李勣

While thinking about Y, the usual question that we ask is: What is the honorable way-out?

I would not tell you what I think - or whether I actually have any thought. However, the story of Li Shiji (李世勣) may be illuminating.

For those who are not familiar with the history of the Tang (唐) Empire, Li was considered as one of the most prominent early Tang generals, and was the critical man in the campaigns against the Syr-Tardouch (薛延陀) alliance, the Turks (突厥), and Goguryeo (高句麗). According to the official historical record, Li was made the successor of the lengendary Fang Xuanling (房玄齡) and became Shangshu Puye (尚書僕射) of the Tang Empire (a post equivalent to Prime Minister nowadays).

Alas, you may notice the critical question: Why should an eminent army general be appointed as the chief of the governmental system? After all, we are not in the States and Dwight Eisenhower became the American president for very different reasons.