Li Shimin is one of the most famous emperors in China. As a monarch, he knew people well and was generous in heart, and was known as a monarch who did not kill heroes (except for traitors, Li Shimin really did not kill heroes). Li Shimin does not kill heroes, in addition to personality reasons, but also has an inseparable relationship with his superb art of commanding. No matter how strong the courtiers were, in the face of Li Shimin's imperial heart technique, they only had a share of subservience, including Li Jing, the military god of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Jing, also known as a medicine man, was a famous military figure of the Tang Dynasty. Originally, Li Jing was a Sui courtier and was not very close to Li Yuan. When Li Yuan revealed his opposite, Li Jing had originally planned to flee to Jiangdu and inform the Sui Emperor of the matter. Who knew that before the trip could be completed, Li Jing was arrested by Li Jing and sentenced to death.
Before his execution, Li Jing shouted to Li Yuan:
"You have raised up the rebels in order to help the world and suppress the riots. If something big hasn't happened yet, do you want to kill the heroes? ”
Perhaps Li Yuan's so-called killing of Li Jing was actually just to scare him. When Li Jing expressed his obedience, Li Yuan pardoned him and handed it over to Li Shimin.
In the civil war, Li Jing was distinguished in helping the Tang Dynasty defeat the Jingzhou warlord Xiao Qiao. In this regard, Li Yuan said triumphantly:
"It is better to make the work of the emperor than to make it too much, and Li Jingguo shows its effect!"
Not only that, Li Yuan also took Li Jing's hand and said, "Before you were sorry for me, I didn't blame you in the past!" After that, Li Jing followed Li Xiaogong and successively pacified warlords such as Fu Gongtuo, and almost all of jiangnan was laid down by Li Jing alone.
After the reunification of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jing, who had distinguished himself, was soon embroiled in a deadly political whirlpool, the Xuanwumen Revolution. In order to win over this general, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin both used their strength, but Li Jing, who had no intention of taking sides, did not say anything. Before the Xuanwumen Rebellion broke out, Li Shimin sent someone to inform Li Jing of the incident and inquire about his attitude. However, Li Jing pretended to be deaf and dumb, neither giving Advice to Li Shimin nor wanting Li Jiancheng to inform.
After the change of XuanwuMen, Li Shimin ascended to the throne. On the surface, Li Shimin still appointed Li Jing and gave him 400 households of food. But secretly, Li Shimin was defensive against Li Jing at every turn, because he knew that Li Jing had never become his own person, far inferior to Hou Junji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruyi, and others who had been his subjects. However, at that time, the Tang Dynasty was facing a serious border situation, and the Eastern Turks, Tuguhun and Goguryeo were looking at the border, and if there was no general like Li Jing to suppress the front, the Tang Dynasty's border would never be peaceful.
Sure enough, in the fourth year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin took Li Jing as a general and attacked the Eastern Turks. In this battle, Li Jing raided the tooth tent of Jieli Khan with 3,000 cavalry, won a complete victory, and attacked the Eastern Turk Khanate in one fell swoop.
It is said that at such a small price, such brilliant achievements have been achieved, and Li Jing's merits have surpassed the ancient Wei Qing and Huo Qi, and they should be rewarded generously. However, unexpectedly, after Li Jing returned to Chang'an, Li Shimin scolded him. It turned out that someone impeached Li Jing for not being strict in governing the army, which led to the sergeant robbing the tooth tent of Jieli Khan, resulting in the treasures of the Turkic country being scattered in the hands of soldiers.
Just when Li Jing was trembling and waiting for the will to punish, Li Shimin retracted his anger, rewarded Li Jing heavily, and said: "The person who accused you before was just a false accusation, and I have now woken up, and I hope you don't mind." After saying this, he gave Li Jing two thousand silk horses and worshiped him as Shangshu's right servant.
Obviously, all the accusations against Li Jing were at the behest of Li Shimin. The reason why he gave both sticks and carrots was to beat Li Jing. On the one hand, let Li Jing not be arrogant and despise the emperor; on the other hand, he is also admonishing him that as long as he obeys, he will not worry about no wealth.
After understanding Li Shimin's "good intentions", Li Jing began to become silent. Whenever he attended the dpron meeting, Li Jing pretended to be deaf and dumb and did not say a word. After retiring from the DPRK, Li Jing immediately returned home, closed the door, and resolutely refused to communicate with outsiders. In the eighth year of Zhenguan, Li Jing may not be able to bear the pressure of Li Shimin, so he asked Li Shimin for retirement on the grounds that "the foot disease has not been cured".
However, how could Li Shimin easily let Li Jing go, so he praised: "Since ancient times, there have been too few people who are rich and noble, but they can be satisfied with happiness. And Li Jing is such a pure minister, so I must commend him and make him a model for a generation. So Li Shimin refused Li Jing's request for retirement, and gave him and a few rods to help him treat his foot disease.
Soon after, Tuguhun rebelled, and Li Shimin did not care about any foot disease, and he must make Li Jing, who was over 60 years old, send troops to the region. At this time, Li Jing was already an extremely popular subject and no longer needed merit to prove himself. However, in desperation, Li Jing still led his troops out of the blockade and attacked Tuguhun in one fell swoop.
Li Jing swept away the masses internally and destroyed the two kingdoms externally, making an immortal contribution. After the death of Li Jing's wife, Li Shimin ordered Li Jing to build a mausoleum in advance and piled up two mountains in front of his tomb to symbolize his wuxun of attacking the Turks and Tuguhun. Later, Li Shimin painted Li Jing and others in Lingyange and made him the Duke of Weiguo.
It is said that Li Jing has behaved so obediently that Li Shimin should be able to let him go. But what is lamentable is that Li Shimin still did not give up beating Li Jing, who was already old and sick.
In the eighteenth year of Zhenguan (644), Li Shimin personally conquered Goguryeo. Before leaving, Li Shimin drove to Li Jing's mansion again. At that time, Li Jing was lying sick in bed, dying. So Li Shimin asked Li Jing, "Aiqing Dongping Jiangnan, Northern Qing Desert, Western Ding Murong, only the eastern Goryeo has not perished, do you want to go with me?" ”
In this regard, Li Jing said: "I am old and sick, and I may die on the road and drag Down Your Majesty." Listening to Li Jing's words, Li Shimin said without smiling:
''Mian Zhi, Sima Zhongda was not old and sick, but was able to strengthen himself and establish the Wei Room. ''
The simple translation is, yes! At that time, Sima Yi was also old and sick, and later he suddenly "strengthened himself" and made meritorious contributions to the State of Wei. Hearing this, Li Jing broke out in a cold sweat, quickly jumped out of bed, and prostrated:
"Old minister, please lift up the sick deeds."
Friends who know history know that Sima Yi was old and sick for a long time when he launched the Gaopingling Rebellion and usurped the state of Cao Wei. However, when Cao Shuang let down his guard, Sima Yi suddenly raised his sword, killed Cao Shuang and seized Cao Wei's authority. Therefore, Li Shimin is actually implying:
"Li Jing, you are old and sick, do you want to learn from Sima Yi to seize my position?"
It can be seen from this that even though Li Jing is old and weak, Li Shimin is still wary of him. Li Shimin was in dingzhou, the crown prince Li Zhi was in Dingzhou, and there was no guarantee that Li Jing would do anything, after all, there was a lesson learned from Sima Yi.
In desperation, Li Jing had no choice but to beat his spirits and go out with the army, and when he arrived in Xiangzhou, Li Jing finally could not move. And Li Shimin also felt that he was too much and let Li Jing stay in China. Five years later, Li Jing fell ill and died in Chang'an. After a lifetime of anxiety, Li Jing could finally take a break.
Just as the so-called companion is like a companion tiger, the king's grace is unpredictable. If you do not understand the art of self-preservation, instead of hunting for wealth and wealth, glory and your descendants, you may be killed. Although Li Jing was a General of the Tang Dynasty, he was born from a prisoner. In the change of Xuanwu Gate, he did not take the side of Li Shimin. Therefore, from the very beginning, Li Shimin did not trust Li Jing. For Li Jing's favor, it was only to use his military talent.
How could Li Jing, who was well versed in power and scheming, not understand this? Therefore, he is obscure and tries to keep a low profile. Even if he was ill, as soon as he heard the order to go out on the expedition, he beat the spiritual leader and made a great achievement. But what is chilling is that when Li Jing was indeed bedridden because of his old illness, Li Shimin still beat him with Sima Yi's old affairs. This can't help but make people wonder whether Li Shimin's benevolence is his disguise.
The wiser the emperor, the deeper his plot is, and perhaps it is Li Shimin's plot of "preferring to kill a thousand by mistake, but not letting go of one" that has enabled him to create such a great achievement. And Li Jing was also well versed in power and scheming, and ultimately saved his life and wealth.