Speaking of Li Ling, we have to talk about Emperor Wu of Han, who boldly used new people during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, and the appointment of generals has always only looked at ability. The most aggrieved military general during the Han Wudi period was Li Guang, who made great contributions to the Han Dynasty in his lifetime, and was also a very loyal and courageous general, but he failed to be crowned marquis until his death, which became a major regret in history.
After the "rule of Wenjing", the comprehensive national strength of the Han Dynasty was greatly improved, and the people were also well fed and clothed, but the biggest hidden danger of the Han Dynasty became the powerful Xiongnu in the north. Under the leadership of Emperor Wu of han, the Han Dynasty became more powerful, and the Xiongnu were also beaten to the point of falling flowers.
Even after the successive defeats of the Xiongnu, Emperor Wudi of han did not reduce his attacks on the Xiongnu, but decided to send Wei Qing and Huo to drive straight into the decisive battle with the Xiongnu. Of course, such a big battle, how can there be less "Flying General" Li Guang.
Li Guang was 60 years old at the time, but in order to realize his ideals, he still asked to participate in the battle. In this great battle, Li Guang was appointed as the forward, with a small number of soldiers and horses to contain the main Xiongnu force, so that the main force of the Han army could form a siege against the Xiongnu, and finally defeated the Xiongnu, and Li Guang also died heroically in this war.
After Li Guang's death, his grandson Li Ling was transferred to the Yulin Army for advanced military training. Twenty years after Li Guang's death, when Li Ling was also twenty-five years old, Emperor Wu of Han decided to launch another attack on the Xiongnu. When Li Ling heard about it, he offered to join the battle, but was rejected by Emperor Wu of Han.
Of course, how could Li Ling give up this opportunity, he ran every day to ask Emperor Wu of Han, and finally Emperor Wu of Han gave him 5,000 infantry. You must know that fighting against the Xiongnu all depends on cavalry, how can the infantry do it, and Li Ling really took these 5,000 infantry into the hinterland of the Xiongnu.
Beginning to enter the territory of the Xiongnu, they encountered a small group of Xiongnu troops, and they also reported victories one after another, and finally encountered the Xiongnu army, which was captured alive by the Xiongnu because they were outnumbered. When Emperor Wu of Han heard the news, he was furious, and Sima Qian, who had come to intercede with Li Ling, was also implicated.
Later, Emperor Wu of Han heard rumors that Li Ling had trained troops for the Xiongnu and killed all three of Li Ling's clans. The news reached the ears of Li Ling in Mobei, like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, and he decided not to step into the Han land for the rest of his life, and finally died in Mobei.
Even after the death of Emperor Wu of Han, Huo Guang and others took power, they were all old acquaintances of Li Ling, and they all sent people to persuade Li Ling to go back, but he was already disheartened.