Guo Ziyi 010915郭子儀, 郭子仪,

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• published: 11 Jan 2015
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郭子儀 不戰而勝的將軍Guo Ziyi- A General Who Conquered Guo Ziyi (697-781), born in Huazhou (in today's Shaanxi), was a famous military general during the Tang Dynasty. He put down the An Shi Rebellion, and became Prince Zhongwu of Fenyang. Guo participated in the expeditions against Hui Hu and Tubo. He was tall and very brave. Because of his great achievements, he was reputed to be one of the greatest generals in Chinese history and was regarded as the best general in East Asia during his lifetime. He continued to command his army and fight battles until he was 84 years old. Because of his military talent, the Tang Empire maintained peace for more than two decades. Tang Emperor Dezong was very sad about Guo's death on July 9, 781, and gave an edict to mourn his general and appraised his deeds. As a historical figure of high prestige and reputation, Guo was respected by the whole nation. Guo Ziyi (郭子儀), a general and leader during the renowned Tang Dynasty, had the rare distinction of actually living out what ancient books said Chinese officials should be like. One of the bedrock concepts of Chinese strategic thought, as told by the classic Art of War is … “to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; rather, supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” How many Chinese generals actually did that? Guo Ziyi of the Tang Dynasty (AD618–907) did. “He was all-powerful across China, but the courtesans did not envy him,” announced Vol. 70 of the magnum opus The Old Book of Tang. “His deeds were known throughout the land, but the emperor did not doubt him.” Guo lived to a rare 85 years old. He sired eight sons and they, along with his seven sons-in-law, held important positions in adulthood. Ziyi’s long, illustrious military career included major battles with the Uyghur and Tibetan minority groups, whose invasions he repelled without utilising soldiers or weapons. His reputation alone was sufficient, built up over decades of battling courageously and outwitting enemies. In AD763, as the Tang Dynasty was just recovering from the devastating An Shi rebellion of AD755–763, a massive force of Tibetan warriors were on the doorsteps of Chang’an, the capital, ready to loot and plunder. Ziyi immediately dispatched scouts to light hundreds of fires in places that the Tibetans would see — making them think that troops were encamped there. At the same time, he had the people of Chang’an set off fireworks and strike gongs. The Tibetans, terrified by the commotion, thought they were surrounded and fled. Guo’s most important non-battle took place two years later. A treacherous Marshal, Pugu Huai’en (僕固懷恩), seized a troublemaking opportunity, coaxing the Uyghurs and Tibetans to again invade Chang’an. Three hundred thousand enemy soldiers were about to descend. Ziyi, with only ten thousand troops, was sent to stop them. At nearly 70 years of age, Ziyi decided the best solution was simply to go to the Uyghur commander and discuss the matter. His own officials thought it be too risky, but Ziyi still went ahead. Guo’s son pleaded with Ziyi that “you will be feeding yourself to the tigers.” Ziyi responded, “Our country is in a life and death situation. If I can convince the Uyghurs to side with us, the country can be safe. What else is there to consider?” He whipped his son’s hand free from his horse, slapped the reins, and galloped forth. The Uyghur commander, wary, ordered his soldiers to continue preparing for battle. Ziyi, seeing this, tossed aside his armour and weapons as he rode closer. Ziyi already knew these troops: they had served under him whilst fighting against other rebels. Ziyi, gracious and generous to the Uyghurs, had become a father figure to them. Recognising him, the Uyghurs knelt. Seeing Ziyi, the Uyghurs realised that Huai’en had tricked them into attacking. Quickly, the Uyghurs joined forces with Ziyi’s army, the one they had been sent to defeat. When word broke to the Tibetans, they fled overnight. Ziyi “broke the enemy’s resistance without fighting” in court as well. Ziyi parried the blows of narrow-minded officials who envied his achievements and closeness with the monarch. The sneaky eunuch Yu Chao’en (魚朝恩), Emperor Suzong’s Military Attaché, was one of the most dangerous. Yu lost a major battle and blamed Ziyi. Suzong, trusting the deceitful eunuch, stripped Ziyi of his military rank. Ziyi, however, held no grudge; he simply waited, and when the next emperor rose to the throne, his position and powers were rein