Tang Taizong Li Shimin once said, "Since ancient times, all chinese are noble, and they are as good as one, so their seeds are like their parents." Under the guidance of this open mind, Tang Taizong appointed many ethnic minority generals, who fought for the Tang Dynasty, were born into death, and made great military achievements. One of them was deeply loved by Li Shimin, and after he was captured, Tang Taizong even agreed to exchange his daughter for it! So who is this person?
1. The Tiele nobles
This person's name was Qifu Heli, and he was a Tiele man. Tiele, also known as Gaoche, Shule, and Ding Zero, was originally a nomadic people in the north, and later moved to the northwest region. Qifu Heli was born into the Tiele nobility, and his ancestors were the chiefs of the Tiele tribe. During the Sui Dynasty, Qifu Heli's father, due to his small territory, went to war with Tuguhun and moved west to Atami. Later, Qifu Heli's father died, and the 9-year-old Qifu Heli became the leader of the clan.
In the sixth year of Zhenguan (632), Qifu Heli took his mother and led thousands of people to Shazhou, "with the table attached", expressing his willingness to submit to the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong of Tang was very happy and "left his tribe in The Two Prefectures of Gan and Liang." After arriving in Chang'an, QiFu He Li was made a general of the Left Army by Li Shimin, and his mother was given the title of Lady of Guzang County. The following year, Qifu HeLi participated in the war against Tuguhun, and he led thousands of cavalry to "attack the Tuguhun tooth tent, behead thousands of people, and obtain more than 200,000 camels, horses, cattle and sheep." ”
2. Refuse to betray the Tang Dynasty
After the return of the banshi to the dynasty, Qifu HeLi was rewarded by Li Shimin, "ordering the North Gate to stay guard, inspect the school tun camp, and the lord of Lintao County." That is to say, Qifu HeLi not only became the keeper of Xuanwu Gate, but also married a Tang Dynasty clan woman as a wife, which shows that Li Shimin has great trust in him. In 640, as a second-in-command, Qifu Heli participated in the war against Gaochang. In 642, Li Shimin allowed Qifu Heli to travel to Liangzhou Province, while appeasing his clan.
However, Qifu Heli did not expect that his clan actually wanted to defect to Xue Yantuo's department. Qifu Heli refused to betray the Tang Dynasty and said, "I promise the country with my own body, and I can't go to the end." "However, the people did not care about so many people, and they held QiFu He Li hostage and defected to Xue Yantuo's department. Facing Xue Yantuo's Khan, Qifu HeLi "sat down", pulled out his saber and shouted to the east: "How can there be a martyr of the Tang Dynasty, a humiliated court, the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, may I know my heart!" After that, QiFu He Li cut off his left ear and "did not take it with Ming Zhi."
Third, for him and for his relatives
When the Tang Dynasty learned that Qifu HeLi had arrived at Xue Yantuo's department, some people said that the wind and cool words were cold, but Li Shimin was not moved, "This person's heart is like iron stone, and he will not betray me." Later, Xue Yantuo's emissaries arrived in Chang'an and told the story of Qifu Heli. Li Shimin shed tears and cried and said to the group of ministers, "How is the power of Qi Yuan? At the same time, Li Shimin sent "Cui Dunli, the military attendant, to enter Yantuo with a festival, to surrender the princess, and to ask for He Li." In order to exchange for QiFu He Li, Li Shimin actually agreed to make peace with Xue Yantuobu!
After Returning to the Tang Dynasty, Qifu He Li was given the title of Grand General of the Right Xiao Wei, and he resolutely opposed peace with Xue Yantuo, and Li Shimin adopted his opinion. After that, Qifu Heli continued to fight for the Tang Dynasty, participating in the conquest of Goguryeo, Xue Yantuo, and the Western Turks, and was repeatedly awarded the title of Duke of Liangguo. In 649, Li Shimin fell ill and died, and Qifu Heli requested suicide and martyrdom, but was stopped by Emperor Gaozong of Tang. In 677, Qifu He Li fell ill and died, "giving the auxiliary state a general and the governor of the prefecture, accompanying the burial of Zhaoling, And Yu Yi".
References: 1. Old Book of Tang; 2. New Book of Tang; 3. Zizhi Tongjian