Sima Yi, the hero of the Three Kingdoms, knows how to forbear, the world belongs to the Sima family after all, even if he violates the "Luoshui Alliance", he is still a winner in life.
Li Jing, one of the ten philosophers of Wumiao, the chief general of the Tang Dynasty, was loyal to the Tang Dynasty and was the prototype of the Heavenly King of Tota.
Sima Yi and Li Jing, figures of the two eras, have different historical evaluations. So, why did Li Shimin put them together?
Li Shimin was worried that the 74-year-old veteran Li Jing would become Sima Yi and asked him to participate in the expedition to Liaodong, even though Li Jing was already dying of old age.
In 645, Li Shimin decided to teach Goguryeo a lesson, and after Emperor Yang of Sui's three expeditions to Liaodong, he sent a large-scale army to Goguryeo for the fourth time.
Before leaving, Li Shimin went to visit Li Jing who was lying on the sickbed and asked him about the battle plan.
Regarding the dialogue between Li Shimin and Li Jing, there is a difference between the records of the "Old Tang Book" and the "Jiahua of the Sui and Tang Dynasties". The translation is as follows.
That's what the Old Tang Book says.
Li Shimin: Half of the world of Datang was won by you. The south, the west, and the north are all handled by Li Jing. Now, only Goguryeo in the east remains, so you can fight it down by the way.
Li Jing: I don't have any ability, it's all due to the emperor's grace, and we're just stained. Now, I am not in good health, and I am willing to go out with the army, hoping that the emperor will give me a chance.
Li Shimin was very grateful, but Li Jing was in poor health and might go west at any time, so he refused and let him rest well.
The Old Tang Book mentions the dialogue between Li Jing and Li Shimin, but does not mention "Sima Yi". However, the "Tales of the Sui and Tang Dynasty" mentions and describes the process.
The record of Sui and Tang Jiahua says so.
Li Shimin prepared an expedition to Goguryeo and sent someone to invite Li Jing to discuss military affairs.
The envoy came back and said: Li Jing is dying and can't come.
Li Shimin: I know, I'll visit you in person tomorrow.
When they came to Li Jing's house, Li Shimin and Li Jing chatted about family life, and immediately entered the topic.
Li Jing: I, an old bone, also want to follow His Majesty on an expedition, but I am worried that it will be unfortunate halfway, which will affect the emperor and morale.
Li Shimin: It doesn't matter, Sima Yi is over 70 years old and has made meritorious contributions to Cao Wei, you can too.
In 249, at the age of seventy, Sima Yi launched the Gaopingling Rebellion and killed the Cao Shuang clan, laying the foundation for his descendants to usurp power.
Before the change of Gao Pingling, Sima Yi was also "dying", often foaming at the mouth, confusing Cao Shuang, and pretending to be good at kung fu.
When Li Shimin said this, Li Jing was very scared, so he could only agree to go out with the army to reassure the emperor.
When he arrived in Henan, Li Jing's condition worsened and he couldn't walk anymore, so Li Shimin agreed to let him stay.
Shi Zai: "The emperor stroked his back and said: Reluctantly, Sima Zhong was not old and sick, but he was able to improve himself and establish the Wei family. Jing kowtowed and said: Old minister, please take care of your illness. To Xiangzhou, the sick can't enter. ”
From the above content, it can be seen that there are discrepancies between the records of the "Old Tang Book" and the "Sui and Tang Jiahua", who is more accurate?
The Book of the Old Tang Dynasty is an official historical material, and the Tales of the Sui and Tang Dynasty are the notes of the literati. From the perspective of the nature of historical materials, the "Old Tang Book" is undoubtedly more authoritative, but it is not.
The Tales of the Sui and Tang Dynasty is a note of the literati of the Tang Dynasty, and the historical materials are also relatively reliable. Because, many of the contents of the "Old Tang Book" and "Zizhi Tongjian" come from this book.
The Old Tang Book does not write "Li Jing and Sima Yi", which does not mean that there is no such thing. Official historical materials are sometimes "selectively forgotten" to maintain the emperor's face.
Putting aside the controversy between the two documents, we start from the facts, combined with the special background at that time, it is very likely that Li Shimin will use the story of Sima Yi to test Li Jing.
1. Li Jing's energy and special experience, Li Shimin is jealous.
Li Jing, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty, is the nephew of Han Baohu. At first, Li Jing did not support the Tang Dynasty, but resisted.
Li Yuan Jinyang raised troops, and Li Jing wanted to go to Jiangnan to inform Emperor Yang of Sui, but was captured alive. Li Yuan wanted to execute him, but Li Shimin pleaded for mercy, and he escaped.
Later, Li Shimin conquered the north, Li Jing conquered the south, and the Tang Dynasty completed unification.
In 626, during the Xuanwumen Change, Li Jing did not make a clear statement, and Li Shimin was somewhat uncomfortable.
In 630, Li Jing attacked Yinshan, captured Jieli Khan alive, and washed away Li Shimin's "Weishui shame".
In this battle, Li Shimin had mixed feelings in his heart. Captured Jieli Khan, Li Shimin was very happy; Li Jing disobeyed orders and fought, ignoring Li Shimin's will, which also made him dissatisfied.
In the battle of Yinshan, Li Shimin did not reward Li Jing, after all, he couldn't get over his face. Li Jing was also interested, handed over the military power, and went home to retire.
In 635, Tuyuhun plundered the border, and Li Jing led an army of 150,000 to attack separately and destroy Tuyuhun. After that, Li Jing never led troops again and lived in seclusion at home.
Li Jing's combat style is vigorous and resolute, he is good at capturing fighters, his military quality is stronger than Li Shimin's, and he is also prone to counterattack warfare.
Later, Li Shimin's expedition to Goguryeo was frustrated and came back to ask Li Jing why. Li Jing said bluntly: "The emperor will know if he asks Li Daozong." ”
Li Daozong suggested that Li Shimin rush to Pyongyang and not kill Ancheng. Li Shimin did not listen, but as a result, there was a shortage of food and grass, and the Tang army suffered a setback, and he had no choice but to teach the class.
Li Jing can fight and has a high prestige in the army, how can Li Shimin not be afraid? Once his Eastern Crusade was frustrated, Li Jingxue Xi Yang Xuangan rebelled, wouldn't it be a back-to-back enemy.
Although Li Jing said that he was dying, Li Shimin could not guarantee whether he was like Sima Yi, who suddenly resurrected with full blood and regarded himself as Cao Shuang.
Li Shimin's worries are not without reason. In 643, the crown prince Li Chengqian rebelled, was captured by Li Shimin, and was deposed as a concubine.
Among those who participated in Li Chengqian's rebellion, there was a special person: Li Jing's eldest son, Li Dejian. His son joined Li Chengqian's group, didn't Li Jing know anything?
What a master Li Jing is, how can he not notice it. However, this is a family affair in the Tang Dynasty, and I am too old to bother to care so much.
The same was true of Li Jing after the change in Xuanwu Gate back then, otherwise the ranking of the twenty-four meritorious heroes of Lingyan Pavilion would not be ranked after Wei Chigong.
Second, Li Shimin does not really believe in heroes.
When it comes to the relationship between the emperor and the heroes, many people will take Li Shimin as an example: treat the heroes well and do not kill them, which is a sign of self-confidence.
So, is that really the case? No, Li Shimin is right to treat heroes well, but he doesn't really believe that he should do it or do it.
Li Shimin didn't kill the heroes, not because he didn't want to kill, but because he really couldn't kill them. The Sui and Tang Dynasty clans were still strong, and the imperial power did not reach the level of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Emperor Wen of Sui, Emperor Yang of Sui, and Li Yuan, is there a record of anyone killing heroes on a large scale? Killing heroes is just an individual, and the group is not implicated.
Li Shimin became the emperor, relying on the change of Xuanwumen, and killed Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji and more than a dozen of their sons.
Li Shimin usurped power and seized the throne, and Li Yuan could only "concede". Li Shimin is not loyal and filial to his father enough, and he is sorry for his brother, how can he not worry that others will follow his example.
Li You, the king of Qi, and Li Jiancheng, the crown prince, both of their sons learned to Xi their own "rebellion", and Li Shimin also tasted it. Furthermore, his favorite son Li Tai said: I became the emperor, passed on my younger brother Li Zhi, and killed my own son.
Li Tai said so bluntly, Li Shimin was cold: Who can be reliable? In front of the throne, everything seems to be worthless.
In his later years, Li Shimin was very suspicious and did not trust the people around him. Wei Zheng died of illness, and Li Shimin cried a lot.
After Li Chengqian's rebellion, Li Shimin was annoyed that Wei Zheng would not educate the prince, and personally pushed Wei Zheng's tombstone. Wei Zheng is a mirror, which really reflects the essence of Li Shimin.
Li Junxian, nicknamed "Five Niangzi", Li Shimin was greatly influenced by the "Wu Dynasty Tang". At the wine table, Li Shimin was very unhappy when he learned about the "Five Ladies", which was also one of the reasons why Li Junxian was executed.
Li Shimin lived in harmony with the heroes, provided that they could not threaten the Tang Dynasty, otherwise they could do the same.
In 645, when Li Shimin went east to Goguryeo, his physical fitness was no longer as good as it used to be. At this time, Li Zhi, who stayed in Beijing, was too weak, and Li Shimin naturally did not worry about the heroes.
Wei Chigong, he has never fought since the Weishui Alliance, even though he is only 41 years old. However, Li Shimin's expedition to Liaodong, Wei Chigong also had to follow, although he didn't go into battle at all, he had to take it with him.
Li Ji, one of the ten philosophers of Wumiao, is also very capable. Before Li Shimin died, he was demoted to other places, and Li Zhi would call him back after succeeding to the throne.
From this point of view, it is not difficult to understand that when Li Shimin went on an expedition to Liaodong, he let Li Jing go out with the army, worried that he would become Sima Yi.
Li Shimin and Li Jing both died of illness in 649, Li Jing walked in front, about ten days apart, Li Jing died at the age of 79, and Li Shimin was 50 years old.