In Historical Records, Sima Qian praised Li Guang and demoted Wei Qing and Huo Qubing as courtiers. The so-called courtiers refer to people who have achieved through the luck of the emperor. In Sima Qian's view, people who are superior by nepotism, even if they are in heaven, are disgraceful after all. Li Guang can become a general on the battlefield by his own skill, and his career promotion has been very slow. Arguably, Li Guang, as a veteran general of the Three Dynasties, should be sealed in the State of Wu, but he is still a general. Therefore, when Sima Qian wrote Li Guang, he spent a lot of space to record the deeds of Li Guang, no matter how big or small.

Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, both consorts, Wei Qing was specially promoted by Emperor Wu because of his sister Wei Zifu's favor. Wei Qing's nephew, Huo Qubing, grew up in the palace and was born with a golden key. When Sima Qian wrote about them, they were all cold characters. They went out to crusade against a Xiongnu in a certain year and month, killed many enemies, won or lost, and when they came back. That's it.

Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were both blocked because of a victory, while Li Guang fought hundreds of battles, but Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did not reuse him. Sima Qian cried when he thought of himself, so he praised Li Guang and belittled Wei Qing and Huo Qubing.