In the impression of many people, Yan Zhenqing is a calligrapher and has nothing to do with politics. But in fact, he was not only a calligrapher, but also an important courtier at that time.
Yan Zhenqing (Chinese: 燕真卿; pinyin: Jīng Chīng), a famous calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, along with Zhao Mengfu, Liu Gongquan and Ouyang Qing, was known as the "Four Great Masters of Kaishu".
The Old Book of Tang records that in the twenty-second year of the new century, Yan Zhenqing Zhongjinshi, Dengjiake, was appointed as a royal historian. Because he was "in a state of great power and culture", he was appreciated by the imperial court and was promoted three times in a row to serve as the inspector of imperial history.
During his orders to inspect Hedong, Yan Zhenqing rehabilitated all kinds of unjust, false and wrongly decided cases, and it coincided with heavy rain in the sky, which was called "Yushi Rain" by the people.
In 750, for offending Yang Guozhong, Yan Zhenqing was demoted to the title of Pingyuan Taishou.
No one expected that it was this transfer that had achieved Yan Zhenqing's ancient merits.
Pingyuan County belonged to the jurisdiction of An Lushan, at that time An Lushan had shown signs of rebellion, Yan Zhenqing found out, ostensibly drank and met guests every day, secretly strengthened the city wall, recruited soldiers, and stockpiled grain and grass. After a long time, An Lushan thought that he was a student and there was no threat, so he let down his vigilance.
In 755, Yang Guozhong rebelled at Fanyang, hebei twenty-four, except for Pingyuan County, which was well guarded, and the rest were lost.
When Tang Xuanzong heard about The Rebellion of An Lushan, he sighed: "Twenty-four counties in Hebei, how can You Wu be loyal to your subjects!" After hearing that only Yan Zhenqing was insisting, he sighed: "I don't know how Yan Zhenqing's shape is, the so-called so-called so-called!" ”
A month later, the rebels attacked Luoyang and attacked Chang'an. At the time of the crisis, Yan Zhenqing was promoted to commander-in-chief and led an army of 200,000 to suppress the rebellion.
Yan Zhenqing led an army through the land of Yan Zhao, blocking the rebels' way.
In 756, Li Heng succeeded to the throne, and Yan Zhenqing was made an envoy to Hebei to quell the rebellion in Hebei. The following year, he was also named Imperial Master.
In 759, the Anshi Rebellion had not yet been quelled, but Chang'an and Luoyang had already been recovered. Yan Zhenqing boldly wrote to Tang Suzong and requested that a release pool be set up to show his virtue. According to statistics, at that time, a total of 81 release ponds were set up, all over the place.
In 783, Jiedu caused Li Xilie to launch a rebellion, and Yan Zhenqing, who was already 74 years old, was sent to persuade him to surrender. As soon as Yan Zhenqing arrived in Huaixi, he was imprisoned by Li Xilie.
Li Xilie softened and tried to persuade Yan Zhenqing to surrender, but Yan Zhenqing was not at all moved. Li Xilie sent Li Yuanping to persuade him, and Yan Zhenqing rebuked Li Yuanping: "As an emperor's courtier, how can you do this!" ”
In 785, Li Xilie's younger brother Li Xiqian was executed by the imperial court, and Li Xilie was furious and killed Yan Zhenqing under a cypress tree at Longxing Temple, at the age of 76. After the news of Yan Zhenqing's murder came out, the three armies wept bitterly.
Half a year later, the rebellion was quelled, and Yan Zhenqing's coffin was escorted back to Beijing and buried in the ancestral tomb of the Yan clan in Jingzhao Wannian. Emperor Dezong deposed the dynasty for five days, and the edict read: "Instrumental talent, outstanding public loyalty, in and out of the four dynasties, firm and one will." He also gave him the nickname "Wen Zhong".
Twenty years later, Tang Xianzong built the Release Nunnery in honor of Yan Zhenqing. In the Qing Dynasty, Tu Zongying built an ancestral hall on the basis of the Fangsheng Nunnery, named yanlu gong ancestral hall, and has been preserved to this day.