Lian Po

Biography

One of the 'Four Great Generals of the Warring States,' Lian Po was the shield of Zhao — a cautious, defensive master who understood that against Qin's war of annihilation, survival was victory. At Changping he entrenched behind strong lines and refused every provocation to give battle, and for three years he held Qin to a bloody stalemate. It was only when Zhao, deceived by Qin propaganda, replaced him with the reckless Zhao Kuo that the catastrophe came. He is equally remembered for a story of humility: when the statesman Lin Xiangru was promoted above him, the offended Lian Po vowed to shame him, but on learning that Lin had yielded only to keep Zhao united against Qin, the general stripped to the waist, bore a bundle of thorns to Lin's gate, and begged forgiveness — the origin of the phrase 'to bear thorns and ask for punishment.' In old age, passed over and exiled, he was said to still eat a peck of rice and don his armor to prove himself fit to serve, but no ruler recalled him, and he died abroad.

Key Battles