Chapter 75 166 Yan Zhenqing is Strong and Unyielding

After the Anshi Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty turned from prosperity to decline.Jiedu envoys from all over the country took the opportunity to separatize their territory and expand their military strength, resulting in the situation of separatism in feudal lords and towns.After Tang Daizong died, his son Li Shi (sound kuo) came to the throne, which was Tang Dezong.Tang Dezong wanted to change the situation of the dictatorship of the feudal town, which caused a rebellion in the feudal town.As a result of Tang Dezong sending troops to crusade, the rebellion not only failed to be quelled, but spread.

In 782 AD, five feudal towns rebelled, among which Li Xilie, the governor of Huaixi, was the strongest.He claimed to be the marshal of the world and attacked the Tang Dynasty. The Wuzhen rebellion shocked the court greatly.Tang Dezong consulted with Prime Minister Lu Qi, and Lu Qi said: "It doesn't matter. As long as a highly respected minister is sent to persuade them, the rebellion can be quelled without using a knife or a gun." Tang Dezong asked Lu Qi, "Who do you think is suitable to send?" Lu Qi recommended Yan Zhenqing, the elderly prince and grand teacher, and Tang Dezong immediately agreed.

Yan Zhenqing was a very prestigious veteran at that time.Before the Anshi Rebellion, he served as the prefect of Pingyuan.After An Lushan launched the rebellion, most of the counties in Hebei were occupied by the rebels. Only Pingyuan City survived because of Yan Zhenqing's resolute resistance.Later, his cousin Yan Gaoqing raised troops in Gaocheng, and the seventeen counties of Hebei responded, and everyone recommended Yan Zhenqing as the leader of the alliance.In the fight against the Anshi rebels, he made great contributions.During the Tang Dynasty, he was named the Duke of Lu County.Therefore, people also called him Yan Lugong.

Yan Zhenqing is also a famous calligrapher in the history of our country.The characters he wrote are vigorous, vigorous, upright and powerful, which shows his strong character.Later, people called his font "Yan Ti". Yan Zhenqing was an upright person, and was often framed and excluded by traitors, but because of his high prestige, some traitors had to respect him on the surface.Prime Minister Lu Qi is a ruthless person.He hated Yan Zhenqing, usually he couldn't do anything, but this time, taking advantage of the rebellion in the feudal town, he sent Yan Zhenqing to do persuasion work, with the intention of framing him.

At this time, Yan Zhenqing was already an old man in his seventies.Many civil and military officials were worried about his safety when they heard that the imperial court sent him to the rebel town.However, Yan Zhenqing didn't care, and went to Huaixi with a few followers. When Li Xilie heard that Yan Zhenqing was coming, he wanted to show him off.When we met, more than a thousand people who called him and his adopted son gathered inside and outside the hall.Just as Yan Zhenqing started to persuade Li Xilie to stop the rebellion, those generals and adopted sons rushed up, all holding gleaming sharp knives, and surrounded Yan Zhenqing with insults and threats, posing as if they wanted to kill him.Yan Zhenqing was not afraid and sneered at them without changing his expression.

Li Xilie pretended to stand up to protect Yan Zhenqing and ordered his adopted son to withdraw.Then, Yan Zhenqing was sent to the post house in an attempt to soften him slowly. A few days later, the leaders of the four rebel towns all sent envoys to contact Li Xilie and persuade him to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor.Li Xilie hosted a banquet in honor of them and invited Yan Zhenqing to attend. When the envoys sent by the Rebel Town saw Yan Zhenqing coming, they all congratulated Li Xilie and said, "I have heard that Grand Master Yan is highly respected, and now the marshal is about to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor, so the grand master just came here, isn't there a ready prime minister? "

Yan Zhenqing raised his eyebrows and cursed at the four messengers: "What kind of prime minister is not a prime minister! I am almost eighty years old, and I am not afraid of being killed or cut. Would I be tempted by you and afraid of your threats?" The four envoys were frightened by Yan Zhenqing's awe-inspiring expression, they shrank their necks and were speechless. Li Xilie had no choice but to lock up Yan Zhenqing and send soldiers to watch him.The soldiers dug an earth pit measuring one foot square in the yard, and threatened to bury Yan Zhenqing alive in the pit.The next day, when Li Xilie came to see him, Yan Zhenqing said to Li Xilie: "My life and death have been decided, why play these tricks. Wouldn't it be a pleasure for you to chop me off!"

A year later, Li Xilie claimed to be the Emperor of Chu, and sent his generals to force Yan Zhenqing to surrender.In the yard where Yan Zhenqing was imprisoned, the soldiers piled up firewood, poured enough oil, and threatened Yan Zhenqing: "If you don't surrender, you will be burned in the fire!" Without saying a word, Yan Zhenqing jumped into the firewood, and the traitors quickly stopped him and reported back to Li Xilie. Li Xilie tried his best, but failed to make Yan Zhenqing submit, so he sent someone to force Yan Zhenqing to commit suicide.