Quick Answer: Who Was Lian Po?
Lian Po (廉颇, Lián Pō) was a general of Zhao (赵, Zhào) in the Warring States period. He led Zhao against Qin (秦, Qín) during the early fighting at Changping (长平, Chángpíng), where Zhao suffered a major defeat in 260 BCE.[4]
- Changping: Lian held a defensive position until the king replaced him.[3]
- Return to command: He later defeated an invasion by the state of Yan (燕, Yān).[2]
- Cultural legacy: His apology to Lin Xiangru (蔺相如, Lìn Xiāngrú) became the source of a familiar Chinese idiom.[5]
Sima Qian places Lian and Lin in the same chapter of the Records of the Grand Historian. The chapter follows Lian from his rivalry with Lin to his final years away from Zhao.
In the best-known scene from Lian Po’s life, he arrives at a rival’s door carrying thorn branches. The same biography also tells how a commander removed at Changping returned to lead Zhao after defeat. The turn in his career helps explain why the defeat at Changping is only part of his story.
Why Lian Po Apologized to Lin Xiangru
Lian had earned high rank through campaigning. When the court promoted the envoy Lin Xiangru above him, Lian threatened to insult him. In Sima Qian’s telling, Lin avoided a confrontation because he believed a feud would weaken Zhao in its dealings with Qin.[1]
When Lian heard Lin’s reason, he went to apologize with his shoulders bared and thorn branches on his back. The gesture offered the other man the right to punish him. The account ends with the two becoming close allies.[5]
What Lian Po Did at Changping
The dispute over Shangdang (上党, Shàngdǎng), territory previously held by the state of Han, drew Qin and Zhao into conflict. The Zhao annals describe the court’s decision to accept Shangdang and place Lian at Changping.[2]
The biography of the Qin commander Bai Qi (白起, Bái Qǐ) reports that Zhao suffered losses early in the campaign. Lian held behind defenses, and the Zhao king grew dissatisfied. In that account, a Qin rumor that it feared Zhao Kuo (赵括, Zhào Kuò) helped persuade the king to replace Lian with him. Bai Qi commanded Qin in the decisive phase, when Zhao Kuo died and his forces were defeated.[3]
Qin went on to besiege the Zhao capital, Handan (邯郸, Hándān). Zhao’s annals record that forces from Chu and Wei came to the capital’s aid and broke the siege.[2]
From the Victory Against Yan to Exile
The Zhao annals say Yan’s chancellor believed the deaths at Changping left too few men to defend Zhao. Lian led Zhao to victory against Yan and received the title Lord of Xinping. Later, after a change of ruler, the court sent another general to replace him. Lian attacked the replacement and fled to Wei.[2]
The biography says that Zhao considered bringing him back. When an envoy came to assess him, Lian ate heartily and mounted a horse in armor. His enemy Guo Kai (郭开, Guō Kāi) is said to have bribed the envoy to undermine his chances of recall. The king decided against bringing him back.[1]
Lian subsequently became a commander in Chu. Another general in the same chapter, Li Mu, took command of a Zhao campaign against Yan after Lian’s departure.[1]
FAQs About Lian Po
What Does the Thorn Branch Idiom Mean?
The expression fù jīng qǐng zuì (负荆请罪) refers to taking the initiative to admit fault and ask for forgiveness or punishment. It comes from the story of Lian’s apology.[5]
Who Commanded Zhao in the Final Defeat at Changping?
Zhao Kuo led Zhao at the end of the battle. He took over from Lian Po before the decisive defeat.[3]
Where Did Lian Po Die?
Sima Qian places his death at Shouchun (寿春, Shòuchūn), after he entered the service of Chu.[1]
Sumber
[1] Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru
[2] Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, Hereditary House of Zhao
[3] Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian
[4] Zhang Guangzhi. Several Questions About the Battle of Changping
[5] Ministry of Education, Taiwan. Dictionary of Chinese Idioms, Bearing Thorns to Ask for Punishment