赵母 / Zhao Kuo’s Mother

赵母 / Zhao Kuo’s Mother enters the wiki through 《资治通鉴·周纪》94丨杀神白起，长平之战中的“草包”名将？（1） as the family witness who argues that 赵括 should not command at 长平之战. Her warning comes after 蔺相如 has already objected and after 赵奢’s earlier private judgment of his son is recalled.

Her argument is concrete rather than abstract. She contrasts Zhao She, who shared rewards with subordinate officers, cared for soldiers, and put state affairs before household affairs once commissioned, with Zhao Kuo, who accepts the appointment with visible arrogance, takes rewards home, and buys fields and houses. The episode uses her as the sharpest source for command character: a general must be able to share hardship, distribute credit, and stay focused on the war rather than private accumulation.

When 赵丹 / 赵孝成王 still appoints Zhao Kuo, she asks that the family not be punished if the campaign fails. The request links her warning to guilt-by-association risk and shows that she expects failure strongly enough to seek protection before the battle outcome.

Connections

• 赵括 and 赵奢 - son and husband whose contrasting command qualities define her warning.
• 赵丹 / 赵孝成王 and 蔺相如 - ruler who rejects the advice and earlier ministerial objector.
• 纸上谈兵式统帅陷阱, 阵前换将风险, and 长平之战 - concept and battle setting made concrete by her remonstrance.
• 连坐式责任牵连 - punishment risk addressed by her request.