A series of articles has been published on the website weiy.cc. These articles discuss the historical context in which Li Yuan, the founder of the Tang Dynasty, rebelled from Jinyang, contacted the Turks to purchase their warhorses, and stabilized the rear as his preparations for the war against the Sui Dynasty. If you are interested in history, you can read them.
Growing Up: The Young Li Shimin
Li Yuan and his first wife, Lady Dou, had four sons and one daughter: the eldest son Li Jiancheng, the second son Li Shimin, the third son Li Xuanba, the fourth son Li Yuanji, and a daughter, Princess Pingyang, whose husband was Chai Shao, a bodyguard in the Eastern Palace of the Sui Dynasty.
The Rise of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, in Jinyang (Part 1)
In 617 AD, one of the most significant events in Chinese history was the uprising at Jinyang led by Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, and his son. This event was like a brilliant flash of lightning splitting the sky
The Rise of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, in Jinyang (Part 2)
Li Yuan had distributed the newly recruited troops to three people: Li Shimin, Zhangsun Shunde, and Liu Hongji. Li Shimin was Li Yuan’s son, nothing to say about that. The problem lay with the other two. Who were they? They were criminals who had evaded military service!
Li Yuan showed goodwill to the Turks.
The Turks did not dare to rashly attack the inner city, nor were they willing to leave just like that. So, while continuing to plunder the outer city, they kept a close watch on the inner city. Li Yuan climbed the southeast city tower and saw that although the Turkic soldiers were numerous and powerful, they were dispersed and moving around chaotically.
Li Yuan smiled and waved them off, privately saying, “The barbarians have many horses and are extremely greedy. If we buy one batch, they’ll just bring another. Can you buy them all? I only bought half to show them that we’re tight on funds and to make them think our demand isn’t urgent. Don’t worry, I will get the other five hundred, but not with cash. I’ll do it on credit, so you won’t need to spend your money.” The soldiers suddenly understood.
