Li Jing, a great general of the Tang Dynasty, was born in the Northern and Southern dynasties, where the Hu style was strong, and experienced the ups and downs of the Sui dynasty, and died in the Zhenguan(貞觀) period at the beginning of Tang Dynasty. He has not received any negative comments in the historical records. Although his career did not go smoothly, but the older the wisdom, the more mature, eventually, became a general and a minister, and his name stayed forever.
Li Jing has a rich knowledge of military science. His book on military science nvolves the categories of Yin Yang(陰陽), five elements and so on. Only Questions and Replies between Tang Taizong and Li Weigong (唐太宗李衛公問對)can be seen completely handed down till now. In addition, Li Jing Art of War can be found in Tongdian(通典) , Taiping Imperial Review(太平御覽), and General Notes of Wu Jingin(武經總要) etc., Wang Zongyi(汪宗沂) integrated the quoted text into Weigong Collection of Art of War(衛公兵法輯本). Questions and Replies between Tang Taizong and Li Weigong was approved as one of the seven books of Wu Jing(武經七書) by Emperor Shenzong(宋神宗), which are often questioned as a "forgery" and even depreciated as a "despicable book" by many generations. There is no conclusion yet, but it must be a great and considerable value of military science that can be handed down till now.
History records that Li Jing fought battles without any defeat. Analyzing the four battles in the early Tang Dynasty: the conquest of Xiao Xian(蕭銑), the pacification of Fu Gongshi(輔公袥), the destruction of Eastern Turkic Khaganate(東突厥), and the pacification of Tuyuhun(吐谷渾), we know that Li Jing's strategy was mainly based on the principle of "speed is of the essence and opportunity cannot be lost", supplemented by alienation, catching an enemy off guard with a surprise attack, matching the timing and the location, most able to put the few against the many, win by a surprise move, and win all his battles.
In the 17th year of Zhenguan (643), Taizong imperial edict painted Li Jing in Lingyan Pavilion(凌煙閣) as one of the 24 meritorious officials who founded the Tang Dynasty. After Li Jing's death, he was often included in the list of accompanying sacrifices at martial temples in successive generations. Relevant states, counties, and towns where he had been are often found in ancestral temples for later generations to commemorate. After the Song Dynasty, literary works combined the Buddhist belief in King Bishamonten with the image of General Li Jing, who became the "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li(托塔李天王)", who subdued and eliminated demons, the father of Third Prince Nezha(三太子哪吒), and the god of folk beliefs.