China had two short-lived unified dynasties, the Qin Dynasty and the Sui Dynasty. Although the Qin Dynasty and the Sui Dynasty did not last long, they had a more profound impact on future generations. The Qin Dynasty ended the chaotic era since the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, and the Sui Dynasty ended the chaotic era since the Eastern Jin Dynasty, allowing the world to be reunified.
Many people believe that the Sui Dynasty, like the Qin Dynasty, died in the second, but in fact, the Sui Dynasty was not unique
Yang Jian
(Emperor Wen of Sui) and
Yang Guang
(Sui Dynasty Emperor) Two emperors, counting, the Sui Dynasty has a total of 6 emperors. As shown in the following figure:
In 617, Li Yuan invaded Chang'an, and after the death of Yang Guang's eldest son Yang Zhao, Li Yuan immediately installed Yang Zhao's eldest son, Yang Guang's eldest grandson
Yang You
As emperor, Yaozun Yang Guang was made emperor of Taishang. In this way, Yang You became the third emperor of the Sui Dynasty.
The following year, Yu Wenhua and the jiangdu rebellion, Yang Guang was killed, Yu Wenhua and the son of Yang Jun, the king of Qin, that is, Yang Guang's nephew
Yang Hao
For the Emperor. At this time, the Sui Dynasty had two emperors, Yang You and Yang Hao.
Subsequently, Li Yuan accepted Yang You's Zen concession as emperor and established the Tang Dynasty. Yu Wenhua and emperor killed Yang Hao, and Wang Shichong honored Yang Guang's grandson in Luoyang
Yang Tong
For the emperor, changed to Yuan Huangtai. After the fall of the Sui Dynasty, but after Yang Tong, there was a "Later Sui" and an emperor at the same time.
After the fall of the Sui Dynasty, the descendants of the Yang clan almost died out, and Dou Jiande found Yang Jian's grandson, the son of Yang Huan, the King of Qi
Yang Zhengdao
and protect them. In the third year of Wude, Yang Zhengdao and Empress Xiao (Yang Guang's wife) were taken to the Turks. Under the protection of the Turks, Yang Zhengdao established an independent regime, known in history as "Later Sui", and Yang Zhengdao was known as the last emperor of the Sui Dynasty. Why were the Turks willing to protect Yang Zhengdao and agree to Yang Zhengdao's establishment of an independent regime?
Because the Turkic Chuluo Khan was a man who knew the en Tu, the father of the Chuluo Khan was named Qimin Khan, and the Qimin Khan was able to regain the Khan's throne by the favor of the Sui Dynasty, so for the Chuluo Khan, the Sui Dynasty was his father's benefactor, and Yang Zhengdao was the orphan of the Sui Dynasty clan, so the Chuluo Khan took good care of Yang Zhengdao, and also specially set aside a region in the Turkic territory, and gave Yang Zhengdao full power to govern according to the sui dynasty system. Therefore, Yang Zhengdao escaped the rebellion of the Sui Dynasty and was well protected by the Turkic forces.
Li Yuan concluded an alliance with the Turks before he rebelled against the Sui, so during Li Yuan's reign, although he sent people to the Turks many times to negotiate, hoping that the Turks could send Yang Zhengdao and Empress Xiao back to the Central Plains, the Turks did not agree. On the one hand, the Sui Dynasty was kind to the Turks, and the Turks were worried that Yang Zhengdao would encounter misfortune after returning to the Tang Dynasty; on the other hand, Yang Zhengdao was an orphan of the Sui Dynasty's clan, and with him in the Turks, he could also hinder the Tang Dynasty.
After Li Shimin ascended the throne, the Turks took advantage of the chaos to invade the Tang Dynasty, and Li Shimin was forced to reach an "alliance with the Turks", and from then on, Li Shimin secretly decided to destroy the Turks, a strong enemy. In the third year of Zhenguan, Tuli Khan, the grandson of Qimin Khan, surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, and turmoil within the Turks was turbulent, and then a succession of Turkic generals led troops to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. Yang Zhengdao was also always concerned about the situation in the Tang Dynasty and the Turks.
In the first month of the fourth year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin sent the famous general Li Jing to lead three thousand cavalry to raid Dingxiang, and the Turks were greatly alarmed, and Kang Su, a close confidant of Jieli Khan, sent people to secretly communicate with Li Shimin, hoping to defect to the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin was overjoyed, and not long after, Su Kang did come to defect and brought two heavyweight figures, Yang Zhengdao and Empress Xiao.
When Emperor Taizong of Tang learned that Yang Zhengdao and Empress Xiao had come to defect, he personally went out of the city to greet Empress Xiao (after all, she was Li Shimin's elder) with royal etiquette and gave her honor. Then, Feng Yang Zhengdao was appointed as a member of the Outer Scattered Riding Attendant.
Li Shimin's move won the hearts of the people, especially the Door Valve clan left over from the Sui Dynasty, and praised Li Shimin for his courtesy to Empress Xiao and Yang Zhengdao.
Soon, a major event occurred in the DPRK, which made many old Sui Dynasty subjects panic. Accompanying Yang Zhengdao to surrender to the Turkic Hu people broke the news:
During the Turkic period of Yang Zhengdao and Empress Xiao, many Tang dynasty ministers secretly exchanged letters with him.
It should be known that the Tang Dynasty was established against the Sui Dynasty, and although many Sui Ministers surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, most of them were expedient measures. If someone still had correspondence with the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty, at worst, it was "not forgetting the old lord"; at worst, it was "collaborating with the enemy".
After this matter was exposed, many of the old Sui dynasty ministers were uneasy in their hearts, and some even tried to find ways to meet Empress Xiao and Yang Zhengdao, asking them to keep secrets for the old ministers. A Zhongshu Sheren named Yang Wen demanded that the matter be strictly investigated and that all those disloyal ministers be severely punished. Unexpectedly, after Li Shimin heard about it, he said in public:
You don't have to investigate this matter, just don't know!
Why didn't Li Shimin order a thorough investigation?
During the Spring and Autumn Period, the King of Chuzhuang feasted on the courtiers at night, let the princess accompany him, everyone was drunk, and suddenly a gust of wind blew out the candles, and someone took advantage of the drunkenness to pull the princess's hand. The princess was stunned and took advantage of the chaos to pull off the man's hat. In order to find out at this time, it is recommended to light the candle to see who does not have a hat and who is the one who is indecent to the princess. Unexpectedly, King Chu Zhuang asked everyone to take off their hats, and then they lit candles and feasted again. Historically, it is called the "Feast of the Dead".
Li Shimin did not pursue the ministers and the Sui Emperor for secretly passing money, which was similar to the "Feast of absolute wisps". In the words of Li Shimin:
The world is undecided, the Turks are strong, the fools are ignorant, or there are things. Today is the next peace, the sins of the past, why ask! —— "Zizhi Tongjian"
Li Shimin believes that when he first ascended the throne, the Turks were still relatively strong, and at that time, the world was undecided, and many people stepped on two boats, which was also forgivable. If you investigate thoroughly now, after all, the Manchu Dynasty is in turmoil, and since Empress Xiao and Yang Zhengdao have returned to Chang'an, there is no point in checking these people again.
To do great things, we must have the mind of the king.