In the history of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Yun was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people with his image of bravery, good fighting, loyalty and reliability. As an important general of Shu Han, he made great contributions to Liu Bei. However, it is confusing that despite Zhao Yun's bravery, his two sons do not seem to have inherited his good qualities and have been described as "straw bales". Why is that?Some people speculate that it was because Zhao Yun offended someone.
First of all, we have to make it clear that there is no conclusive evidence in history that Zhao Yun's two sons were indeed incompetent. This evaluation may be based more on the legends and interpretations of later generations. However, if we look at this question from a historical and literary perspective, perhaps some clues can be found.
In the history of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Yun's loyalty and bravery are unquestionable. As Liu Bei's cronies, he has stepped forward at critical moments many times and made great contributions to Liu Bei. However, this loyalty and bravery were not directly passed on to his two sons. Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang in history did not become outstanding generals like their fathers, nor did they make significant military achievements. This may be one of the reasons why they are described as "straw bales".
In addition, we cannot ignore the influence of historical power struggles and political factors. As an important general of Shu Han, Zhao Yun's loyalty and prestige undoubtedly aroused the jealousy and hostility of others. During the Three Kingdoms period, open and secret battles between powerful ministers were common. Therefore, some speculate that Zhao Yun may have offended some powerful people, causing his two sons to not get the opportunities and resources they deserve to show their talents. This speculation, while unproven, cannot be completely ruled out.
In addition, we need to consider the issue of family succession. In ancient societies, family inheritance was very important. Zhao Yun is a famous general of Shu Han, and his family has naturally attracted much attention. However, if Zhao Yun's family is not properly inherited and educated, then it will be difficult for his descendants to inherit and carry forward his excellent qualities. This may be another reason why Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang did not become outstanding generals.
To sum up, regarding the issue of Zhao Yun's two sons being described as "straw bales", we can think about it from multiple angles. The historical records are not clear, and the legends and interpretations of later generations are also exaggerated and misunderstood. We should look at this issue with an objective attitude, and at the same time, we should also recognize the influence of various factors such as family inheritance and political struggles on the fate of historical figures.