Li Mu
Encyclopedia
Li Mu (?-c236BC) was a prominent military General of Zhao
during the Warring States period of China. He, together with Bai Qi
, Wang Jian
, and Lian Po
were known as the Four Greatest Generals in Warring States era.
and the exile of Lian Po
, both renowned former generals of Zhao. He began his career on the northern frontier fighting the Xiongnu
. He adopted an extremely defensive strategy, was accused of cowardice and replaced by a more aggressive general who was defeated every time he attacked the Xiongnu. Li Mu was recalled and given a much larger army. He concealed his troops and played the coward. When a large force crossed the border, Li Mu surrounded it and smashed it. He then went on to defeat the Tan Lan, Lin Hu and Donghu
. It was said that the Xiongnu did not dare approach the border for the next twenty years.
Later, as the threat from Qin increased with the ascension of Qin Shi Huang
, he turned his focus more to the western parts of Zhao. The State of Zhao was merely a shadow of its former self. After suffering utter defeat from Qin during the Battle of Changping
, which Zhao lost virtually its entire army, most of Zhao core territories had fallen to Qin.
Furthermore, Zhao was diplomatically isolated as the Kingdoms of Wei
, Yan
and Han
was too weak to offer any kind of support, while Qi
and Chu
were more willing to see the kingdom extinguished than face the powerful Qin.
However, Li Mu could still hold out against the much stronger Qin forces. So while Qin could raid Wei and Han at will, they had a much harder time pillaging in Zhao.
Getting rid of Li Mu became a necessity for Qin to conquer Zhao and unify China
. Qin sent spies to the Zhao court, bribing key courtiers in order to persuade the King of Zhao that Li Mu was planning to revolt. The plan succeeded - Li Mu was arrested and soon executed on the king's orders. According the Sima Qian
(chapter 102) this happened when King Qian, 'whose mother was a dancing girl', came to the throne.
With Li Mu's death, the fall of Zhao became inevitable. In about 10 years King Dai would fall and the State of Zhao would fade into history.
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
during the Warring States period of China. He, together with Bai Qi
Bai Qi
Bái Qǐ was an outstanding military leader of the State of Qin during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Born in Mei , as commander of the Qin army for more than 30 years, Bai Qi was responsible for the deaths of a total over 890,000 enemy soldiers, earning him the nickname Ren Tu...
, Wang Jian
Wang Jian
Wang Jian , courtesy name Guangtu , formally Emperor Gaozu of Shu , was the founding emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Former Shu...
, and Lian Po
Lian Po
Lian Po was a prominent military General of Zhao during the Warring States period of China. Bai Qi, Wang Jian, Li Mu and he were commonly known as the Four Greatest Generals in Warring States....
were known as the Four Greatest Generals in Warring States era.
Career
He assumed command of Zhao's overall security situation after the death of Zhao SheZhao She
Zhao She was a Chinese bureaucrat and general in the third century BC.Zhao She was one of the sons of Zhao He , King Huiwen of the State of Zhao. He was employed as a land tax collector...
and the exile of Lian Po
Lian Po
Lian Po was a prominent military General of Zhao during the Warring States period of China. Bai Qi, Wang Jian, Li Mu and he were commonly known as the Four Greatest Generals in Warring States....
, both renowned former generals of Zhao. He began his career on the northern frontier fighting the Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
. He adopted an extremely defensive strategy, was accused of cowardice and replaced by a more aggressive general who was defeated every time he attacked the Xiongnu. Li Mu was recalled and given a much larger army. He concealed his troops and played the coward. When a large force crossed the border, Li Mu surrounded it and smashed it. He then went on to defeat the Tan Lan, Lin Hu and Donghu
Donghu
Donghu was the name of a Mongolic nomadic tribal confederation that was first recorded from the 7th century BCE and was destroyed by the Xiongnu in 150 BCE. Donghu was later divided into the Wuhuan and Xianbei Confederations, from which the Mongols are derived...
. It was said that the Xiongnu did not dare approach the border for the next twenty years.
Later, as the threat from Qin increased with the ascension of Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
, he turned his focus more to the western parts of Zhao. The State of Zhao was merely a shadow of its former self. After suffering utter defeat from Qin during the Battle of Changping
Battle of Changping
The Battle of Changping was a military campaign that took place during the Warring States Period in China. It concluded in 260 BC with a decisive victory by the State of Qin over the State of Zhao, and ultimately allowed Qin to conquer and unify China decades later...
, which Zhao lost virtually its entire army, most of Zhao core territories had fallen to Qin.
Furthermore, Zhao was diplomatically isolated as the Kingdoms of Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
, Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
and Han
Han (state)
Han was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the same character....
was too weak to offer any kind of support, while Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
and Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
were more willing to see the kingdom extinguished than face the powerful Qin.
However, Li Mu could still hold out against the much stronger Qin forces. So while Qin could raid Wei and Han at will, they had a much harder time pillaging in Zhao.
Getting rid of Li Mu became a necessity for Qin to conquer Zhao and unify China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Qin sent spies to the Zhao court, bribing key courtiers in order to persuade the King of Zhao that Li Mu was planning to revolt. The plan succeeded - Li Mu was arrested and soon executed on the king's orders. According the Sima Qian
Sima Qian
Sima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to...
(chapter 102) this happened when King Qian, 'whose mother was a dancing girl', came to the throne.
With Li Mu's death, the fall of Zhao became inevitable. In about 10 years King Dai would fall and the State of Zhao would fade into history.