The Art Of War The Rise of Tang Dynasty

After three kingdoms period, Sima Yan became the emperor Wu of Western Jin Dynasty (265-318 AD) He reigned from 265 to 290

AD, and after he had d estroyed Eastern Wu in 280 AD, he was the emperor of the unified Chinese empire. Later his successors were

emperor Hui, Huai, and Min respectively.

After Luoyang and Chang’an falls, Emperor Min surrenders to Liu Yao , a general of the Xiongnu state Han Zhao. The Eastern Jin Dynasty’ s capital was established

in Jiankang - (present day Nanjing ) by Sima Rui . Emperor Min was executed by Liu Cong, emperor of Han Zhao in 318 AD.

In early 318, Sima Rui then declared himself emperor Yuan of Eastern Jin Dynasty (318-420 AD) . At this time, the areas directly under his control were roughly south of the Yellow River and east of the Three Gorges.

Sima Rui

Emperor Yuan was forced to submit and grant Wang Dun additional powers in the west . Wang Dun, satisfied, allowed Emperor Yuan to remain on the throne, and personally withdrew back to his home base of Wuchang .His forces then defeated and killed Sima Cheng or EmperorCheng in 324 AD.

Wang Dun

The successors of Emperor Yuan were Emperor Ming, Cheng,Kang, Mu, Ai, Fei, Xiaowu, An and Gong for 103 years.

With the collapse of Eastern Jin in 420 AD, China entered the era of the Southern and Northern Dynasties(386-581 AD). In north the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534 AD ) of the Xianbei tribe dominated the northern part of China, south of Yangtze River the Chinese dynasty Liu Song ( 劉宋 ) ruled the land . Like most of the time in China's history, it was again an age of civil war and political disunity.

In 581 AD, Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou is forced to step down from the throne by his regent Yang Jian , who assumes power as Emperor Wen of Sui ,

initiating the Sui Dynasty .

Sui Dynasty (581-617) was founded by Emperor Wen (Yang Jian), unified Southern and Northern China after four centuries of fragmentation in which North and South had gone quite different ways . It was a period of great prosperity .

Emperor Wen of Sui

Emperor Yang of Sui or personal name Yang Guang ( 楊廣 ), was the second son of Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty. After the death of his father in 604 -- a death that

most traditional historians believed to be a murder ordered by Yang Guang, He ascended the throne as Emperor Yang .

Emperor Yang committed almost eight million people to constructing roads, palaces, the Grand Canal, the Great Wall and ships . The re-designing of Luoyang, designated as the eastern capital, alone consumed a quarter of that amount, and the building of the Grand Canal took up 2 million men . Equally manpower-consuming were the three expeditions against Goguryeo, each one needing about a million men.

Despite his accomplishments, Emperor Yang was generally considered by traditional historians to be one of the worst tyrants in Chinese history and the reason for the Sui Dynasty's relatively short rule . Later Emperor YangWas murdered by his general Yuwen Huaji in 619 AD. His tomb moved some times . People said it's because of his bad behavior that makes his tomb being hit with thunder wherever it moved.

Yuwen HuajiEmperor Yang

After capturing Chang’an, the rebel-turned-emperor Li Yuan demotes Emperor Yang to the status of a Taishang Huang (retired emperor). Li Yuan established Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and became Emperor Tang Gaozu and had somewhat reunified the empire, he reburied Emperor Yang with honors .

Li Yuan or Emperor Tang Gaozu

Emperor Gaozu's reign was concentrated on uniting the empire under the Tang .Aided by Li Shimin ( 李世民 ), whom he created the Prince of Qin, he defeated all the other contenders, including Li Gui, Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong, Xue Rengao and Liu Wuzhou . By 628, the Tang Dynasty had succeeded in uniting all of China .

In 626, Li Shimin, in a dispute with his brothers Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince and Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi, ambushed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji at Xuanwu Gate, killing them . Fearful of what Li Shimin might do next, Emperor Gaozu passed the throne to him and became Taishang Huang (retired emperor ). He died in 635 . Lishimin accessed the thorn named Emperor “Taizhong of Tang”.

Li Shimin Li Jiancheng Li Yuanji

During his reign, Tang China flourished economically and militarily . For more than a century after his death, Tang China enjoyed peace and prosperity . DuringTaizong's reign, Tang was the largest and the strongest nation in the world . It covered the entire territory of present day China and much of Central Asia . It laid foundation for the Xuanzong reign, which is considered China's greatest period of time .

In 630, Emperor Taizong sent his general Li Jing against Eastern Tujue (proto Turks -- ) to which Tang had once submitted—defeating and capturing its Jiali Khan Ashina Duobi and destroying Eastern Tujue power . This made Tang the dominant power in East and Central Asia, and Emperor Taizong subsequently took the title of Tian Kehan or "Heavenly Khan ".

Jiali Khan Li Jing

Li Jing (AD 571-649 ) was born in Sanyuan County of Jingzhao Prefecture (Now in Shaanxi Province ). He was an outstanding military general, military theorist, and national hero of the early Tang Dynasty.

It was said that Li Jing spoke very little when conferencing with other chancellors -- then considered a virtue . A more plausible explanation isthat Taizong didn't trust his high officials, especially the generals, and Li Jing was very sure about it . He deliberately tried to keep a low profile in order not to raise Taizong's suspicion .

In 644 when Emperor Taizong was set to attack Goguryeo , he su mmoned Li Jing

to request his opinion, Emperor Taizong, however, saw that Li Jing was ill and decided not to send him . Emperor Taizong later personally led a largely unsuccessful attack on Goguryeo . Li Jing died in 649 and and conferred Duke of Wei. He was buried with great honor, near Emperor Taizong's own tomb.

By summer of 649, Emperor Taizong was seriously ill and died at his summer palace Cuiwei Palace . His death was initially kept a secret, and three days later, after his casket had been returned to Chang'an, his death was announced, and Li Zhi took the throne as Emperor Gaozong . (ruling 649-683) Tai Zhong’s concubine named “Wu Zetian”, later became “Gao Zhong’s concubine” and accessed the thorn as “Empress Wu Zetian”, the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant. (665-690 AD)

Lishi or Gaozhong Wu Zhao or Wu zetian

Li Jing composed a number of books on the art of war, such as Li Jing Liu Jun Jing. However, most of his books have been lost . Later Li Weigong (Li Jing) Answering

the Questions of Emperor Taizong was compiled . In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was incorporated into Seven Books on the Art of War, a representative of ancient strategics.

About Q&A between Tang & Li

It is a compilation of a discussion between Tang Tai Zhong, also know as Li Shimin ( 李世民 )and his General Li Jing ( 李靖 ) who is confered the title Duke of Wei ( 卫 ).

Tai Zhong said : “ Your troops will be few while the place is distant .What strategy will you employ? "

Li Jing said : “ I will use orthodox troops ."

Tai Zhong said : “ When you pacified the Tu Jue, you employed unorthodox troops . Now you speak about orthodox troops . How is that? "

Li Jing said : “ When I conducted the punitive campaign against the Tu Jues, we travelled west for several thousand li. If they have not been orthodox troops, how could we have gone so far? Narrow chariots and 'deer-horn chariots' encampments are essentials to the deployment of troops . They allow controlling the expenditure of energy, provide a defense to the fore, and constrain the regiments and squads. These three advantages when gained interchangeably can improve the prowess of the troops

Question #1

Li Jing suggested that we should analyse the situation first, and selected the right strategy to use for each war specifically.

Tai Zhong questioned when to use orthodox or unorthodox?

Li Jing replied : “ In general, when troops advance to the front, it is orthodox . When they deliberately retreat to the rear, it is unorthodox . Moreover, if the Right Army had not withdrawn somewhat, how could you have gotten Lao Sheng to move forward? The Art of War states : “ Display profits to entice them, create disorder in their forces and take them." Lao Sheng did not know how to employ his troops . He relied on courage and made a hasty advance . He did not anticipate his rear being severed nor being captured by your Majesty . This is what is referred to as ‘using the unorthodox as the orthodox.’ "

Question #2

Li Jing suggested that we should launch the attack at the right time when our enemy opened the weak points to encounter.

Question #3

Li Jing suggested that we had to make sure that our enemy’s retreat was not its strategy and don’t reveal real information to our enemy.

Tai Zhong said : "Whenever an army withdraws, can it be termed as unorthodox? "

Li Jing said : "It is not so . Whenever the soldiers retreat with their flags confused and disordered, the sounds of the large and small drums not responding to each other and their orders shouted in a clamor, this is true defeat, not unorthodox strategy . If the flags are order, the drums respond to each other and the commands and orders seem unified, then even though they may be retreating and running, it is not a defeat and ust be a case of unorthodox strategy . The Art of War says : “ Do not pursue An enemy who pretends to retreat in desperation.” It also says : “When you are capable, feign incapability.” These all refer to the unorthodox ."

Question #4

Li Jing suggested that we must train our army to know the methods and to understand the orders first. The well trainedSoldiers were orthodox and the other were unorthodox.

Tai Zhong said : "Are the orthodox and unorthodox distinguished beforehand or are they determined at the time of battle? "

Li Jing said : "According to Duke Cao’s Xin Shu, 'If you outnumber the enemy two to one, then divide your troops into two with one section being orthodox and the other being unorthodox . If you outnumber the enemy five to one, then three sections should be orthodox and two sections should be unorthodox.' This states the general point .This captures it . So how can distinction be made beforehand?

If Therefore, such a distinction beforehand is merely for the purpose of instruction .Determining the changes at the moment of the battle, the changes are inexhaustible.”

Question #5

Li Jing confirmed that we must make our enemy be confused of what we are or what Sun Zi called “Being Formless”.

Tai Zhong said : "If I cause the enemy to perceive my orthodox as unorthodox, and cause him to perceive my unorthodox as orthodox, is this what is meant by 'displaying a form'? Is employing the unorthodox as orthodox, the orthodox as unorthodox, unfathomable changes and transformation, what is meant by Sun Zi as 'being formless'? "

Li Jing bowed and said : “ Your Majesty is indeed wise . Your understanding has past those of ancients, beyond what I can attain ."

Question #6

Li Jing said about Wu Qi’s strategy on how to divide the troopsInto smaller groups : one pretended to retreat and one waiting for luanching a surprise attack.

Tai Zhong said : "What was Wu Qi’s strategy like? "

Li Jing said : “ Permit me to speak about the general points .Marquis Wu of Wei asked Wu Qi about the strategy to be employed when two armies confront each other . Wu Qi said : ‘ Gather some lower ranks men who are courageous and haveThem lead some light shock troops to test him, then the enemy responds to theAttack, they, the shock troops, should pretend to run off. When they flee, do not punish them, but observe whether the enemy advances to take the bait . If they sit as one and arise as one, and do not pursue your fleeing troops, the enemy has good strategists . If all their troops pursue the fleeing forces, some advancing, some halting, in disordered fashion, the enemy is not talented . Attack them without hesitation.' I think that Wu Qi ’s strategy is generally of this sort.

Question #7

Li Jing concluded that if we fail to plan, we then plan to fail.

Li Jing said : "In antiquity, most battles were a question of minimal tactics conquering those without any tactics. An example is Xie Xuan’s destructions of Fu Jian . It was not because of Xie Xuan’s excellence but probably Fu Jian's incompetence ."

Tai Zhong ordered the attending officers to find Xie Xuan’s biography and read it . After reading the biography, he said : "Fu Jian's management in which area was not good ."

Li Jing said : From this, one sees that when the Qin’s armies were in turbulence, only Mu Rong Chui’s forces remain intact, so it is obvious that Fu Jian was probably betrayed by Chui's treachery . Now to be betrayed by others and yet still hope to conquer the enemy, is it not difficult? Thus I say that men such as Fu Jian lacked tactics ."

Tai Zhong said : Sun Zi said that “one who plans extensively will conquer one who doesLess planning, so thus we know some planning will conquer no planning.”

Question #8

Li Jing concluded that both orthodox and unorthodox tactics must be used to preserve the state.

Tai Zhong said : "The Yellow Emperor’s Art of War has been transmitted by previous generations as the Classic of Grasping the Unorthodox and as the Classic of Grasping Opportunities as well . What do you have to say about this? "

Li Jing said : "The pronunciation of the character 'unorthodox' is the similar as that for 'opportunity' . Thus some have transmitted the title as the latter, but the meaning is the same . The remaining forces are for "grasping opportunity".' My foolish opinion is that in war there are opportunities everywhere, so we should stress on 'grasping' in speaking about it . It ought to be focus on the excess, then it would be correct .

For the generals : If they employ orthodox tactics without any unorthodox ones, they are defensive generals . If they employ unorthodox tactics without any orthodox ones , they are aggressive generals . If they employ both, they are generals to preserve the state .Thus 'grasping opportunity' and 'grasping the unorthodox' are not fundamentally twomethods . Students of military strategy thoroughly understand this point  !"

Question #9

Li Jing explained the myth of eight formations to Tai Zhong.

Tai Zhong said : "Heaven, Earth, wind, clouds, dragons, tigers, birds, and snakes – whatis the meaning of these eight formations? "

Li Jing said : "There was an error made by those who transmitted them to later generations . The ancients wants to secretly concealed which orders is given to which troops, so they craftily created these eight names . The eight formations were originally one, then being divided into eight . For example, 'Heaven' and 'Earth' originated in flag destinations; 'wind' and 'clouds' originated in the pennant names . 'Dragons,' 'tigers', 'birds' and 'snakes' originated in the distinctions of the platoons and squads . Later generations erroneously transmitted them . If they were cleverly creating formations in the image of animals, why would they just stop at eight? "

Question #10

Li Jing respected Jiang Tai Gong as the master of strategist.

Tai Zhong said : "The Yellow Emperor’s governance of the army was profound indeed !Even if later generations have men with the wisdom of Heaven and great planning ability, none will be able to exceed his scope ! After this who came near to him? "

Li Jing replied : “ When the Zhou Dynasty first flourished, the Jiang Tai Gong substantially copied his methods . He began at the Qi state capital by establishing the well acreage system, constructing three hundred chariots, and training three hundreds Tiger Guardsin order to establish a military organization . They practiced advancing 'six paces, seven paces' making 'six attacks, seven attacks,' so as to teach them battle tactics .When he deployed the army at Mu Ye, with only a hundred officers as vanguard, the Tai Gong controlled the army and established his military achievements . With forty-five thousand men, he conquered King Zhou’s mass of seven hundred thousand ."

Question #11

Li Jing respected Sima Rangju and his work “Ten Chapters of Sima Rangju.”

Tai Zhong said : "People say that the Sima Fa was composed by Rangju . Is this true or not? "

Li Jing said : "According to the Biography of Rangju, in Records of the Grand Historian, he excelled in commanding the army at the time of Duke Jing of Qi, defeating the forces of Jin and Yan . Duke Jing honored him with the post of Commander of Horses (known as Sima), and from then on he was called Sima Rangju . His sons and grandsons were then surnamed Sima . In the time of Duke Wei of Qi, they sought out and talked about the method sof the ancient Commanders of the Horse and also narrated what Rangju had studied . This subsequently became a book in ten chapters called Sima Rangju .Moreover, what has been transmitted from the military strategists and remains today is divided into four categories : 'balance of power and plans', 'disposition and strategic power', 'yin and yang', and 'techniques and crafts' . They all come out of the Sima Fa ."

Question #12

Li Jing explained about the preparation of military troop during agricultural seasons.

Tai Zhong said : "The Sima Fa begins by mentioning the Spring and Winter ceremonial hunts . Why? "

Li Jing answered : The Sima Fa states that unless there is a national emergency, the army should not be wantonly mobilized, but that during the times between the agricultural seasons, they should certainly not forget military preparations .Thus it is not profound that it placed the hunts of spring and winter at the beginning chapters !"

Question #13

Li Jing explained about how to organize the military troops depending on the appropriateness of the country as well.

Tai Zhong said : "During the Spring and Autumn period, the 'Methods for the Double Battalion of King Zhuang of Chu' stated that 'the hundred officers should act in accord with the symbolization of things, military administration should be prepared without official instructions.' Did this accord with the Zhou regulations? "

Li Jing said : "In the case of Chu, I refer to one hundred men as a company, while fifty men are called a platoon . Thus each chariot is accompanied by one hundred and fifty men, many more than in the Zhou organization . Under the Zhou, each chariot was accompanied by seventy two infantry men and three armored officers . Twenty five men, including an officer, formed one platoon, so three Zhou platoons were seventy five men altogether . Qi is a country of mountains and marshes; chariots were few, men numerous . If they were to be divided into three platoons, then they would be functionally the same as the Zhou ."

s

Question #14

Li Jing explained that even the situations were changed, the system for constraints and regulations could be used and trusted.

Tai Zhong said : "During the Spring and Aumtumn period, when Sun Wu attacked the Di, he abandoned his chariots and use infantry units instead . Were they also orthodox troops? Or unorthodox troops? "

Li Jing said : "Sun Wu used strategy for chariot warfare, that is all .Although he abandoned the chariots, his strategy is still found therein . One force acted as the

left flank, one force acted as the right flank, and one resisted the enemy in the front . Dividing them into three units, this is one tactic for chariot warfare . This is the general outline of Sun Wu’s old methods . "

"When I went to the west to rectify and punish the Tu Jue, we crossed several thousands li of treacherous terrain, I never dared change this system for the constraints and regulations of the ancients can truly be trusted ."

Thank YouSompong Yusoontorn