From a buffalo herder to an outstanding military advisor for Lord Nguyen, who is he?

The person mentioned is Dao Duy Tu (1572-1634), from Nguyen Binh commune, Tinh Gia district, Thanh Hoa province today.

According to the book Nine generations of lords, thirteen generations of kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, under the Trinh Lords, he passed the regional examinations as the second-best at the age of 21. However, later, the court ordered him to take off his hat and erase his name from the golden list because he was discovered to have changed his last name to take the exam, forcing him to travel to the South to make a living.

When he first arrived in the South, because he had no place to stay, Dao Duy Tu had to go all the way to Hoai Nhon (Binh Dinh) to work as a buffalo herder for a rich man.

One day, when he returned from herding buffaloes, he saw that the rich man's house had many Confucian scholars, so he went in to discuss. Here, he revealed his profound wisdom, making many people respect him. The owner of the house bought new clothes for Dao Duy Tu, invited him to sit and lecture, and did not force him to herd buffaloes anymore.

From a buffalo herder, Dao Duy Tu became an outstanding military advisor for Lord Nguyen. (Illustration photo)

Dao Duy Tu's reputation reached Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen. In 1627, after reading Dao Duy Tu's poem Ngoa Long Cuong Van, the Lord recognized that this was a man of great ambition, so he immediately summoned him.

During this meeting, Dao Duy Tu showed his understanding of worldly affairs and the times. The Lord was very pleased and appointed him as Nha Uy Noi Tan, in charge of military affairs and national affairs. From here, Dao Duy Tu officially entered the path of mandarinship.

When trusted by Lord Nguyen, Dao Duy Tu gradually consolidated the Nguyen family's foundation, becoming an outstanding military advisor, praised by the Lord no different from Zhuge Liang assisting Liu Bei.

In 1630 and 1631, Dao Duy Tu initiated and organized the construction of Truong Duc and Thay ramparts in Quang Binh. Thanks to the two ramparts, Lord Nguyen was able to stop the Trinh army in seven battles.

After finding out that Dao Duy Tu had plotted for Lord Nguyen, Lord Trinh regretted losing a talented person and tried to lure him back to the Le - Trinh court, but Dao Duy Tu refused.

In addition to helping Lord Nguyen repel the Trinh army, Dao Duy Tu also had the merit of opening up the Southern land, helping Dang Trong prosper, building a government institution that won the people's hearts, and laying a solid foundation for the Nguyen family.

Thanks to Dao Duy Tu's correct strategies, the Nguyen Lord's government turned a new page, gradually ending its dependence on the Le - Trinh government in Dang Ngoai, becoming a powerful and independent feudal force in Dang Trong.

Dao Duy Tu served Lord Nguyen for 8 years and then died at the age of 63.

Kim Nha

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/tu-nguoi-chan-trau-tro-thanh-quan-su-kiet-xuat-cho-chua-nguyen-ong-la-ai-ar904589.html