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Text: Yanyan
Edited by Yeon-yeon
Preface
Liu Wenjing, the first hero of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, once made great achievements on the battlefield and won a precious iron coupon for his merits.
However, this hero, who held the iron ticket to avoid death, did not escape the fate of death in the end. What was the reason for such a tragic end for this highly decorated founding father?
Why didn't the iron coupon save his life? Behind this, what kind of palace struggles and power games are hidden?
The Rise of Talent: Liu Wenjing's Early Life
At the beginning of the 7th century, the Sui Dynasty was exhausted, and the world was full of heroes. In this turbulent era, a young man named Liu Wenjing is quietly emerging.
Liu Wenjing was born into a family of eunuchs, and his father, Liu Shao, served in the Sui Dynasty. However, fate made people, Liu Shao died on the battlefield, and the young Liu Wenjing had to inherit his father's position and was awarded the official position of Yitong Sansi.
This experience made Liu Wenjing deeply understand the hardships of his career, and also made him cherish the hard-won opportunity even more, and he was determined to make a career in the troubled times.
Liu Wenjing was born with a handsome posture, but also outstanding talents, and a dignified and strategic personality. Such a character is destined not to be unknown. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Liu Wenjing served as the county magistrate of Jinyang (now Taiyuan, Shanxi) and became close friends with Pei Lian, who was the palace supervisor of Jinyang at the time.
The two were like-minded and often talked about world affairs, laying the groundwork for future political alliances. In the process, Liu Wenjing demonstrated excellent social skills and political insight, which laid the foundation for his future career development.
In 617 AD, the gears of fate began to turn. Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang, was appointed to stay in Taiyuan, the future founding emperor who had just arrived and needed a right-hand man.
Liu Wenjing was keenly aware of Li Yuanfei's things in the pool, and resolutely befriended him. However, there were unforeseen circumstances, and Liu Wenjing was imprisoned in Taiyuan County Prison because of her in-law relationship with the Wagang warlord Li Mi.
This prison disaster was a major blow to Liu Wenjing, but it also made him think more carefully about how to survive and thrive in troubled times.
Just when Liu Wenjing was in prison, Li Yuan's son Li Shimin appeared on the stage. This later Tang Taizong visited Liu Wenjing in prison, and the two hit it off at first sight.
Just like Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang's Longzhong pair, Liu Wenjing's insight and strategy deeply moved Li Shimin. From then on, Li Shimin secretly planned an uprising, and Liu Wenjing became one of his most effective advisers.
This encounter not only changed Liu Wenjing's fate, but also laid an important foreshadowing for the establishment of the Tang Dynasty. Liu Wenjing's talent got the best stage, and Li Shimin also found a wise man who could help him achieve great things.
Strategizing: The driving force behind the Taiyuan uprising
Although Li Shimin was ambitious, he was worried that his father Li Yuan would not agree to raise troops. So, he sent Liu Wenjing and Pei Lin to persuade Li Yuan. Liu Wenjing used his eloquence and wisdom to finally move Li Yuan and pave the way for Taiyuan to raise troops.
In the process, Liu Wenjing showed extraordinary persuasiveness and political wisdom. He not only analyzed the current situation, but also skillfully revealed the favorable time to raise troops, and finally succeeded in stimulating Li Yuan's ambitions.
In the autumn of 617, Li Yuan officially raised the banner against the Sui in Taiyuan. At this time, Liu Wenjing had already become the core figure of Li Yuan's group and was appointed as the Sima of the General's Mansion.
In the face of the chaotic situation, Liu Wenjing put forward two key suggestions: first, change the flag to show the new policy; The second is to contact the Turks for assistance. These two tactics were brilliant, demonstrating both the determination to innovate and the strong allies for the rebels.
Liu Wenjing's two proposals reflect his far-sighted strategic vision, which not only takes into account military needs, but also takes into account political propaganda and diplomatic interests, which can be called comprehensive and thoughtful.
Li Yuan took Liu Wenjing's suggestion and sent him as an envoy to the Turks. Liu Wenjing's trip can be described as a war of words, he knew it with affection, moved with reason, and finally persuaded the Turkic Khan.
Shibi Khan not only sent 2,000 cavalry to help, but also gave 1,000 war horses. This "diplomatic dividend" laid a solid foundation for the rise of Li Yuan Group.
Liu Wenjing's diplomatic skills were on full display during this mission, as he not only succeeded in securing military aid, but also skillfully defused a possible Turkic threat to the Central Plains Dynasty.
In November of the same year, Li Yuan established Yang Yu of the Sui Dynasty as the puppet emperor, and he himself became the prime minister. Liu Wenjing's status also rose, and he was appointed as the Sima of the Great Prime Minister's Mansion, awarded the Guanglu Doctor, and was named the Duke of Lu.
Judging from the official position, Liu Wenjing has become the chief strategist under Li Yuan. This series of appointments and awards not only reflects Li Yuan's high trust in Liu Wenjing, but also reflects Liu Wenjing's central position in the new regime.
His talents were fully recognized and utilized, and he made an indelible contribution to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty.
Battlefield Might: The Founding Hero of both civil and military affairs
Liu Wenjing is not only a strategist, but also a brave general. In December 617, he fought a fierce battle with Sang Xianhe, a general of the Sui army, at Tongguan. The fighting was extremely fierce, with thousands of dead and wounded on both sides.
Seeing that the war was stalemate, Liu Wenjing had an idea, and took advantage of the slight relaxation of the Sui army to secretly send surprise troops to cover the rear. This move came by surprise, and finally defeated Sang Xianhe, winning a key victory for Li Yuan's group.
Liu Wenjing's military operation fully demonstrated his tactical talent and ability to adapt to situations on the spot. He was not only able to formulate a thorough battle plan, but also was able to adjust his strategy in a timely manner according to the situation on the battlefield, and this flexible and changeable command style won him the respect of the officers and men in the army.
In 618, the general trend was set. With the assistance of Liu Wenjing and others, Li Yuan accepted Yang Yu's Zen throne and officially established the Tang Dynasty as the ancestor of the Tang Dynasty. Liu Wenjing made great contributions and was appointed as a Nayan and became one of the prime ministers.
What's even more rare is that Tang Gaozu Li Yuan specially rewarded Liu Wenjing with the privilege of "forgiving the second death", which enjoyed the same treatment as Qin King Li Shimin and Pei Lian, which shows Liu Wenjing's high status in the new dynasty.
The privilege of "forgiving two deaths" is not only an affirmation of Liu Wenjing's merits, but also a political guarantee, which can theoretically give him an extra layer of protection in future political struggles.
However, the development of history is often unexpected, and this seemingly powerful umbrella ultimately failed to save Liu Wenjing's fate. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a hundred wastes were waiting to be rebuilt. Liu Wenjing, together with the well-educated scholars of the court, revised the "Kaihuang Law" as the fundamental law of the Tang Dynasty.
This work laid the legal foundation for the long-term peace and stability of the Tang Dynasty and demonstrated Liu Wenjing's ability to govern the country and secure the country. In the process of amending the law, Liu Wenjing showed profound legal knowledge and keen political insight.
He not only paid attention to the rigor and operability of the law, but also paid special attention to how to consolidate the rule of the new dynasty and balance the forces of all parties through the law. This foresight made an important contribution to the construction of the legal system in the Tang Dynasty and left a valuable legal legacy for future generations.
Court Undercurrents: A Prologue to a Power Struggle
However, Game of Thrones is always complex and unpredictable. In the second year of Wude (619), subtle changes began to take place in the court. Liu Wenjing believes that she has outstanding talents and outstanding military achievements, but she finds that her status is far inferior to her former friend Pei Lian.
This gap made him feel unfair, and he often confronted Pei Lin in court and political discussions. Liu Wenjing's dissatisfaction grew, and he began to question the court's way of employing people, believing that his talents were not being fully utilized.
This change in mindset not only affected his work efficiency, but also complicated his interpersonal relationships in the court. The contradictions between the two are deepening day by day, and a storm is brewing.
Liu Wenjing's character is already strong, coupled with dissatisfaction with the status quo, her words and deeds are becoming more and more out of proportion. Once, he had a banquet with his brother Liu Wen, and when the wine was hot, he actually uttered wild words and threatened to kill Pei Lian.
He even drew his saber and slashed at the pillars of the hall to vent his anger. This scene not only reflects Liu Wenjing's inner anxiety and dissatisfaction, but also exposes the impatient and impulsive side of his character.
In the complex environment of the imperial court, such words and deeds are extremely dangerous, laying the groundwork for future tragedies. This scene happened to be seen by one of Liu Wenjing's disgraced concubines.
The concubine held a grudge and immediately told her brother and instigated him to report Liu Wenjing's rebellion to the emperor. When the news reached Tang Gaozu's ears, it immediately caused an uproar. This seemingly accidental event is actually a reflection of the intricate network of interpersonal relationships within the court.
The fact that the whistleblower of a concubine who has fallen out of favor can cause such a huge political turmoil not only shows that Liu Wenjing is not cautious in words and deeds, but also exposes the unstable factors within the early Tang regime.
Tragic Ending: The Price of Achievement
Tang Gaozu was shocked when he heard the news, and immediately ordered Liu Wenjing to be handed over to the judicial organs for interrogation. The presiding over the interrogation was Liu Wenjing's old opponent Pei Lian, and Xiao Yu, an important minister in the court.
Although Li Gang, Xiao Yu and others all thought that Liu Wenjing had no intention of rebelling, and Li Shimin tried his best to defend Liu Wenjing, Pei Lin took the opportunity to fall into the well and tried his best to persuade Tang Gaozu not to be easily pardoned.
Liu Wenjing's fate took a turn. Tang Gaozu Li Yuan had already had a grudge against this high-ranking courtier, but now he listened to the rumors and finally made up his mind to get rid of this potential threat. In the end, Liu Wenjing and his brother Liu Wenqi were both beheaded, and all their family property was confiscated.
What is embarrassing is that the gold medal of "forgiveness of two deaths" in Liu Wenjing's hand is useless when life and death are at stake. This founding hero, at the age of fifty-two, ended his life tragically.
Before the execution, Liu Wenjing looked at the sky and sighed: "The high birds are exhausted, and the good bow is hidden." That's true! This emotion exhausted his sadness and helplessness. However, history always has its justice. After Li Shimin ascended the throne and became emperor, he immediately rehabilitated Liu Wenjing and restored his official title.
In the sixth year of Tianbao (747) in the period of Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Liu Wenjing won a very high honor - "worthy of enjoying the Taimiao", and his spiritual position was enshrined in the temple court of Gaozu to share incense with the founding heroes. This is the highest praise for Liu Wenjing's life's merits, and it is also a kind of compensation for this tragic hero.
epilogue
Liu Wenjing's story reflects the cruel nature of the power game in feudal society. Even with the privilege of "forgiving two deaths", the fate of the heroes is still as fragile as paper.
This tragedy reminds us that under authoritarian systems, the ups and downs of personal honor and disgrace are often at the mercy of others.