizhou, which was brought down by Li Yongping.It is said in history that he was "frugal in serving himself, rich in treating scholars. He knows the virtuous without doubt, and he can be broken when he sees it", so he is successful.Where Chinese history praises the success of a military general, it is by no means focused on his fighting in front of the battle.However, Han Yu's "Pinghuaixi Stele" mainly narrates Pei Du's affairs.If you are not fair, you will complain that the words on the stele are not true.Zhao Mozhi, rewritten by Duan Wenchang.This matter has greatly stimulated the ridicule of future generations.Li Shangyin's "Reading Poems on the Korean Stele" said: "After the gentleman's gentleness did not show, he chased after the three kings." Su Shi's poem: "Huaixi's achievements are the best in the Tang Dynasty, and the officials' articles are the sun and the moon. The steles are well-known for thousands of years. I don’t know There is Duan Wenchang in the world." In fact, Xie Yuan and Xie Shi were the leaders in the Battle of Feishui in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.At that time and later generations, Xie An was popular.An and Wonsanshu Go, will always be a good story in history.Yuan is the brother and son of An, and Shi is the brother of An.Ante cited these two people.Some people say: "It's against the public to raise relatives and friends. Yuan must not be held responsible, and talent is also." That's it.The Chinese believe that civil affairs must precede force, and security must precede foreign resistance, so politics must precede military affairs.Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty also had the metaphor of a hero who made a contribution to the dog.Pei Du and Xie An were both literati, and Shi Chen also praised Pei Du with the meaning of Han Bei.But it cannot be said that this is the Chinese people's emphasis on culture over martial arts.And like Zhang Xunzhi and Lei Wanchun, it is even more obvious.This is also the so-called end of human relations.Human relations are the way of heaven, what is civil and military superiority, and it is not known to the ignorant.Another example is Liu Gongchuo, who was also a literati, and also contributed to the Caizhou campaign.All the twenty-five histories of these things can be found everywhere, so let me cite it here as an example.

In the Song Dynasty, Ru Kou Zhun persuaded Zhenzong to cross the river and conquer in person. In terms of his situation and achievements, he was comparable to Xie An and Pei Du.His subordinates, such as Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan, were all literati in frontier defense.People from around the border said: "There is Han in the army, and the western thieves are terrified when they hear about it. There is Fan in the army, and the western thieves are frightened when they hear it." In the Southern Song Dynasty, such as Mrs. Liang of Han Shizhong, Huang Tiandang personally played the drum, and It is an example of women joining the army in Chinese history.Yue Fei and Guan Yu are both respected as martial saints.It is said in history that "flying through the classics and history, throwing pots in elegant operas, Xun Xun is like all living beings".The words "Manjianghong" written by him are still recited today.His book "Zhuge Chushibiao" shows the essence of his brushwork.But he said: "Wenchen ministers don't love money, and military officials don't fear death, so the world will be peaceful." That is to say, it is immortal enough, not to mention making virtue and meritorious deeds, how can a person focus on a warrior.

The Wu Jie brothers were in Shu, and they only led the army with literati.Yu is good at reading history, and those who can learn from the past should be recorded on the right side of the seat.For a long time, the wall is full of aphorisms.Yu Yunwen's success in quarrying stones, Liu Qi held his hand and said: "The imperial court has raised soldiers for 30 years, and the great achievement is a Confucian scholar." In view of the disadvantages of the Five Dynasties, Song Zu emphasized the use of Confucian officials. , No less than Wuchen.And military officials are not inferior to civil servants in self-cultivation.The essence of Chinese cultural tradition depends on heavy light.As far as Wen Tianxiang is concerned, he also used literati to give military talismans, and his "Song of Righteous Qi" is especially enough to move the world and weep ghosts and gods.Although the national society is fulfilled, the national spirit will not fall and grow. In the Ming Dynasty, such as Yu Qian's dealing with it first, Wang Shouren's Ping Chenhao, Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang's fighting against Japanese pirates, all of them were literati.And the merits are in the state, which is brilliant in history.Qi Jiguang's "New Book of Ji Xiao" and "Records of Military Training" are especially followed by those who talk about soldiers.When he was arrested in the late Qing Dynasty, Zeng Guofan pacified Hong Yang, and he also followed the law.And just like Yuan Chonghuan's strategy outside the pass, and Lu Xiangsheng's slaughter of bandits, it is touching and refreshing.As for Shi Kefa's martyrdom in Yangzhou, in modern Chinese history, he can be called the three good national spirits along with Yue Fei and Wen Tianxiang.And there is no such thing as the division of civil and military?However, he was defeated in political affairs, not defeated in the battlefield, which made history readers mourn endlessly. There is a famous Chinese saying in particular, saying: "The general is outside, and the emperor's order will not be accepted." This is exactly the opposite of the above-mentioned meaning that the temple is more important than the battlefield.Those who have a deep understanding of the traditional Chinese concepts, military concepts, political concepts, and philosophy of life cannot understand it.It's not the person, and it's not appropriate to use this language to indulge yourself.In the late Qing Dynasty, Zeng Guofan also participated in the military service as a literati.To pacify Hong Yang, a comprehensive battle plan must first be made.Flood control divisions and warship builders went from Wuhan to Jiujiang to Anqing, and went eastward along the river to defeat Jinling.However, they are all out of their duties and orders.Whenever the Qing government was in urgent need, Guofan always fled and retreated every time it was dispatched, but finally did not change its general policy of gradual advancement.If one obeys the king's order, the success or failure of the matter is uncertain.However, Guofan is definitely not good at arranging power and disobeying orders.So far it has succeeded, and the Hunan army trained by him has been disarmed and returned to the field.Following the suppression of Nian, the Huai army has already been planned and arranged for a new start, so as to end its great mission.As an official in the outer borders, he planned the overall situation, and ignored the orders of the central government.As far as his aspirations and concerns are concerned, everything is public and not private.In terms of its deployment, everything is private, and the king's order is not in his arms.This is called civil and military talent and virtue.Such as Guofan, it can be said that he has both literary and military talents and virtues.How can it be said that the bravery of a general who decides the outcome of the battle can be expected to be surpassed! The above miscellaneous statements describe the demeanor of famous generals in Chinese history, combining wisdom, benevolence, and courage, and the integration of military affairs, political affairs, and even the avenue of life.It is the ideal personality in the Chinese cultural tradition, the scale of the great sages and great sages, but how can fighting and killing be regarded as capable, and violent tigers relying on rivers as decisiveness can be compared in the same day.Therefore, the general talent and martial virtues in the Chinese cultural tradition are not well known unless you are familiar with the deeds of famous generals in history.And such as the grand and profound philosophy of "Sun Tzu's Art of War", unless Gou has this knowledge, he can't really understand it.For example, Zhao Kuo's apprentices read military books, which are only enough for people to laugh at and learn from. Today's Chinese people take the lead in recognizing that Chinese culture emphasizes civility over martial arts, and they also say that Chinese tradition is weak and weak.If it is true, Wu Neng has such a long history of thousands of years, a vast land and many people, and a great country that is unparalleled in the world.The Chinese also say: "Stop fighting and become military."This is not Wende, and it is not enough to talk about martial arts?People in today's country also know that the Chinese nation loves peace, but it is impossible to stop the war, and there is no hope of peace?If you make a martial artist who does not understand literature, and a literati who does not practice martial arts, he will only be ashamed of the ancestors of our nation.October 1977. (Published in "Youth Warrior News", October 1977)