A renowned statesman, mandarin and military theorist was the 15th Century writer Nguyen Trai. His father was also a renowned mandarin who had been sent to China after the Ming Dynasty overran Vietnam. At only twenty years of age Nguyen Trai passed the doctoral level examination in 1400 and became a government official in the bureaucracy of the newly established Ho Dynasty. Only a few years later in 1407 the Chinese returned and again seized power in Vietnam. The Chinese wished to use the talented Nguyen Trai in thier own regime but he bravely refused to collaborate and was placed under house arrest in Hanoi.
In 1418 the legendary Le Loi began his revolt against the Chinese and Nguyen Trai escaped his captivity and joined the rebellion, soon becoming Le Loi's closest advisor. It was his strategies that were largely responsible for the Vietnamese victory over the Chinese under Le Loi's leadership in 1428. Nguyen Trai emphasized the political aspect of any war (much like the German Clausewitz many years later). He believed that the ideological battle was just as important as the physical battle in the ultimate victory and is famous for his statement, "it is better to conquer hearts than citadels". He wrote about the strategies of a protracted conflict, of using negotiations to confuse your enemy and the importance of timing in choosing the moment to attack. These were all lessons employed by the North Vietnamese against the United States, and even hundreds of years later allowed for an impoverished Third World country to defeat a super-power. It was the writings of Nguyen Trai that became Vietnam's declaration of independence from China.
After 1428, when Le Loi was made Emperor Le Thai To of Vietnam, Nguyen Trai continued to serve the now free Vietnam. Those around Nguyen Trai became jealous and suspicious of him because of his high moral standards. As a devoted student of Confucius he believed in the values of honor, integrity, morality and purity of purpose. Nguyen Trai retired after the Emperor's death but when his son, Emperor Le Thai Tong died soon after visiting the mandarin in Hai Hung Province Nguyen Trai and his entire family were executed on suspicion of regicide. However, there was no real proof of this and 20 years later his honor was restored by the Emperor Le Thanh Tong. Nguyen Trai will always be remembered for his loyalty to the Emperor and Vietnam, his military genius and his Confucian righteousness. He stands out as one of Vietnam's greatest heroes. |
