In the long river of Chinese history, power and bloodshed are often the dark forces that push the wheel of history forward. The story of Wu Zetian, the only woman officially crowned emperor, is particularly fascinating, not only because she broke the shackles of gender, but also because of her extraordinary skill in consolidating power. However, not everyone falls victim to a power struggle in this power game. Cheng Yanjin, a general with excellent martial arts and wisdom, is an exception. His story is not only about survival, but also about the contest between personal wisdom and the fate of the times.
The rise of Cheng Yanjin began with the turmoil in the late Sui Dynasty. Born into a modest family in Shandong, he showed extraordinary martial arts and leadership skills since he was a child. In the last years of the Sui Dynasty, when society was in turmoil, Cheng Yaojin gathered villagers to guard against foreign enemies, and soon stood out with his bravery and military talents. He successively defected to Li Mi, Wang Shichong and other separatist forces, and finally defected to Li Shimin and became one of the founding fathers of the Tang Dynasty. His career has been full of twists and turns from the beginning, but it is these experiences that have sharpened his will and demonstrated his ability to adapt to the situation and seize opportunities.
The rise and fall of the Guanlong clique had a profound impact on the political landscape of the early Tang Dynasty. This group straddled both military and political spheres and posed a serious challenge to imperial power. As the representative of the group, the eldest grandson Wuji is so powerful that it almost rivals the imperial power. However, Cheng did not get caught up in this political game, but chose to maintain a neutral attitude. He neither openly supported nor actively opposed Wu Zetian's usurpation, and this golden mean allowed him to get out of the internal strife of the Guanlong group and avoid the fate of being purged by Wu Zetian.
After Wu Zetian came to power, she dealt with the opposition forces extremely harshly. She attacked the Guanlong group, weakened the power of Changsun Wuji and others, and consolidated her position through a series of political means. However, in the midst of these political storms, Cheng has always maintained a relatively neutral attitude, focusing on his military duties. His behavior not only reflected his loyalty to the Tang Dynasty, but also showed his sober understanding of the situation. Cheng Yanjin's wisdom lies in the fact that he knows when to hold on and when to retreat, and this ability to judge the situation allowed him to survive Wu Zetian's purge.
However, even if Cheng Yanjin escaped Wu Zetian's purge, his life under Wu Zetian's rule was not easy. He was marginalized, idle, and even implicated and dismissed. These experiences made Cheng Yanjin deeply appreciate the impermanence of history and the cruelty of fate. Even if they are the founding heroes, they will inevitably become outcasts at some point. Therefore, Cheng Yanjin finally chose to live in seclusion, not only to avoid further political purges, but also a deep understanding of the fate of the times.
Cheng Yanjin's story tells us that although individuals cannot change the direction of history, they can find a way to survive in the face of fate through wisdom and insight. His life is the best interpretation of "wise and courageous, loyal and scheming". In that era of intrigue and bloodshed in the Tang Dynasty, Cheng Yanjin's survival was not accidental, but the inevitable result of his personal wisdom and character.