Chapter 10 The Historical Truth of the Jinyang Rising Army (Part 1)

In 617 AD, the biggest event in Chinese history was the Jinyang uprising by Li Yuan and his son. It is like a brilliant lightning that splits the sky, piercing the vast night of the Sui Empire in one fell swoop; it is also like a beam of dawn shining through thick clouds, instantly illuminating the morning of the Tang Dynasty. Many people participated in this big event that changed the color of the world and changed the course of history. These people later became the famous founding heroes in the history of the Tang Dynasty.They are Pei Ji, Liu Wenjing, Changsun Shunde, Liu Hongji, Tang Jian, Chai Shao, Yin Kaishan, Liu Zhenghui, Wen Daya, Warrior Huo (huo, Wu Zetian's father)...

These people are the most important backbone of the Jinyang uprising. It is because of their promotion, planning and participation in the implementation that the uprising was successful and the Tang Dynasty was finally born.But in any case, they are only supporting roles in this big event after all. The protagonists of the Jinyang uprising are of course Li Yuan and his son.But the question is, among Li Yuan and his son, who is the leader of this uprising?Who is the real soul of this big event?Who is the first person to create a three-hundred-year foundation of Datang? To this, the official history of all dynasties replied with one voice - Li Shimin.

The "Old Tang Book" compiled by Liu Yu in the later Jin Dynasty claimed: "Taizong and Jinyang ordered Liu Wenjing to conspire and persuade volunteers."The "New Tang Book" compiled by Ouyang Xiu and others in the Northern Song Dynasty also asserted: "It was not the original intention of the ancestors to set up Taiyuan, but Taizong." The editor-in-chief of Sima Guang said categorically: "It was the conspiracy of King Li Shimin of Qin to raise troops in Jinyang. " "The reason why Gaozu has the world is all thanks to Taizong!" However, is the truth of history really like this?

First of all, let's take a look at what Li Shimin and Li Yuan did on the eve of Jinyang's rise of troops according to the official official history "Book of Tang" and "Book of Tang". After Li Shimin came to Taiyuan with Li Yuan, he made friends with a group of righteous men. "Old Book of the Tang Dynasty Taizong Benji" said that it "hiddenly plots righteous deeds, every shoddy corporal, pushes wealth to support customers, and gangsters and heroes are unwilling to do their best." "Zi Zhi Tong Jian Sui Ji Qi" said: "The people of the world are smart and courageous, and have great knowledge. Seeing the chaos of the Sui Dynasty, Yin has the ambition to calm the world. .”

It was at this time that Changsun Shunde and Liu Hongji became life and death friends with Li Shimin.Changsun Shunde is the younger brother of Changsun Sheng, and Liu Hongji was originally a Sui court officer. Because he escaped military service in Liaodong, he fled to Taiyuan and joined Li Yuan, so he married Li Shimin.Both men would later play key roles in recruiting volunteers. In addition, Liu Wenjing and Pei Ji also successively joined the ranks of Li Shimin's "hidden charitable deeds". Liu Wenjing was the Jinyang Order at the time, and Pei Ji was the Jinyang Palace Supervisor at the time, and the two became friends because of their professional contacts.They have witnessed the chaos in the world, but their own future is uncertain, and they often sigh at each other.Once Pei Ji said: "If you are so poor and lowly, and when there is chaos, how can you survive?" At that time, Liu Wenjing had not participated in Li Shimin's conspiracy, but secretly admired him very much, so he took the opportunity to lobby Pei Ji and said: "Li Shimin is an extraordinary person. He is open-minded like Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, and mighty like Emperor Wu of Wei, although he is young, he is a talent for life!" The implication is to let Pei Ji and him attach to Li Shimin, but Pei Ji doesn't take it seriously.

Soon, Liu Wenjing was convicted of having an in-law relationship with Li Mi and was imprisoned in the county jail.Just when he was feeling at a loss about his future, Li Shimin suddenly came to visit him in prison in person.Liu Wenjing was overjoyed, and immediately sent a test to Li Shimin, saying: "The world is in chaos, and those who are not the talents of Han Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu cannot calm the world!" Li Shimin said with a smile: "How does Mr. know? It's just that ordinary people don't know. The reason why I come to see you is not to pay attention to personal feelings like a child, but to plan world affairs with Mr. What do you know?"

Liu Wenjing knew that she had read the right person, so she confided her thoughts: "Now the Lord is going to the south to patrol the Jianghuai River, Li Mi is besieging the Eastern Capital, and there are as many bandits in the world. On this occasion, if there is a Lord who is truly destined, he will respond to the sky and obey others, and raise his arms. Huh, taking the world is as easy as turning the palm of your hand. Today, the people of Taiyuan have all entered Jinyang to avoid war and chaos. Wen Jing has been the order of Jinyang for several years, and they know that there are many heroes among them. If they gather in one day, they can get 100,000 people; There are tens of thousands, who would dare to disobey an order? And then take the opportunity to enter the customs and order the world, and within half a year, the emperor's career can be achieved!"

Li Shimin laughed loudly after hearing this: "Your words are exactly what I want." From then on, Li Shimin and Liu Wenjing began to actively deploy and prepare for the uprising. And at this time, what is Li Yuan doing? According to the official history: "Yuan does not know." Li Shimin said: "I am afraid that Yuan will not follow, I hesitate for a long time, and dare not speak." (Volume 183) Is Li Yuan really so muddle-headed that he doesn't know anything about Li Shimin's conspiracy? We will discuss this issue later, and now let’s look at how Li Shimin "persuaded" Li Yuan to raise troops in the official official history, and how Li Yuan was hesitant and contradictory.

Since Pei Ji and Li Yuan have a good personal relationship, Li Shimin decided to break through from Pei Ji.He made friends with Pei Ji every day, and at the same time took out millions of private money to make people gamble with Pei Ji, and he cheated every time, which made Pei Ji very happy.When the money was almost lost, Li Shimin and Pei Ji became friends as a matter of course.In the end, Li Shimin told Pei Ji about his plot, and at the same time asked him to find a way to persuade Li Yuan. The mouth that eats people is short, and the hand that grabs people is short.At this moment, Pei Ji knew very well how he got the money, so he nodded in agreement.

Li Shimin and Pei Ji quickly thought of a plan.In the days that followed, Pei Ji went to drink with Li Yuan every day, and sent some beauties to him after drinking.For several days in a row, Li Yuan was served comfortably.A few days later, Pei Ji found an opportunity when no one was around, and said to Li Yuan calmly: "Erlang is secretly raising soldiers and horses, and wants to raise the banner of righteousness. He is afraid that the big event will be leaked and punished, so let me serve as a Jinyang palace maid. This is a last resort in desperation. Now that everyone has made up their minds, how about the general will?"

When Li Yuan heard this, he broke into a cold sweat on the spot. It turned out that all the people who had sex with him in the past few days were all the maids of the Jinyang Palace - the women of Emperor Yang Guang!This is the crime of extermination!Unexpectedly, his son and old friend used such a trick to tie him to the "thief ship".This trick is really bad! Li Yuan was stunned for a long time, and finally said helplessly: "Since my son has this plan, and the matter has come to this point, what should I do? I have to follow him." Although Li Yuan stepped on the "thief ship" with one foot, he was forced to do nothing after all, so he hesitated for a few days and then withdrew his foot. Not long after, another incident happened that almost made him lose his head, and he was once again forced into a dilemma.That is the invasion of Eastern Turks. From the end of the twelfth day of Daye to the first month of the next year, the Eastern Turks repeatedly sent troops to invade Mayi (now Shuo County, Shanxi). Li Yuan sent Gao Junya, the deputy left behind, to join forces with Mayi prefect Wang Rengong to resist, but they suffered a defeat.Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty, who was in Jiangdu, was furious when he heard the news. He sent envoys to Taiyuan to detain Li Yuan on the spot and planned to behead Wang Rengong on the grounds that "capture captives from time to time, even as border troubles". When Li Shimin saw that the time was ripe, he finally said to Li Yuan face to face: "Now the Lord has no way, the people are poor, and there are battlefields outside Jinyang City. Day! Why don't you follow the will of the people and raise righteous soldiers to turn misfortunes into blessings? This is the time God has given." Li Yuan turned pale with shock: "How can you say such rebellious words? I'll report you right now." Then he took out a pen and paper, and acted as if he was about to write quickly. Li Shimin looked calm, and said slowly: "Shimin sees the world and people like this, so he dares to speak out; if father must report me, he dare not resign!" Li Yuan threw away his pen angrily, and said, "How can I have the heart to report you? You have to be careful, don't say such things again." Unexpectedly, the next morning, Li Shimin came again.Li Yuan heard him persevere and said: "The number of thieves is increasing and they are all over the world. My father is ordered to punish the thieves. Can the thieves finish? In the end, he will be charged with the crime of not doing enough to hunt down the thieves. And the world is rumored that Li should be a prophecy, That's why Li Jincai was innocent, but his family was wiped out. Taking a step back, even if his father can wipe out all the thieves, since ancient times, he will not be rewarded for his achievements, and the danger will be even greater! Only yesterday's words can save the disaster. This is a surefire strategy. May father No doubt!" Li Yuan looked up to the sky and sighed: "I was thinking about what you said all night yesterday, but it actually made sense. Today, it's up to you whether the family is destroyed or the family is turned into a country. Everything is up to you." At this time, Li Yuan is really helpless and resigned to his fate! A few days later, the envoy of Emperor Sui Yang arrived again, ready to escort Li Yuan and Wang Rengong to Jiangdu for questioning.Li Yuan suddenly panicked.Therefore, Li Shimin, Pei Ji and others once again said to Li Yuan: "The current ruler is confused and the country is chaotic, and it is useless to be loyal. If the deputy loses in the battlefield, he should also blame Minggong. The danger is imminent, and it is better to make a plan early. They have accumulated money and hundreds of thousands of cloth and silk, so what’s the trouble? The acting king who is staying in Chang’an today is young and weak. If the Duke of Ming beats drums and heads west, occupying Chang’an is like picking up something. " At this point, Li Yuan finally made up his mind and began to deploy secretly.But within a few days, the envoys of the emperor from Jiangdu arrived again, proclaiming that Li Yuan and Wang Rengong were pardoned for their defeat and reinstated.After the pardon was issued, Li Yuan immediately repented and refused to mention the matter of righteousness. In the days that followed, more and more people were urging Li Yuan to join forces.Such as Xu Shixu, the Sima of the Yingyang Mansion, the marching Sikai warrior Yu, the former prince Zuo Xunwei Tang Xian, his younger brother Tang Jian and so on. However, everyone's lips were worn out, and the words that should be said were repeated over and over again, so Li Yuan still didn't move. Liu Wenjing couldn't bear it anymore, so she had to put pressure on Pei Ji: "Those who strike first, those who strike later control others. Why don't you hurry up and persuade Tang Gong to raise troops, how can you delay it again and again with excuses? Besides, as a palace supervisor, you serve others privately as a palace maid , you can die alone, why bother Mr. Tang?" Pei Ji was touched on a sore spot.That's right, if Li Yuan doesn't get off the ground for a long time, if the incident of the Jinyang palace maid's escort is leaked, then even if he has eight heads, Pei Ji won't be enough to chop off! From then on, Pei Ji had no choice but to chase Li Yuan every day, stalking and stalking Li Yuan, and finally convinced Li Yuan thoroughly.Li Yuan then asked Liu Wenjing to forge an imperial edict, and in the name of the imperial court’s preparations for four expeditions to Korea, ordered that all those in the four counties of Taiyuan, Xihe, Yanmen, and Mayi who were over 20 years old and under 50 years old be conscripted into the army, so as to expand their armed forces. Get ready to fight. This is the cause and inside story of the Jinyang uprising recorded in the official history of the past dynasties.Here, Li Yuan is portrayed as a mediocre, cowardly, unambitious, suspicious and repetitive puppet figure; while Li Shimin, who is not yet twenty years old, is portrayed as a far-sighted, resourceful, and firm-willed leader, showing a kind of Mature and stable far beyond his age.Here, Li Shimin undoubtedly became the "leader" of Jinyang's uprising, while Li Yuan was kept in the dark from the beginning, and later he was forced to be involved in this incident, almost by means of kidnapping. This "thief ship" that raised troops to rebel against the Sui Dynasty was incompetent and helpless from beginning to end. Is this the truth of history?