Is “Li Guang's life experiences and evaluation as a famous general” true?

histories differ

In Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of General Li Guang, Sima Qian writes with profound sympathy, praising Li Guang's simplicity and sincerity: "I saw General Li, honest and simple like a common man, unable to speak eloquently. At the day of his death, all under heaven, whether they knew him or not, mourned for him... A proverb says, 'Peaches and plums do not speak, yet a path is worn beneath them.'" In History of Han, Biography of Li Guang and Su Jian, Li Guang is combined with Su Jian, and the eulogy adds severe criticism: "From Guang to Ling, they lost their clan, alas!" Records of the Grand Historian purely expresses regret and admiration, while History of Han uses Su Wu's death for honor to contrast the failure of Li's family.

Li Guang

Records of the Grand Historian devotes a single chapter to Li Guang with deep sympathy, while History of Han combines him with others and criticizes him for not dying for honor.

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