When it comes to the founding generals of the Tang Dynasty, people often only remember the "Heroes of Lingyange" and ignore others. In fact, in the process of the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, there was a figure whose merits were even greater than those of the "Twenty-four Heroes of Lingyange", and his official position was higher than theirs, and he was even awarded a death-free iron coupon by the emperor. However, this person's fate was very tragic, the family property was confiscated, and he was executed by the emperor's edict, and later the whole family was killed! So who is this legendary star?
This person is Liu Wenjing, who is known as the "second meritorious hero of Li Tang's founding"! Liu Wenjing was a Jingzhao martial artist, and his father Liu Shao was killed in battle during the Sui Dynasty and was given the title of Yi Tong Sansi, so he inherited his father's position when he was a teenager. Liu Wenjing has two very significant characteristics, one of whom is handsome and the other is intelligent. In the last year of the Sui Dynasty, Liu Wenjing served as the commander of Jinyang County.
Liu Wenjing observed the color of his words and knew that Li Yuan had the ambition of the four directions, so he "deeply entrusted himself." At the same time, Liu Wenjing was very concerned about Li Yuan's second son Li Shimin, and even thought that Li Shimin was "very human, generous and similar to Han Gao, shenwu was the same as Wei Zu, and although his age was small, he was a heavenly indulgence." Later, because Liu Wenjing was related to Li Mi, he was imprisoned by the Sui Emperor, and Li Shimin was imprisoned and visited, talking with him about the world's major events and planning the military.
In the process of Li Yuan's army in Jinyang, Liu Wenjing offered advice and was the core staff officer, "Gao Zu opened the General's Palace, with Wen Jing as the military sima "." Although Li Yuan raised an army, the situation was very unfavorable, and he was particularly worried about the Turks in the north, and at this time it was Liu Wenjing who offered advice, "persuading the banner to change the banner to show righteousness, and also asking the Turks to benefit the army, and Gao Zu and follow it." After that, Liu Wenjing sent an envoy to the Turks as an emissary and successfully completed the mission.
In the subsequent southward march, Liu Wenjing also led an army to fight against the Sui army, repeatedly making battle achievements, defeating the famous general Qu Tutong and capturing him. In the first year of Wu De, Li Yuan declared himself emperor and established the Tang Dynasty, and Liu Wenjing was given the title of Duke of Nayan and Duke of Lu, at the same time Li Yuan issued an edict "Zhongshu Ling, Qin Wang Mou (referring to Li Shimin), Shangshu Zuo's servant Pei Ning and Wen Jing, and specially forgive the second death." That is to say, when the Tang Dynasty was founded, only Li Shimin, Pei Ning, and Liu Wenjing enjoyed the privilege of avoiding two deaths.
Liu Wenjing was indeed very powerful, he could not only give advice, but also lead troops to fight, was a rare talent in the early years of the Tang Dynasty, if he did not die, perhaps his reputation could be called li jing. But no one expected that Liu Wenjing would be executed by the emperor a year after receiving the death-free iron coupon! In the second year of Wu De, Liu Wenjing was executed on charges of treason. Before Liu Wenjing was killed, he sighed: "The high bird has passed away, and the good bow is hidden, so it is not vain." ”
So did Liu Wenjing really rebel? There is no such thing! The history books say that it was because Liu Wenjing had a contradiction with Pei Huan, complained, and was falsely accused and killed. But in fact, the real culprit who killed Liu Wenjing was not Pei Huan, but Li Yuan himself! Liu Wenjing was Li Shimin's confidant, and Pei Huan supported Li Jiancheng. It seems that the contradiction between Liu Wenjing and Pei Huan is actually a contest between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng.
Therefore, we can say that Liu Wenjing's death was due to the power struggle of the Li Tang royal family! In the third year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin "posthumously restored (Liu Wenjing) the official title, and attacked the Duke of Lu and Princess Xu Shang with Zishu Righteousness." But I don't know what the reason was, a few years later Li Shimin executed both of Liu Wenjing's sons, and the explanation given in the history books was "to complain about his brother Shuyi and his father was killed, and then plotted rebellion." In this way, the entire family of the second most powerful founder of the Tang Dynasty was killed.