"Wen Keshu is a thousand years of merit, Wu Ke determines thousands of miles of rivers and mountains", Guo Ziyi, a famous general in the Tang Dynasty, is such a hero of the world. In the eight-year War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in the Anshi Rebellion, he repeatedly defeated the rebels, recovered the two capitals, revitalized Chang'an, and made great achievements.
However, in ancient times, military generals with high achievements were often regarded as a threat to the emperor and difficult to die well. However, Guo Ziyi relied on his wisdom and bravery, not only successfully married the emperor, but also cultivated his eight sons to become prominent nobles in the imperial court.
In the process of quelling the Anshi Rebellion, there were many heroic generals in the Tang Dynasty, in addition to Guo Ziyi, there were also Li Guangbi, Gao Xianzhi, Lai Yao, Fugu Huaien, etc. Among them, Gao Xianzhi was the deputy capital of Anxi, and the four towns were all known as soldiers and horses, as early as the fourteenth year of Tianbao, Tang Xuanzong sent him to lead the army to crusade against the Anshi traitors.
Gao Xianzhi was well aware of the dangerous terrain of Tongguan, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack, so he decided to stick to this place, hoping to consume the physical strength of the rebels and make them lose their morale during the long battle, so as to achieve the goal of a quick victory.
Tang Xuanzong listened to Bian Lingcheng's slander and thought that Gao Xianzhi did not dare to enter the army to withhold the soldiers' salaries, so he had murderous intentions towards him. Before he died, he also said that if the soldiers thought he was guilty, they could raise it, and recommended the Xiangzhou Jiedu envoy Laiyao, who was a ruthless character who fought bravely.
But Cheng Yuanzhen once asked Yao to do things and was refused, and he has always held a grudge against him.
Daizong's distrust of Lai Yao was fully revealed, and he secretly sent troops to attack Lai Yao, who shirked the emperor's order, but the result was that the whole army was wiped out and suffered a dumb loss. This is like settling new accounts and old accounts together, which makes people wonder why his colleagues died in front of Guo Ziyi, but he was able to escape death?
This has nothing to do with his cautious approach. In 762 AD, the commanders of the armies of Shuofang and Hedong were killed by rebel soldiers one after another. Tang Suzong, who was critically ill, tried to prevent the two armies from joining forces with the rebels
Guo Ziyi, pondering during the march, thought that Su Zong's death was imminent, and the grace of promotion should be left to Daizong Li Yu. Although Suzong named him king, how should the crown prince win over this important minister of the court after he succeeds to the throne?
So soon after Daizong ascended the throne, he deprived Guo Ziyi of his military power and made him an envoy to the imperial tomb. This frightened Guo Ziyi, he knew that the official title had come to an end, and he could no longer sit still.
So, he decided to play the emotional card and use his wits to maintain his position.
In the imperial mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor's edict to Guo Ziyi was full of encouragement and praise, and full of grace for him. Guo Ziyi's intentions are very obvious, he spared his life for the sake of the Li Tang clan, saved the country, and obtained these official positions and titles.
However, he also stated in the edict that if these rewards were withdrawn, then no one would be willing to die for Datang again. Therefore, Dai Zong knew that if he really took back Guo Ziyi's reward, then the future of the Li Tang clan would be at great risk.
The emperor read the edict) He always wanted to be a wise monarch, and when he saw Guo Ziyi's frankness, he was convinced that he was not rebellious, so he said to Guo Ziyi: "I am deeply ashamed to worry the important ministers of the state.
In this way, the imperial tomb made Lao Guo skillfully avoid a danger. Once ordinary people are snubbed by the emperor, they will be resentful and feel that they have met an unknown master. However, even if Guo Ziyi is idle at home, she can handle it calmly. ”
In 763 AD, the city of Chang'an faced an unprecedented crisis. The Tibetan army invaded the Guanzhong region, and Guo Ziyi's loyalty and courage were once again tested. However, at this time, there was no defending army in Chang'an, and the tragedy of Lai Yao was staged again, and Li Guangbi did not dare to rescue him because of fear.
Daizong's decision to self-destruct the Great Wall finally gave him a bitter taste. Although Guo Ziyi has been idle in Chang'an, his generals have long since dispersed. However, even with only 20 soldiers by his side, he did not hesitate to accept the appointment of the deputy marshal of Kannai and went to Xianyang to lead the army against the enemy.
His actions once again proved his loyalty to his country and his heroic courage.
Lingyan Pavilion) Daizong was moved by Guo Ziyi's loyalty, and sighed: "I appointed you too late, causing the situation to be like this. Of course, the emperor's mind is unpredictable, and he may be moved at one time, and he may be incited at the same time.
In order to dispel the emperor's doubts about himself, Guo Ziyi not only needs to prove that he has no objection, but also needs to prove that he has no ability to rebel. For example, Guo Ziyi's palace in Qinrenli is unique, there is no courtyard wall to block it, it extends in all directions, anyone can enter and exit freely, and there is never a family member to stop it.
In the newly renovated Fenyang Palace, one of Guo Ziyi's subordinates was about to go out to guard, and he came to the palace to bid farewell to Guo Ziyi. In order to show her determination to be loyal to the Li Tang Dynasty, Guo Ziyi asked her wife and beloved daughter to serve the guests like servants to wash their faces and hands.
This move undoubtedly shows Guo Ziyi's humility and loyalty as a courtier, and also reflects his sober understanding of power. Even though Guo Ziyi's achievements were prominent, he was well aware that he could be in danger at any time, so he worked hard to maintain his good reputation and remained loyal to the Li Tang dynasty.
This story tells us that there are many reasons why a courtier can get a good death, the most important of which is his ability to remain humble, loyal and prudent, and to have a clear sense of power.