Liu Ji vs Tonyukuk

Liu Ji, known as Liu Bowen, joined Zhu Yuanzhang's rebel forces and advised him on military strategy. He proposed a plan to first secure the south and then march north to capture the Yuan capital Dadu.

Liu Ji served as a key strategist in the naval battle of Lake Poyang against the rival rebel leader Chen Youliang. His tactics, including the use of fire ships, helped Zhu Yuanzhang achieve a decisive victory.

Liu Ji contributed to the planning and construction of Nanjing as the Ming capital. He advised on the city's layout, fortifications, and feng shui principles, which influenced the design of the imperial city.

Liu Ji retired from court and wrote the 'Jade Box' (Yujue), a collection of military and political strategies. This work became a classic of Chinese strategic thought, often compared to Sun Tzu's Art of War.

Tonyukuk served as the chief advisor and strategist to Bilge Qaghan during the restoration of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. He counseled against premature attacks on the Tang and advocated for a gradual buildup of strength, which proved successful.

Tonyukuk led a military campaign against the Tang dynasty and their Turkic allies. He used guerrilla tactics and surprise attacks to defeat larger Tang forces, securing the khaganate's independence and expanding its territory.

Tonyukuk commissioned his own memorial inscription, the Tonyukuk inscription, which is one of the Orkhon inscriptions. It recounts his life, his role in the khaganate's revival, and his military campaigns, providing a detailed first-person account of Turkic history.

Tonyukuk died of natural causes at an advanced age. His death marked the end of an era for the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, as he was the last of the great founding figures. His strategic wisdom was greatly missed in the subsequent years.