Candidates for inclusion:
My list consists of about 220 generals right now, but there are a number that have been proposed that have not enough research done for me to place. If any one here has any ideas on where to place these, please post. Many of these candidates for the list are quite obscure, many with no significant English accounts of their work published... The couple that are well known, I haven't figured out where to place yet.
Do any of you have any more understanding on where these all should go?
Just to briefly comment on some of the Chinese generals on this list.
Wei Qing
Huo Qubing
Sun Ding Fang
Hou Junji
Basic info on their achivements can be found on wikipedia. It is a pity though that so little of China's "24 histories" had been translated into English. Sima Qian's Historical Records and Ban Gu's History of Latter Han (Hou Han Shu) would be the source material for Wei and Huo, while the old and new Tang histories would be the source for Tang generals.
The ranking of this group of generals should be seen in reference to your ranking for Ban Cao (at 149), since all of them made their names as top generals of expansionist Chinese dyansties who were expanding their domains in the west and the north against horse riding steppe nations. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were contemporaries (uncle and nephew) who served Emperor Han Wu Di of the Western Han dynasty against the Xiongnu. Ban Chao served the Eastern Han also against the Xiongnu. Sun and Hou on their part served the Tang against the Tujue in Central Asia.
Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were comparatively much more famous than either Ban Chao and the Tang generals, probably because they fought the Xiongnus at their strongest. They also led the newly minted Han calvarly units and fought in regions where Han was not knowledgeable about. The Xiongnu at this point was a real and present threat to the Western Han and in fact was extracting tribute from the Han a few years before Emperor Wudi decided to start his campaigns. Wei Qing was the better overall commander, a more humane and effective general who rose to become general in chief of all of Han's forces. Huo Qubing was a young Patton on speed- aggressive, heartless (to his men and to his enemies), whose struck deep into Xiongnu territory fearlessly with little thought of supply or reinforcements. Their combined forces struck deep into modern day Inner and Outer Mongolia, as well as incoprporating the Hexi Corridor in modern day Gansu firmly into Han territory.
Aurguably, the Xiongnu fought and defeated by Ban Chao was a weaker force. However, Ban Chao was well known for other reasons: a brilliant diplomat, squad commander (he once led a diplomatic mission with 30 men deep into several Central Asian states using a combination of force and diplomacy), ambassador and general.
Sun Ding Fang and Hou Junji made their name in the campaigns of Tang Taizong (Li Shimin) and Gaozong against Tujue of Central Asia as well as in Korea. I confess I am less knowledgeable on Tang as well as their opponents, but I would venture to guess that the Tang had an easier time against its opponents than Han did. The Tang had a greater knowledge of the terrain and alot more support among non Chinese groups. Of course, the Tang also reached further, but the credit had to be shared with a number of other generals that you do not list, eg Li Jing, Gao Xianzhi (who fought in the Battle of Talas beyond the Pamirs), Li Shiji, Xue Rengui etc. Li Jing and Li Shiji in particular were responsible for cementing Tang's position in both Central Asia and Korea in the reigns of the first two Tang emperors. Both also played a prominent role in ensuring Li-Tang come to power in China.
For an international comparison, these few Tang and Han generals should be compared with the Roman generals who played a role in the expansion of the Roman empire. As far as distances are concerned, the Chinese generals would win hands down in terms of operating far from home base. And for the ferosity and military capabilities of their foes, the Xiongnus and Tujues were definitely comparable to your Germanic, Gualish or British tribes.
) Roman generals of all time. Of course I only use Thutmose as an example of the leaders higher than Stilicho.
