Text/Lingshi
In recent years, more and more scholars have overturned Zhao Kuo's case, which is not an empty story, but a basis for correction.
Zhao Kuo's fame stems from a great war that changed the pattern of the world- the Battle of Changping. However, Zhao Kuo ended his short life and only coaching career as a loser.
At the beginning of the Battle of Changping, King Zhao of Qin sent Zuo Shu Changwang Gong to launch an attack on the Zhao army in Changping, and King Xiaocheng of Zhao sent the veteran general Lian Po to meet the Qin army. After several minor defeats by the Zhao army, Zhao retreated to the east bank of the Dan River, built a barrier, and held out no battle ever since.
In the face of this stalemate, the State of Qin sent people to spread rumors in Handan, the capital of the State of Zhao, saying that the Qin army was not afraid of Lianpo, but of Zhao Kuo. Therefore, King Xiaocheng of Zhao ignored the opposition of Zhao Kuo's mother and Lin Xiangru and worshiped Zhao Kuo as a general and replaced Lian Po.
As soon as Zhao Kuo took office, he overthrew Lian Po's strategic principle of sticking to no war and turned the defense into an attack. As a result, in the Battle of Changping, Zhao Kuo himself was shot to death, and 450,000 Zhao troops were almost completely destroyed. So far, Zhao Kuo has only left a "paper talk" laughing stock.
In such a situation, Zhao Kuo has naturally become a back pot man, just a closer study of history will find that there are many details worth playing.
First of all, paper first appeared in the Han Dynasty, and Zhao Kuo, who was in the Warring States period, had never seen paper at all, so the so-called "talking about soldiers on paper" was only the result of "the general of the defeated army, and the return of all evils".
Secondly, the Qin people spread rumors that the Qin army was afraid of Zhao Kuo, and Zhao Xiaocheng worshiped Zhao Kuo as a general, which was also too far-fetched. Not to mention that during the Battle of Changping, the Zhao general Ji Ji had both Li Mu, who rejected the Xiongnu thousands of miles away, and Lianpo, who had held his position for two years, so that the Qin army could not advance eastward. Although Zhao Kuo was familiar with military books, he had never had actual combat experience, and King Xiaocheng of Zhao was not an old and dimwitted lord, how could he have so easily won the qin state's counter-plan. Here's why. King Xiaocheng of Zhao worshiped Zhao Kuo as a general, neither by the qin's rebellion, nor by Zhao Kuo's military ability, but by his helplessness.
Since the Shang martingale transformation law, the national strength of the Qin state has increased greatly, and the fertile soil in Guanzhong has made the Qin state have strong reserves. The State of Zhao was in the cold land of the north, and the rich area was limited, so it was stronger than the military, the State of Zhao and the State of Qin, but it was obviously weaker than the national strength.
Therefore, at this time, King Xiaocheng of Zhao can be described as a dilemma, choosing Lian Po to stick to it, and sooner or later the State of Zhao will let the State of Qin drag down, choosing to take the initiative to attack, but there is no certainty of victory.
In desperation, King Xiaocheng of Zhao had no choice but to use Zhao Kuo, who dared to venture forward, as a general, because he knew that Lian Po would not fight a battle that he was not sure of, and he would definitely not attack the Qin army, and only Zhao Kuo could change his defense to attack and break the deadlock.
As a result, the State of Qin secretly changed into Bai Qi, and in the Battle of Changping, almost all of Zhao Guo's 450,000 troops were destroyed, and Zhao Kuo was also shot. Zhao Kuo's first battle encountered bai qi, the god of killing in the Qin state, so that his military talent was completely fixed on paper.
As for whether Zhao Kuo had military talent or not, it is very clear after reading the following two historical facts:
First, the history books record that the Zhao army was besieged for 46 days, and the army had long been deprived of food, so that it had reached the point of cannibalism, but the army did not collapse and broke through organized under the command of the commander. Once Zhao Kuo died, the Zhao army had no fighting spirit and chose to surrender. It showed that the non-commissioned officers still recognized Zhao Kuo as a commander.
Second, the "Chronicle of Bai Qilie" records that "although the present Qin Dynasty broke the Changping Army, more than half of the Qin soldiers died, and the country was empty." As a result, the Qin army was unable to take Advantage of the situation to capture Handan. From this point of view, Zhao Kuo is not an incompetent rat, but he encountered an overly powerful opponent at the beginning.
Therefore, looking at the gains and losses of the Battle of Changping, it can only be said that the decision of King Xiaocheng of Zhao buried 450,000 soldiers of the State of Zhao, and Zhao Kuo only carried the pot for King Xiaocheng of Zhao.