The Four Great Generals were Bai Qi, a Qin general during the Warring States period; Han Xin, from the early Han dynasty; and Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, who served under Emperor Wu of Han.
Bai Qi was hailed as the God of War and the God of Slaughter. He fought throughout his life, taking a million heads for Qin and never suffering a defeat, only to end up condemned to death by the King of Qin.
Han Xin pacified the Three Qin regions, subdued Wei, destroyed Zhao, brought Yan under control, conquered Qi, and forced Xiang Yu to take his own life at Wu River, yet his story ended in tragedy.
Huo Qubing, Marquis of Champion, won all six of his campaigns and raised a monument on Mount Langjuxu. But his story stopped forever in the sixth year of the Yuanshou era, when he was just twenty-three.
And then there was Wei Qing, who rose from a slave groom to General of Chariots and Cavalry, then became Marquis of Guannei, Marquis of Changping, and finally Grand General. When there were no more honors left to bestow, Emperor Wu even found the title Grand Marshal in the history books to grant him. In the end, he died peacefully.
Emperors often say,
