The Xuanwumen Revolution was an important turning point in the history of the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin killed his brother and became the crown prince, laying the foundation for becoming emperor in the future. However, in this thrilling coup, the two founding heroes of the Tang Dynasty, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin, did not appear in Xuanwumen. If they had come, would the situation have been different? Would Wei Chi Jingde become their opponent instead? How did Li Shimin view these two generals who did not show up after the incident? Let us explore the mystery together.
Qin Qiongcheng's background of biting gold
Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin were both leaders in the peasant rebel army at the end of the Sui Dynasty. Qin Qiong was originally a military general of the Sui Dynasty, but because he was dissatisfied with the tyranny of Emperor Yang of Sui, he resolutely abandoned his official position and defected to the Wagang Army. He was brave and good at fighting, and soon made a name for himself in the Wagang army. Cheng Yanjin was born in a humble background, originally begging for a living in Luoyang, but later joined the ranks of the peasant rebel army because he could not bear the government's harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes.
At the end of the Sui Dynasty, when the world was in turmoil, Li Yuan raised troops in Taiyuan, and Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin successively defected to his command. The two made repeated exploits in the battle against the Sui Dynasty and became the most relied on generals under Li Yuan.
Before the change of Xuanwumen, Qin Qiong was already the Duke of Shangzhu and Yiguo, and Cheng Yanjin also sealed the Duke of Suguo. They also had extraordinary achievements in the battles of quelling rebellions and repelling Turkic invasions in the early Tang Dynasty.
Qin Qiong once took the lead in the battle against Liu Wuzhou, Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong and other rebels, and was invincible. He also defeated Wei Chi Jingde before the Xuanwumen Incident. And Cheng Yanjin saved Pei Xingyan's life in the battle between the Wagang Army and Wang Shichong.
Li Yuan gave a very high evaluation to Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin's contributions. He once said to Qin Qiong: "Qing did not care about his wife and came to me, and he made meritorious contributions, so that my meat is edible, and I should cut it to my ears, and my children will be jade!" It can be seen that Qin Qiong's status in Li Yuan's mind.
However, these two founding heroes of the Tang Dynasty did not stand on Li Shimin's side at the Xuanwumen Change, a major turning point in the history of the Tang Dynasty. The reason for this has to make people think about it.
Although Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin did not directly participate in the Battle of Xuanwumen, their attitude towards this coup d'état undoubtedly had an important impact on the direction of the situation. As Li Yuan's two most relied on fierce generals, if they were firmly on Li Shimin's side, perhaps Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji would not dare to act rashly, and the Xuanwumen tragedy would not have happened.
But Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin obviously took a wait-and-see attitude towards the battle for the throne. On the one hand, they were loyal to Li Yuan and did not want to get involved in the imperial strife, and on the other hand, they also saw Li Shimin's eloquence and knew that he was the future of the Tang Dynasty. In this case, self-preservation has become their best choice.
However, the absence of Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin also put Li Shimin in danger in the Battle of Xuanwumen. If it weren't for Wei Chi Jingde and others desperately helping each other, Li Shimin would probably not have escaped. This also made Li Shimin feel suspicious of Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin, thinking that they did not support them at the critical moment.
After the Xuanwumen Change, although Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin were still important ministers of the imperial court, their relationship with Li Shimin was no longer what it used to be. Li Shimin cut Qin Qiong's fiefdom, and Qin Qiong was depressed because of this, and finally died of depression. And although Cheng Yanjin worships General Youwuwei, he no longer has any military exploits.
Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin's attitude of staying out of the Xuanwumen Incident also reflects from one side how fierce the political struggle was in the early Tang Dynasty. In this life-and-death power struggle, even the highly decorated founding generals are difficult to stay out of the way and have to consider their own future and fate.
The storm on the eve of the Xuanwumen Change
The Xuanwumen Revolution was an important turning point in the history of the Tang Dynasty. However, before this thrilling coup broke out, it had actually been brewing for a long time.
Among Li Yuan's sons, Li Jiancheng is the eldest son, and according to the primogeniture inheritance system, he should be the candidate for the crown prince. However, Li Jiancheng was cowardly by nature and did not manage the army well, and Li Yuan was not very satisfied with him. In contrast, Li Shimin is brave and good at fighting, and has made many military exploits, which is deeply valued by Li Yuan. Although Li Yuanji is young, he is also quite politically talented and is quite favored by Li Yuan.
As Li Yuan grew older, the issue of succession to the throne became increasingly prominent. Although Li Jiancheng is the crown prince, he has no real power, and he is very dissatisfied with this. And Li Shimin and Li Yuanji also have their own plans, and the contradictions between the three brothers are deepening day by day.
Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin, as the founding heroes of the Tang Dynasty, naturally cannot stay out of this battle for the throne. Although they are all loyal to Li Yuan, they are also difficult to choose in the face of increasingly fierce competition for the throne.
Qin Qiong once took the lead in the battle against Liu Wuzhou, Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong and other rebels, and made great achievements. He also defeated Wei Chi Jingde before the Xuanwumen Incident. It can be seen that his martial arts are strong. And Cheng Yanjin saved Pei Xingyan's life in the battle between the Wagang Army and Wang Shichong, and he was also a fierce general.
Before the Xuanwumen Change, Qin Qiong was already the Duke of Shangzhu and Yiguo, and Cheng Yanjin also sealed the Duke of Suguo. It stands to reason that with their status and status, they should not have been involved in royal fighting. But Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji obviously don't think so.
On the eve of the Xuanwumen Rebellion, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji conspired to get rid of Li Shimin. On their must-kill list, there is Qin Qiong's name. This is undoubtedly a red flag. Although Qin Qiong has strong martial arts, in the face of royal infighting, he also knows that it is difficult to retreat.
On Li Shimin's side, he tried his best to win over Qin Qiong and Cheng Biting Jin. Li Shimin knew very well that if Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin were on their side, then the chances of winning the Xuanwumen Revolution would be much greater.
In the face of Li Shimin's overtures, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin did not make a clear statement. On the one hand, they were loyal to Li Yuan and did not want to betray him, and on the other hand, they also saw Li Shimin's eloquence and knew that he was the future of the Tang Dynasty. In a dilemma, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin chose Mingzhe to protect themselves.
On the eve of the Xuanwumen Change, there was a lot of noise in Chang'an City, and people were panicked. Although Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin are in high positions, they cannot escape implication. Although Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji had bad intentions, it was difficult for them to attack Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin. And although Li Shimin had expectations for Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin, he didn't dare to expose it easily.
The change of Xuanwumen became the last straw that broke the camel's back. Faced with the conspiracy of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, Li Shimin decided to strike first. And Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin, although they yearn for Li Shimin, they are also unwilling to stand in line in the royal infighting. They chose to avoid its edge and protect themselves wisely.
In this life-and-death battle for imperial power, even the highly decorated founding generals are difficult to stay out of the matter. Although Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin have experienced a hundred battles, they cannot escape the whirlpool of this royal infighting. They wisely chose neutrality, neither supporting Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, nor siding with Li Shimin.
However, the neutrality of Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin also put Li Shimin in danger in the battle of Xuanwumen. If it weren't for Wei Chi Jingde and others desperately helping each other, Li Shimin would probably not have escaped. This also made Li Shimin feel suspicious of Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin, thinking that they did not support them at the critical moment.
Qin Qiongcheng bites the reason for Jin's absence from the Xuanwumen Change
Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin, as the founding heroes of the Tang Dynasty, should not have been absent from this Xuanwumen change that changed the fate of the Tang Dynasty. However, they did not appear in Xuanwu Gate, and the reason for this has to make people think about it.
Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin are both generals who are loyal to Li Yuan. Qin Qiong once took the lead in the battle against Liu Wuzhou, Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong and other rebels, and made great achievements. Li Yuan once said to Qin Qiong: "Qing did not care about his wife and came to me, and he made meritorious contributions, so that my meat is edible, and I should cut it to Er, and my children will be jade!" It can be seen that Qin Qiong's status in Li Yuan's mind. And Cheng Yanjin saved Pei Xingyan's life in the battle between the Wagang Army and Wang Shichong, and he was also one of Li Yuan's most relied on generals.
In the face of the increasingly fierce competition for the throne, although Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin were loyal to Li Yuan, it was difficult for them to choose. On the one hand, they knew very well that Li Jiancheng did not have real talent and learning, and if he succeeded to the throne, they might not be able to take on great responsibilities; on the other hand, they also saw Li Shimin's eloquence and strategy, and knew that he was the future of the Tang Dynasty. In a dilemma, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin chose Mingzhe to protect themselves.
On the eve of the Xuanwumen Change, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji conspired to get rid of Li Shimin, and Qin Qiong's name was on their must-kill list. This undoubtedly made Qin Qiong realize that he had been caught in the whirlpool of royal fighting. Although he is strong in martial arts, in this life-and-death power struggle, even the highly decorated founding general is difficult to stay out of.
On Li Shimin's side, he tried his best to win over Qin Qiong and Cheng Biting Jin. Li Shimin knew very well that if Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin were on their side, then the chances of winning the Xuanwumen Revolution would be much greater. However, in the face of Li Shimin's overtures, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin did not make a clear statement. Although they yearn for Li Shimin, they are also unwilling to take sides in the royal infighting.
Qin Qiong and Cheng Biting Jin's neutrality is actually a kind of wisdom. They know very well that in this battle for imperial power, although they have experienced a hundred battles, it is difficult to control the situation. Instead of choosing a side between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, it is better to protect oneself and avoid its edge. In this way, he will neither offend Li Yuan, nor will he become an enemy of Li Shimin.
Of course, the absence of Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin also put Li Shimin in danger in the battle of Xuanwumen. If it weren't for Wei Chi Jingde and others desperately helping each other, Li Shimin would probably not have escaped. This also made Li Shimin feel suspicious of Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin, thinking that they did not support them at the critical moment.
However, the absence of Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin may also have deeper reasons. Although they yearn for Li Shimin, they also do not want to see the tragedy of the royal family's fratricide. In their opinion, although the throne is important, brotherhood is more precious. If you go on a killing spree for the throne, it will be against human morality.
Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin may have also expected that even if Li Shimin won the Battle of Xuanwumen, his relationship with Li Yuan would be difficult to bridge. As Li Yuan's two most relied on generals, if they firmly stood on Li Shimin's side, it would undoubtedly deepen Li Yuan's pain. This kind of pain cannot be healed in a while.
Based on the above reasons, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin chose to be absent from the Xuanwumen Change. This is not only a consideration for their own future, but also a maintenance of royal friendship. Although they did not directly participate in this thrilling coup d'état, they also influenced the direction of the Xuanwumen Revolution in their own way.
In this battle for imperial power, although Qin Qiong and Cheng Yanjin chose Mingzhe to protect themselves, they could not escape the judgment of history. Their absence is not only a loyalty to Li Yuan, but also a consideration for their own future. In this life-and-death wrestling, they neither wanted to betray Li Yuan nor offend Li Shimin. This careful balance is both their wisdom and their helplessness.
The impact of the Xuanwu Gate Change
As a major coup d'état in the history of the Tang Dynasty, the Xuanwumen Incident had a profound impact on the development of the Tang Dynasty and even the entire Chinese history.
First of all, the Xuanwumen Revolution enabled Li Shimin to grasp the supreme power of the Tang Dynasty and laid the foundation for his future rule of Zhenguan. Li Shimin succeeded to the throne as emperor after the Xuanwumen Incident, and was for Tang Taizong. During his reign, he made great efforts to make the Tang Dynasty prosperous, appointing virtuous ministers, and implementing a series of political, economic, and military reforms, which made the Tang Dynasty rapidly prosperous. During the reign of Taizong, the territory of the Tang Dynasty was unprecedentedly vast, the economy was unprecedentedly prosperous, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. All this is thanks to Li Shimin's seizure of power through the Xuanwumen Rebellion, which cleared the way for the development of the Tang Dynasty.
Secondly, the Xuanwumen Revolution changed the way of succession to the throne in the Tang Dynasty, setting a precedent for the emperor's brother to die. Before the Xuanwumen Rebellion, the succession to the throne generally followed the primogeniture system. But Li Shimin staged a coup d'état to kill the crown prince Li Jiancheng and eventually inherit the throne, breaking this tradition. After that, Wu Zetian staged a coup d'état to depose Tang Zhongzong Li Xian, and Wu Chengsi staged a coup d'état to depose Tang Ruizong Li Dan, all of which followed Li Shimin's approach. The succession mode of brother to brother and son to mother opened by the Xuanwumen Revolution laid hidden dangers for the future struggle for the throne, which was one of the important reasons for the political turmoil in the Tang Dynasty.
Thirdly, the Xuanwumen Rebellion triggered a series of palace coups in the early Tang Dynasty. Affected by the Xuanwumen Incident, it was not uncommon for members of the Tang Dynasty royal family to launch coups to seize power. For example, in the Xianqing Revolution in the Tang Gaozong period, Wu Zetian launched a coup d'état to seize the imperial power, in the Tang Zhongzong period, the Shenlong coup d'état, and in the Tang Long Revolution in the Tang Ruizong period, Li Longji seized the throne. These coups had a serious negative impact on the political stability and social development of the Tang Dynasty.
Finally, the Xuanwumen Revolution also affected the military system of the Tang Dynasty. After the Xuanwumen Incident, Tang Taizong reformed the military system of the Tang Dynasty in order to strengthen the centralization of power and prevent the division of feudal towns. He cut down the feudal domain, suppressed the military power, and firmly held the military power in the hands of the central government. Although this reform strengthened the imperial power in the short term, it weakened the military power of the Tang Dynasty in the long run, laying the groundwork for the later secession of feudal towns. The outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion is not unrelated to this.
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To sum up, the Xuanwumen Rebellion was an important event in the history of the Tang Dynasty, which contributed to the arrival of the rule of Zhenguan and promoted the prosperity and development of the Tang Dynasty, but it also changed the way of succession to the imperial throne, triggered a series of palace coups, and sowed the seeds of turmoil for the Tang Dynasty. As a double-edged sword, the Xuanwumen Revolution had a complex and far-reaching impact on the Tang Dynasty, which is worth pondering for future generations.