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Li Jing (李靖, pinyin: Lǐ Jìng, real name: 药师, pinyin: Yào Shī, C.E. 571-649,) was a real-life Tang Dynasty general who has been assimilated into Chinese mythology.
The historical Li Jing was a general under the Emperor Taizong of Tang China. He wrote the first book concerning war crimes in history, The Tao of War.
Li was supposedly an official in a small prefecture of Sui. As the Sui empire declines, he noticed the head commander of the region, Li Yuan, the future first emperor of Tang had some plots against the Sui house. He then pretended to be a criminal and on delivering criminals to be executed at the capital, he would tell the imperial ministers about Li's treacherous thoughts. However he was caught by citizens who loved Li's tolerant rule. Li Yuan had wanted to execute him but Li Jing spoke out, "This is a time of chaos and I am a servant of Sui, it is my duty to inform the country of traitors, what wrong is it for me to serve my country justice when traitors of the country plague the land". Li Yuan was enraged by this but his second son, Li Shimin was impressed and decided to let him go. Not long after, he heard of his uncle, a famed Sui general tragic death over destroying rebels. At the moment, he decided he was to join the chaos and by showing his skills as a wuxia in few battles, he was recruited by a famed warlord as a general.
Li Jing first served under the warlord Li Mi, however disgusted by Li's policy for allowing troops to take advantage of innocent citizens. One night, he abandoned the camp on single horseback and was about to give up his life as a warrior. On his way, he again met Li Shimin, the future Taizong emperor, who is on his way to attack Li Mi. Seeing Li's army was escorting villagers who had been plundered by Li Mi's troops. He himself convinced Li that this is the man that will ease China from its trouble and decide to join his rank.
Li Jing believed a general shouldn't sink too deep into politics. Thus, he didn't persuade his followers in Li muk's army to join him in mutiny nor did he take part in Li Shimin's plot on his brothers.
When the Tang was solidifited, the first threat, they met is the Eastern Turkic Khanate who almost isacked the capital at Chang'an when the main chinese armies were busy fighting different warlords, the hmongs and the kingdom of goguryo.Taizong convinced that no spare troops can be spent in protect China from the Turks as Tang was still in its infant stage. Li Jing persoanlly recruited himself to fight the Turks with only 3000 man. In 630, he conquered the Eastern Turkic Khanate (also known as the "Western Turks," 西突厥, xītūjué), establishing the Tang as the major political and military power of the region, for which Li was given the title of Duke of Wei (衛公, wèigōng). This was unexpected because the Turkic Khanate is the powerhouse of asia at the time. Li Jing easily pushed his way into the turkestein using clever strategy and cleverly deployed formation. Li Jing then continue his attack on the Turks, and everytime return successfully, by the end, the turkic army over 200 thousands personnel had either been killed, fled or captured. The defeat of turks was a trumph to the dynasty in its infancy, and many citizens even spread that the fact, Li Jing was indeed a heavenly general descend from the avalon above. Li Jing was known to be a general that can lead army of few but manage to inflict damange of a larger army. His troops are well discinpled and will troubled citzens, and in many occasions, offered to help starving turkic citizens by sharing some of his army supplies.
Disgusted by the Turkish war crimes, he wrote down the Tao of War which he used to punished chinese or non-chinese militants that violate immoral actions in war.
Li Shimin was especially fond of Li Jing. During his return from pascifying East Turkic Khanate, it is noted that he says, "The Han emperor Wudi sent the great general Li Ling with 8000 men to pacify the Xiongnu, despite his courage of defeating 10,000 men they surrender. I sent you to check the Eastern Turkic Khanate advance with 3000calvary, however you eliminate their 200,000 men strong army and add their territories into the empire. How sacre is the sight of such general in history."
One of the Seven Military Classics (TC: 武經七書, SC: 武经七书, pinyin: Wǔjīng qīshū) of China, Li Weigong answering the questions of Tang Taizong (TC: 唐太宗李衛公問對, SC: 唐太宗李卫公问对, pinyin: Táng Tàizōng Lǐ Wèigōng Wènduì), is a dialogue between Li Jing and the Tiazong emperor. The work is attributed to Li Jing.*
The Chinese god Nezha was born as the third sonof Li Jing during the Shang Dynasty. The fictional Li Jing, along with Ne Zha, was commanded by the Jade Emperor to capture Sun Wukong (also known as Monkey) froms his hiding place, the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, where he had declared himself to be “the Great Sage Equalling Heaven." Li Jing and Ne Zha ordered the Mighty Magic Spirit to challenge Monkey; the Mighty Magic Spirit lost. Ne Zha challenged Monkey and lost, after which Li Jing ordered a retreat.[http://www.pep.com.cn/200406/ca485399.htm
Li Jing (李璟, Lǐ Jǐng) was a sovereign of the Southern Tang who ruled from 943-961.
"Li Jing"