Biography of General Li Guang, Number 49

General Li Guang was a native of Chengji County in Longxi Commandery. His ancestor was Li Xin, who served as a general during the Qin dynasty and was the one who captured Crown Prince Dan of Yan. Their original home was in Huaili, later moved to Chengji. Li Guang's family had passed down the art of archery for generations. In the fourteenth year of Emperor Xiaowen's reign, the Xiongnu launched a major invasion of Xiaoguan. Li Guang enlisted as a commoner to resist the Xiongnu, distinguished himself by his skill in horsemanship and archery, and killed and captured many enemies, for which he was promoted to Gentleman of the Palace. Li Guang's cousin, Li Cai, also served as a Gentleman, and both held the post of Attendant of Martial Cavalry, with a salary of eight hundred bushels. They once accompanied the emperor on an outing, performing deeds of charging into enemy lines, defending passes, and fighting fierce beasts. Emperor Wen said, "What a pity you were not born at the right time! If you had lived in the era of Emperor Gaozu, a noble title of ten thousand households would have been nothing for you!"

When Emperor Xiaojing first ascended the throne, Li Guang served as Commandant of Longxi, later transferred to General of the Cavalry. During the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms of Wu and Chu, Li Guang served as Colonel of Swift Cavalry, following Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu in attacking the rebel forces of Wu and Chu. He captured enemy banners and distinguished himself at the city of Changyi. However, because the King of Liang had granted Li Guang a general's seal, upon returning to court, he received no reward. He was transferred to be Grand Administrator of Shanggu, where the Xiongnu fought him daily. Gongsun Hunxie, the Superintendent of Dependent States, said tearfully to the emperor, "Li Guang's talent is unmatched in the world. Trusting in his own ability, he repeatedly engages the enemy in direct combat, and I fear we may lose him." Thereupon, he was transferred to be Grand Administrator of Shang Commandery. Later, Li Guang served successively as Grand Administrator of various border commanderies, then returned to Shang Commandery. He had served as Grand Administrator of Longxi, Beidi, Yanmen, Dai Commandery, and Yunzhong, always gaining renown for his fierce fighting.

When the Xiongnu launched a major invasion of Shang Commandery, the Son of Heaven sent a eunuch to follow Li Guang in training troops and resisting the Xiongnu. The eunuch led several dozen cavalrymen on a galloping ride and encountered three Xiongnu, with whom they fought. The three Xiongnu turned and shot arrows, wounding the eunuch and killing nearly all the cavalrymen he had led. The eunuch fled back to Li Guang. Li Guang said, "These must be eagle-shooters." Li Guang immediately led one hundred cavalrymen in pursuit of the three men. The three men had no horses and traveled on foot for several dozen li. Li Guang ordered his cavalry to spread out left and right, while he himself shot at the three men, killing two and capturing one alive, who indeed turned out to be Xiongnu eagle-shooters. After binding him and placing him on a horse, they saw in the distance several thousand Xiongnu cavalry. When the Xiongnu saw Li Guang, they thought he was a decoy cavalry force and were startled, so they ascended a hill and formed battle formations. Li Guang's hundred cavalrymen were terrified and wanted to flee back at full speed. Li Guang said, "We are several dozen li away from the main army. If we flee with just these hundred cavalrymen, the Xiongnu will pursue and shoot us, wiping us out instantly. If we stay, the Xiongnu will surely think we are decoys for the main army and will not dare attack us." Li Guang ordered the cavalry, "Advance!" They advanced to about two li from the Xiongnu position and halted. He ordered, "All dismount and remove your saddles!" His cavalry said, "The enemy is numerous and close. If there is an emergency, what shall we do?" Li Guang said, "Those enemies think we will flee. Now that we have all removed our saddles to show we are not running, this will confirm their assumption." The Xiongnu cavalry indeed did not dare attack. One Xiongnu general riding a white horse came out to supervise his troops. Li Guang mounted his horse and, with a dozen cavalrymen, galloped forward, shot and killed the Xiongnu white-horse general, then returned to his own cavalry, removed his saddle, and ordered the troops to let their horses loose and lie down. By this time, dusk had fallen, and the Xiongnu troops remained puzzled and did not dare attack. At midnight, the Xiongnu also thought that the Han had ambush troops nearby, planning to attack them by night, so they all withdrew their forces and left. At dawn, Li Guang finally returned to the main army. The main army did not know where Li Guang had gone and thus had not followed.

After a long time, Emperor Xiaojing passed away, and Emperor Wu ascended the throne. The court officials considered Li Guang a famous general, so Li Guang was transferred from Grand Administrator of Shang Commandery to Commandant of the Weiyang Palace, while Cheng Bishi also became Commandant of the Changle Palace. Cheng Bishi had previously served alongside Li Guang as a Grand Administrator of a border commandery, commanding troops on garrison duty. When they went on campaigns against the Xiongnu, Li Guang's army had no strict organization of units or battle formations; they camped near water and grass, and during rest, everyone did as they pleased. They did not sound the watch-drum for self-defense, and the headquarters simplified paperwork and records, but they still sent out scouts far ahead and never encountered disaster. Cheng Bishi strictly enforced unit organization, battle formations, and camp discipline, sounded the watch-drum, and his officers worked on military documents until dawn, so the army never rested, yet they also never encountered disaster. Cheng Bishi said, "Li Guang's army is extremely simple, but if the enemy suddenly attacks, they cannot withstand it. Yet his soldiers are also very comfortable and happy, all willing to die for him. My army is troublesome, but the enemy dares not invade us." At that time, Li Guang and Cheng Bishi were both famous generals on the Han border, but the Xiongnu feared Li Guang's strategies, and the soldiers mostly preferred to follow Li Guang and found it hard to follow Cheng Bishi. During Emperor Xiaojing's reign, Cheng Bishi was appointed Grand Master of the Palace due to his many forthright remonstrances. He was an incorruptible man who strictly adhered to laws and regulations.

Later, the Han used the city of Mayi to lure the Chanyu, deploying a large army in ambush in the valleys beside Mayi, with Li Guang serving as General of Swift Cavalry under the command of the Protector General. At that time, the Chanyu discovered the plot and led his forces away, so the Han army achieved no military merit. Four years after this, Li Guang, as Commandant, became a general and led troops from Yanmen Commandery to attack the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu had superior numbers, defeated Li Guang's army, and captured him alive. The Chanyu had long heard of Li Guang's worth and issued an order: "Capture Li Guang alive and bring him to me." The Xiongnu cavalry captured Li Guang, who was wounded and ill at the time. They placed him on a net of ropes strung between two horses and laid him inside. After traveling more than ten li, Li Guang feigned death. He saw out of the corner of his eye a young Xiongnu riding a fine horse. Li Guang suddenly leaped onto the young man's horse, shoved him off, seized his bow, and galloped south for several dozen li, where he encountered the remnants of his troops and led them into the pass. Several hundred Xiongnu pursuers chased him, but Li Guang, while riding, used the young man's bow to shoot and kill the pursuing cavalry, thereby escaping. He then returned to Han territory, where the court handed him over to the judicial authorities for trial. The authorities determined that Li Guang had suffered heavy losses and had been captured alive by the enemy, so he should be executed. Li Guang paid a ransom to commute his sentence and was reduced to commoner status.

Soon after, Li Guang lived in retirement at home for several years. Li Guang's family and the grandson of the former Marquis of Yingyin lived in seclusion together in the Lantian Mountains south of the capital, hunting and shooting. One night, he went out with a single cavalryman and drank with others in the fields. On their way back, they passed the Baling Pavilion. The Baling Commandant was drunk and shouted at Li Guang to stop. Li Guang's cavalryman said, "This is the former General Li." The commandant said, "Even the current general is not allowed to travel at night, let alone a former one!" He stopped Li Guang and made him lodge under the Baling Pavilion. Not long after, the Xiongnu invaded, killed the Grand Administrator of Liaoxi, and defeated General Han, who was later transferred to Right Beiping. Thereupon, the Son of Heaven summoned Li Guang and appointed him Grand Administrator of Right Beiping. Li Guang immediately requested that the Baling Commandant be sent with him, and when they reached the army, he had him killed.

While Li Guang was stationed at Right Beiping, the Xiongnu heard of him and called him the "Flying General of Han." They avoided him for several years and dared not invade Right Beiping.

Li Guang went out hunting and saw a rock in the grass, mistaking it for a tiger, and shot an arrow. The arrow pierced the rock, and when he looked closely, it was a rock. He then tried to shoot again, but could never again penetrate the rock. Li Guang, in whatever commandery he resided, would personally go to shoot tigers if he heard of them. When stationed at Right Beiping and shooting a tiger, the tiger leaped and wounded Li Guang, but he eventually killed it.

Li Guang was incorruptible: whenever he received rewards, he would distribute them among his subordinates, sharing food and drink with his soldiers. Throughout his life, Li Guang held official posts with a salary of two thousand piculs for over forty years, yet his family had no surplus property, and he never spoke of household affairs. Li Guang was tall, with arms like an ape’s; his skill in archery was also innate. Even when his descendants or others studied under him, none could match him. He was clumsy with words and spoke little. When with others, he would draw military formations on the ground and compete by shooting at targets, using the distance to decide who would drink. He devoted himself entirely to archery as a pastime until his death. When leading troops, if he encountered a place lacking water or food, and saw water, he would not approach it until every soldier had drunk; if the soldiers had not all eaten, he would not taste a single bite. He was lenient and unharsh, and because of this, the soldiers loved him and were willing to fight for him. When shooting, if he saw the enemy approaching within a few tens of paces, and estimated that he could not hit, he would not release the arrow; once he did, the enemy would fall at the sound of the bowstring. For this reason, he was often trapped and humiliated in battle, and when hunting fierce animals, he was also injured by them.

Not long after, Shi Jian died, and the emperor summoned Li Guang to succeed him as Director of the Palace Attendants. In the sixth year of Yuanshuo (123 BC), Li Guang again served as General of the Rear, following the Grand General’s army from Dingxiang Commandery in an attack on the Xiongnu. Many of the other generals were enfeoffed as marquises because their numbers of decapitated enemies and captives met the standard, but Li Guang’s army achieved no merit. Two years later, Li Guang, as Director of the Palace Attendants, led four thousand cavalry from Youbeiping Commandery. The Marquis of Bowang, Zhang Qian, led ten thousand cavalry and set out with Li Guang, taking separate routes. After marching about several hundred li, the Xiongnu’s Wise King of the Left surrounded Li Guang with forty thousand cavalry. Li Guang’s soldiers were terrified. Li Guang then sent his son Li Gan to charge the Xiongnu. Li Gan, alone with several dozen cavalry, galloped straight through the Xiongnu formation, broke out from both their flanks, and returned, reporting to Li Guang: “The Xiongnu troops are easy to handle.” Only then did the soldiers calm down. Li Guang formed his troops into a circular formation facing outward. The Xiongnu attacked fiercely, and arrows fell like rain. Over half of the Han soldiers were dead or wounded, and the Han arrows were nearly exhausted. Li Guang then ordered the soldiers to draw their bows fully but not release, while he himself used a great yellow crossbow to shoot at the Xiongnu deputy generals, killing several men, and the Xiongnu troops gradually dispersed. As dusk fell, the officers and soldiers all turned pale, but Li Guang’s expression and demeanor remained calm, and he further reorganized the army. From then on, the army admired his courage. The next day, they fought fiercely again, and the Marquis of Bowang’s troops also arrived, so the Xiongnu lifted the siege and withdrew. The Han army was exhausted and could not pursue. At that time, Li Guang’s army was almost completely annihilated, and they returned from the campaign. According to Han law, the Marquis of Bowang, for delaying and failing to arrive on time, was sentenced to death, but he ransomed himself with money and was reduced to commoner status. Li Guang’s military merits and faults offset each other, and he received no reward.

Earlier, Li Guang’s cousin Li Cai had served Emperor Xiaowen together with Li Guang. During Emperor Jing’s reign, Li Cai accumulated merit and rose to a salary of two thousand piculs. Under Emperor Xiaowu, he became the Chancellor of the State of Dai. In the fifth year of Yuanshuo (124 BC), he served as General of Light Chariots, following the Grand General in an attack on the Wise King of the Right, and his merits met the standard, so he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Le’an. In the second year of Yuanshou (121 BC), he succeeded Gongsun Hong as Chancellor. Li Cai’s talent was below the middle rank, and his reputation was far inferior to Li Guang’s. Yet Li Guang could not obtain a noble title or fief, and his official rank did not exceed the Nine Ministers, while Li Cai was enfeoffed as a marquis, reaching the position of the Three Dukes. Many of Li Guang’s officers and soldiers also obtained marquisates. Li Guang once spoke privately with the physiognomist Wang Shuo, saying: “Since the Han dynasty began attacking the Xiongnu, I have never been absent from any campaign. Yet among the various units, from the colonels down, many whose talents do not reach the middle level have, by their military merits in attacking the Xiongnu, obtained marquisates—dozens of them. I am no worse than others, yet I have not a single merit to gain a fief. Why is this? Is it that my facial features do not warrant a marquisate, or is it fate?” Wang Shuo said: “General, think back—have you ever done anything you regretted?” Li Guang said: “When I was the Grand Administrator of Longxi, the Qiang once rebelled. I lured them into surrendering, and over eight hundred men surrendered. I deceived them and killed them all on the same day. To this day, my greatest regret is only this matter.” Wang Shuo said: “No calamity is greater than killing those who have already surrendered. This is the reason the General cannot be enfeoffed as a marquis.”

Two years later, the Grand General Wei Qing and the Swift Cavalry General Huo Qubing launched a major campaign against the Xiongnu. Li Guang repeatedly requested to accompany them. The Son of Heaven thought he was too old and did not approve; after a long time, he finally agreed and appointed Li Guang as General of the Vanguard. That year was the fourth year of Yuanshou (119 BC).

Li Guang followed the Grand General Wei Qing in attacking the Xiongnu. After exiting the frontier, Wei Qing learned from a captive where the Chanyu was encamped. He then personally led elite troops straight for the Chanyu, but ordered Li Guang to merge his forces with the Right General’s troops and advance by the eastern route. The eastern route was somewhat circuitous and distant, and the army’s route had scarce water and grass, making it unsuitable for stationing and marching. Li Guang personally requested: “My post is originally General of the Vanguard, yet the Grand General has now changed my orders to take the eastern route. Moreover, since I came of age, I have fought the Xiongnu. Now I have finally obtained an opportunity to face the Chanyu. I wish to serve as the vanguard and fight to the death with the Chanyu first.” The Grand General Wei Qing had secretly received an admonition from the emperor, who thought Li Guang was old and unlucky, and did not want him to face the Chanyu, fearing he would not achieve the desired result. At this time, Gongsun Ao had just lost his marquisate and was serving as General of the Center, following the Grand General. The Grand General also wanted Gongsun Ao to join him against the Chanyu, so he transferred the Vanguard General Li Guang. Li Guang, knowing of this, firmly declined this appointment to the Grand General. The Grand General did not comply, and ordered the Chief Clerk to seal a document and deliver it to Li Guang’s headquarters, saying: “Proceed quickly to the Right General’s unit and act according to the document.” Li Guang did not take leave of the Grand General but set out, going to his unit in great anger, and led his troops to merge with the Right General Zhao Shiji and advance by the eastern route. The army had no guide, and at times lost their way, falling behind the Grand General. The Grand General engaged the Chanyu in battle. The Chanyu fled, and unable to capture him, the Grand General turned back. Heading south across the desert, he encountered the Vanguard General and the Right General. After Li Guang saw the Grand General, he returned to his own camp. The Grand General sent the Chief Clerk with dried rice and wine to Li Guang, and also inquired about the circumstances of Li Guang and Zhao Shiji losing their way, as Wei Qing was to submit a report to the emperor detailing the army’s operations. Li Guang did not reply. The Grand General then sent the Chief Clerk to urgently summon Li Guang’s headquarters personnel for interrogation. Li Guang said: “The various colonels are not guilty; it was I myself who lost the way. I will now personally go to submit the report.”

When he reached the headquarters, Li Guang said to his subordinates: “Since I came of age, I have fought over seventy battles with the Xiongnu, large and small. Now, fortunately, I have followed the Grand General in a campaign to engage the Chanyu’s army. Yet the Grand General transferred my troops to take a circuitous and distant route, and moreover, we lost our way. Is this not Heaven’s will! Besides, I am over sixty years old, and in the end, I cannot face those scribes with their brushes and knives.” Then he drew his sword and cut his own throat, dying. All the officers and soldiers in Li Guang’s army wept bitterly. When the common people heard of this, whether they knew him or not, old or young, all shed tears for him. As for the Right General Zhao Shiji, he alone was handed over to the judicial authorities, sentenced to death, and ransomed himself with money, becoming a commoner.

Li Guang had three sons, named Li Danghu, Li Jiao, and Li Gan, all of whom served as lang attendants. When the Son of Heaven was playing with Han Yan, and Han Yan was slightly disrespectful, Li Danghu struck Han Yan, who fled. Thereupon the Son of Heaven considered Li Danghu brave. Li Danghu died very early, and Li Jiao was appointed as the governor of Dai Commandery; both of them predeceased Li Guang. Li Danghu had a posthumous son named Li Ling. At the time Li Guang died in the army, Li Gan was following the Swift Cavalry General Huo Qubing. The year after Li Guang’s death, Li Cai, as Chancellor, was convicted of encroaching on the vacant land of Emperor Xiaojing’s mausoleum, and was to be handed over to the judiciary for trial. Li Cai also committed suicide, unwilling to face interrogation, and his fief was abolished. Li Gan, as a colonel, followed the Swift Cavalry General in attacking the’s Left Worthy King. He fought fiercely, captured the Left Worthy King’s drums and banners, and beheaded many enemies. He was granted the title of Marquis of Guannei, with a fief of two hundred households, and succeeded Li Guang as Langzhongling. Shortly thereafter, Li Gan resented Grand General Wei Qing for causing his father to die with pent-up grievances, so he struck and wounded the Grand General, who concealed the matter. Soon after, Li Gan accompanied the emperor to Yong County for a hunt at the Ganquan Palace. The Swift Cavalry General Huo Qubing, being related to Wei Qing, shot and killed Li Gan. Huo Qubing was then honored and favored, and the emperor concealed the truth, saying Li Gan had been gored to death by a deer. A little over a year later, Huo Qubing died. Li Gan had a daughter who was a concubine of the Crown Prince and was favored, and Li Gan’s son Li Yu was also favored by the Crown Prince, but he was greedy for wealth and profit, and the Li family gradually declined.

When Li Ling reached adulthood, he was selected and appointed as Jianzhang Supervisor, overseeing the various cavalry units. He was skilled in archery and cared for his soldiers. The Son of Heaven, considering the Li family had been generals for generations, sent him to lead eight hundred cavalry. He once penetrated deep into territory over two thousand li, passing through Juyan Lake to survey the terrain, and returned without encountering any enemy. He was appointed as Colonel of Cavalry, leading five thousand Chu soldiers from Danyang Commandery, and trained them in archery at Jiuquan and Zhangye, thus garrisoning there to guard against the.

Several years later, in the autumn of the second year of Tianhan, the Ershi General Li Guangli led thirty thousand cavalry to attack the’s Right Worthy King at the Qilian Tian Mountains, and sent Li Ling to lead his archers and five thousand infantry north from Juyan Lake, marching about a thousand li, intending thereby to divert the forces and prevent them from solely pursuing the Ershi General. Li Ling turned back after reaching the appointed time, but the Chanyu surrounded and attacked Li Ling’s army with eighty thousand troops. Li Ling’s army had only five thousand men; their arrows were exhausted, and more than half of the soldiers died, yet they had killed over ten thousand. They fought while retreating, engaging in battle continuously for eight days. When they were still over a hundred li from Juyan Lake, the cut off the narrow paths, Li Ling’s army lacked food, and reinforcements did not arrive. The enemy fiercely attacked and summoned Li Ling to surrender. Li Ling said, “I have no face to return and report to Your Majesty.” So he surrendered to the. His entire army was annihilated, and only over four hundred men, scattering and escaping, managed to return to Han.

After the Chanyu obtained Li Ling, having long heard of his family’s reputation and seeing his bravery in battle, he married his own daughter to Li Ling and honored him. When Han heard of this, they executed Li Ling’s mother, wife, and children. From then on, the Li family’s reputation was ruined, and the scholars of Longxi Commandery who had lodged under the Li family’s patronage all considered it a disgrace.

The Grand Historian says: The Analects states, “When those above are upright, orders are carried out without being issued; when those above are not upright, even if orders are given, they are not obeyed.” This probably refers to General Li! I see that General Li was honest and simple, like a rustic, not good at speaking. By the time of his death, all under heaven, whether they knew him or not, deeply mourned him. His loyal heart truly won the trust of the scholar-officials! The proverb says, “Peach and plum trees do not speak, yet a path is worn beneath them.” Though this saying speaks of small matters, it can be used to illustrate great principles.

His arms were like an ape’s, long and skilled at archery, truly relying on his ability. Dismantling his saddle to frighten the enemy, forming a circular formation to blunt the enemy’s edge. He guarded the border commanderies many times and twice accompanied the great army on campaign. Losing his way brought blame, and his fate was unlucky, preventing enfeoffment. Alas for this famous general, no one under heaven could compare with him!