Qin Qiong and Wei Chi are respectful, upright, courageous, and admired by people, and are the door gods of our town house that welcomes the New Year and exorcizes demons.
These two door gods were once great generals under Emperor Taizong of Tang and Li Shimin, and they left many stories of the people. However, under Emperor Taizong of Tang and Li Shimin, the choices of the two of them were not the same. Wei Chigong's words and deeds in the second half of his life were learned by Qin Qiong, and he chose to retreat bravely.
1. They are all one of the "Twenty-four Heroes of Ling Yan Pavilion" who founded the Country
In the thirteenth year of the Sui Dynasty Emperor's great cause (617), Li Yuan, the retainer of Taiyuan and the overseer of the Jinyang Palace, led his sons and a group of supporters to join the torrent of rebellion against the tyrannical rule of the Sui Emperor at the end of the Sui Dynasty. In the same year, Qin Qiong, who had originally served the Sui Emperor, threw himself under the command of Li Mi, the leader of the Wagang Army, and together with another later Li Tang founding hero, Cheng Yaojin, commanded an eight-thousand-strong internal army. The following year, due to Li Mi's defeat and surrender to Li Yuan, and he himself was captured by Wang Shichong, Qin Qiong briefly served Wang Shichong.
However, in the second year of Wu De (619), because he could not accept Wang Shichong's personality, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin took advantage of the opportunity to engage Li Yuan's army and defected to Li Yuan. Subsequently, Li Shimin, who had already heard of Qin Qiong's name, gladly accepted the general sent by his father, appointed Qin Qiong as the commander of the Ma Army, and worked with him to guard the Changchun Palace. At the end of the same year, Qin Qiong was defeated at Meiliangchuan at the behest of Li Shimin, who had not yet surrendered to Tang at that time.
In the third year of Wude (620), Li Shimin led his people to engage the separatist force Liu Wuzhou at Baibi City, and Wei Chigong (still named "Wei Chi Jingde") was ordered by Liu Wuzhou to attack at Jiexiu County. And because he already saw that Liu Wuzhou was about to go, Wei Chigong finally joined the Li Tang camp along the olive branch thrown by Li Shimin. After that, Qin Qiong and Wei Chigong served Li Tang, especially Li Shimin, for life, and finally ranked as the "Twenty-four Heroes of Ling Yange".
Second, Wei Chigong's conceit and Qin Qiong's avoidance
As both generals, Qin Qiong and Wei Chigong were treated courteously by Li Shimin, but they were also jealous and suspicious of many generals. In particular, The demoted Lieutenant Chi Gong was appointed by Li Shimin as the commander of the Right Province on the one hand, and on the other hand, he was repeatedly "impeached" by Li Shimin's marching marshal Shi Qututong. In the face of Li Shimin's continuous rewards and promotions, Qin Qiong was also slightly conceited. Therefore, when Li Shimin was still the King of Qin, Qin Qiong and Wei Chigong could be said to be almost the same, both of them had great achievements in battle, and they were "quite self-effacing".
Soon, however, at the turning point of the "Xuanwumen Change", Qin Qiong and Wei Chigong embarked on two different paths. Because they were highly valued by Li Shimin and had a notoriety of "repetition", Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, who intended to murder Li Shimin, tried to recruit Wei Chigong.
A whole cart of gold and silver treasure was delivered directly to Wei Chigong. However, Wei Chigong did not hesitate, not only returned the property, but also told Li Shimin the matter as it was. Li Shimin was worried about Wei Chigong's personal safety and advised him to "send it but take it", while Wei Chigong in turn directly suggested that Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji be taken as soon as possible.
In addition, the eldest grandson "added firewood and fire", and Li Shimin planned to carry out a big thing in Xuanwumen.
However, compared to Wei Chigong, the "initiator" of the coup, Qin Qiong's role was obviously only a "participant". The Old Book of Tang says: "On the fourth day of June, from Jie Jiancheng, Yuan Ji". A "from" word is a good illustration of Qin Qiong's participation in it. And when the outcome of the coup is settled, although "initiators" such as Wei Chigong will get more rewards for their great merits, the "inconspicuous" Qin Qiong is obviously less likely to become the "target of everyone".
In the third year of Zhenguan (629), Wei Chigong, who was arrogant and arrogant, and had befriended his subjects, was transferred out of Beijing until his death. Qin Qiong, on the other hand, began to declare his illness after participating in the "Xuanwumen Revolution". And he said that he was very ill almost every time, and he looked like he was eager to be released to the mountains by the emperor immediately. When Wei Chi Jingde was beaten by the emperor, Qin Qiong lived his comfortable "little life" leisurely.
3. From Emperor Taizong's guardian to the world's first god
In the twelfth year of Zhenguan (638), Qin Qiong died of illness. In the third year of Xianqing (658), Wei Chigong also closed his eyes in the midst of Dan Yao and Silk Bamboo. Although the two had different circumstances in their later years, they "returned to the same destination" after that - becoming a door god who walked into thousands of households.
How to go from the Hero of Ling Yan Pavilion to the God of Doors, there is still an interesting story circulating to this day. It is said that Emperor Taizong of Tang was uneasy after seizing the throne through the Xuanwumen Rebellion and was afraid that someone would retaliate against him. So he ordered Qin Qiong and Wei Chigong, who had followed him for many years, to come and protect him, and to guard outside the palace night and night. However, as the two grew older, Li Shimin was not willing to let them be on duty every day, and simply hung the portraits of the two on the gate of the palace to seek comfort. Upward and downward effect, the portraits of Qin Qiong and Wei Chigong slowly appeared in thousands of households.
Although it is difficult to verify whether Tang Taizong Li Shimin hung a portrait in the end, it is unquestionable that Wei Chigong and Qin Qiong are both "Twenty-Four Heroes of LingYange", and it is also true that there are huge differences in their behavior in their later years.
It is an iron law that cannot be proud of one's achievements and keep a low profile for people