In the final years of the Warring States period, powerful Qin marched east as the Six States teetered on the brink of collapse. Zhao's northern frontier was repeatedly ravaged by the Xiongnu cavalry. Li Mu was born into a humble family in Dai Commandery. Having witnessed the ravages of war and the suffering of the displaced from childhood, he vowed to protect his country and its people with his martial skills. Starting out as a low-ranking frontier soldier, he diligently studied military strategy and rigorously enforced discipline. With his exceptional tactical brilliance, he defended Yanmen, adopting scorched-earth tactics to lure the enemy deep into his territory before crushing a hundred thousand Xiongnu horsemen in a single decisive victory and securing decades of peace for the northern frontier.
When Zhao faced ruin after its disastrous defeat at Changping, Li Mu was recalled to Handan in its hour of need. He defeated Qin's armies twice and turned the tide, becoming the final pillar of Zhao. But the court was corrupt, and treacherous officials framed him. This famed general was ultimately unjustly executed through a plot of disinformation, and with his death, his country soon fell.
With epic grandeur, this book recounts Li Mu's life: his brilliance in defending the frontier and defeating the Hu, his loyal resistance to Qin and defense of his country, and his tragic downfall amid slander. It recreates the blood-soaked upheavals of the Warring States and the age-old lament of a hero meeting his end, bringing to life the legend of a peerless loyal general whose strategies surpassed all others.
Well written, know how to listen