Liu Wenjing saw that Li Yuan had great ambitions and also praised Li Shimin. Li Shimin believed that Liu Wenjing could conspire with him to plan big things, and often discussed the situation with him. Liu Wenjing encouraged Li Shimin to take advantage of the ripe opportunity to take advantage of the situation and order the world, and in less than half a year, the emperor could succeed. Liu Wenjing knew that Li Yuan and Pei Huan were good friends, so he introduced Pei Huan to Li Shimin, and the three of them plotted together.
After Li Yuan raised an army, he called himself a great general and made Liu Wenjing the sima of the general's palace. Liu Wenjing suggested that Li Yuan unite with the Turks as a support, and with the support of the Turkic army, Liu Wenjing personally led an army to attack the Sui Dynasty general Qu Tutong, and eventually Qu Tutong was captured, and Li Yuan called himself Emperor Gaozu of Tang and made Liu Wenjing the prime minister. Liu Wenjing made great contributions to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty and can be described as a great founding hero.
▲ Tang Gaozu Li Yuan film and television stills
Pei Huan was also working with Liu Wenjing to plan an army for Li Yuan, but Pei Huan's merits were far less than Li Yuan's, Pei Huan was not decisive in the face of things, nor did he have the ability to lead the troops to fight, and several times he was sent out by Li Yuan to fight and was defeated, but Li Yuan and Pei Huan had a better relationship in private, Pei Yuan was a Sui Dynasty official, when Li Yuan raised an army, Pei Huan scattered the Sui Dynasty treasury to help Li Yuan, so Li Yuan did not blame Pei Yuan for defeating the battle, and still treated him well, and the official treatment was above Liu Wenjing.
Liu Wenjing could not help but feel uneasy in his heart, and often opposed Pei Huan when discussing the government of the dynasty, and everything that Pei Huan approved of had to be opposed. The contradiction between the two is very deep. Liu Wenjing once said that he was going to kill Pei Huan when he was drunk, and coupled with the fact that there were several demon incidents in the family, Liu Wenjing's younger brother Liu Wenqi summoned a wizard to wear a hair knife at night and exorcise the demons. Accused of rebellion by Liu Wenjing's unfavored concubine, Liu Wenjing was arrested, and Li Yuan ordered Pei Ton to interrogate him. In the face of interrogation, Liu Wenjing bluntly said that the resentment and dissatisfaction in her heart can also be regarded as a bright and honest husband. Li Shimin also tried his best to save Liu Wenjing, saying that he did have dissatisfaction, but he had no intention of rebellion.
▲ Pei Ning film and television stills
However, Pei Huan took the opportunity to enter the speech: "Liu Wenjing's talent and strategy are indeed above everyone, but she is jealous of sinister nature and does not care about difficulties, and her ugly words and strangeness have been revealed." If there is no decision today, and there are fierce enemies outside, if Liu Wenjing is pardoned, he will be in trouble. Tang Gaozu was already suspicious of Liu Wenjing, and he listened to Pei's rumors, so he beheaded Liu Wenjing and Liu Wenqi and confiscated his family property.
For Liu Wenjing to have such a fate, we can't help but feel sorry for him, the reasons are only the following points:
▲Liu Wenjing film and television stills
First, Li Yuan, the emperor of Tang Gaozu, did not listen to his son's advice, but he listened to Pei's rumors, and it was really not right to kill Liu Wenjing, the founding hero of the country.
Second, in the face of the founding heroes, Li Yuan favored one over the other, resulting in discord between the courtiers and causing contradictions, and only then did he have such an ending.
Third, Liu Wenjing herself also has problems, as a courtier, in the face of unfair treatment, it is inevitable that it is a little frivolous and impatient. Facing the front of the court, he offended the narrow-minded Pei Huan, ended up in disgrace, and also tired of his brother.
▲Li Shimin film and television stills
Liu Wenjing's death is a bit cruel to Li Shimin, who values talent. He struggled with his tongue, but he was unable to save the lives of his courtiers. In the third year of Zhenguan (629), Li Shimin, who had already succeeded to the throne as emperor, rehabilitated Liu Wenjing and posthumously restored his official title. From this, it can be seen how unwilling Li Shimin is to Liu Wenjing's death. Li Yuan murdered the founding hero for an untrustworthy rumor, which made Li Shimin very unconvinced. I think this is also one of the reasons why Li Shimin forced Li Yuan to give way after the change of Xuanwumen.