Hulü Guang

Known as "the Eagle-Shooting Commander," he repeatedly defeated Northern Zhou and died after being framed by rumors.

Life

The Eagle-Shooting Commander

Hulü Guang was the son of the famed Chile general Hulü Jin. A fine horseman and archer, he once shot down a great eagle and was called "the Eagle-Shooting Commander."

Repeatedly defeated the Zhou armies

Commanding troops for decades, he repeatedly defeated the armies of Northern Zhou, and even the Northern Zhou grand general Wei Xiaokuan was wary of him. He ran his army strictly and sought no private gain, and enjoyed enormous prestige in Northern Qi.

"A Hundred Sheng" and "Bright Moon"

Wei Xiaokuan made up a ditty, "A hundred sheng flies up to heaven; the bright moon shines on Chang'an" (Hulü Guang's courtesy name was Mingyue, "bright moon," and a hundred sheng make one hu), and spread it in the Northern Qi capital. The Northern Qi Last Ruler believed the slanders of Zu Ting and Mu Tipo, and in 572 lured Hulü Guang into the palace and killed him. Five years later Northern Zhou conquered Northern Qi, and Emperor Wu of Zhou said, "Had this man been alive, how could I have reached Ye?"

Legacy

The death of Hulü Guang was a classic case of Northern Qi destroying its own Great Wall, and together with the death of the Prince of Lanling it hastened the fall of the Northern Qi.

Major works & achievements

• Repeatedly defeated Northern Zhou

Did you know? After Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou conquered Qi, he posthumously named him Pillar of State (shang zhuguo) and Duke of Chong.

Key dates

• 536Won fame by shooting down an eagle (approx.)
• 564Battle of Mangshan (approx.)
• 571Repeatedly defeated the Zhou armies
• 572Killed through slander