Both Li Jing and Hou Junji were famous marshals in the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, and both were on the list of Lingyan Pavilion heroes, and they both had the merits of destroying the country in the foreign war during the Zhenguan period.
Coincidentally, after they made the achievement of destroying the country, they all encountered political attacks for the same reason, but their different attitudes towards suffering led to their different fates.
In the four years of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, Li Jing personally led a raid on Yinshan and defeated the East Turks, forced the East Turks Khan Jieli to flee in embarrassment and was captured by the Tang army, and the East Turks were destroyed.
The Tang Dynasty's battle to destroy the East Turks was the first foreign war launched by Emperor Taizong Li Shimin after he ascended the throne. Not only did he wipe out the East Turks that had plagued the Sui and Tang dynasties in one fell swoop, but also put Li Shimin on the throne of the “Khan of Heaven” .
And Li Jing, who commanded this war, was undoubtedly the hero of the Tang Dynasty.
However, in ancient dynasties, there has always been a practice of preventing generals from overtaking the master, and Li Jing naturally can't escape this practice.
After the war, Li Jing was impeached on the grounds that he condoned the soldiers to rob wealth.
This matter is recorded in the "New Tang Book" and "Old Tang Book" . Although the impeachers recorded are different, it is correct that Li Jing was impeached.
According to the "New Tang Book·Li Jing Biography" :
Yu Shi, doctor Xiao Yu and Jing Jing, have no discipline in the army, looting and loosing strange treasures.
According to the "Old Tang Book·Li Jing Biography" :
Yushi doctor Wen Yanbo harmed his merits and slandered the Jingjun Army without Gangji, causing Qibao to be scattered in the hands of the insurgents.
In other words, after Li Jing made the effort to destroy the country and returned to the court, he was immediately hit by the head, and was forced to plead Li Shimin for his impeachment.
Although not long afterwards, Li Shimin still gave Li Jing the treatment of being a minister, letting Li Jing enter the court and be the right shot of Shang Shu, but Li Jing probably also understood what was going on, and his merit was overwhelming.
Li Jing's impeachment obviously made Li Shimin feel uneasy after he made the achievement of destroying the country. Therefore, he acquiesced in impeaching Li Jing to beat his prestige, and then granted forgiveness.
If Li Jing has complaints or dissatisfaction, his future will be difficult.
Fortunately, Li Jing is also a wily, not only will bear down his impeachment, when the prime minister, but also how to give way, every time to discuss affairs of state "like Xun Xun then can not be made" .
This attitude allowed him to escape further political attacks.
A similar political attack was encountered by Li Jing during his ten years in Zhenguan. In that year, Li Jing led the Tang army to destroy Tuyuhun and won the country again.
Later, Li Jing was framed by his subordinates for rebellion. After the investigation was clear, Li Jing took the initiative to go home to recuperate, and no longer involved in the military and political affairs of the DPRK and China. The "Old Tang Book · Li Jing Biography" records:
Close the door to self-defense, to prevent guests, although relatives are not allowed to enter.
Li Jing's constant compromise and a good attitude of not distinguishing and not arguing gave him Li Shimin's kind treatment. Even if the eldest son was implicated in the rebellion of the crown prince Li Chengqian, he was let go by Li Shimin and finally got a good end.
However, another famous marshal Hou Junji, who was at the same time as Li Jing, got a different ending after encountering the same political attack because of a different attitude.
In the 14th year of Zhenguan, Tang Jun led by Hou Junji also made a contribution to destroying the country, and it was Gao Changguo that he destroyed.
After Hou Junji returned to the court, he was also impeached. The reason for his impeachment was that he took Gaochang property privately and allowed soldiers to rob his wealth.
This reason is almost exactly the same as the reason for Li Jing's impeachment after he destroyed the East Turks. The "Old Tang Book · Collected Biography of Hou Jun" records:
Junji broke Gaochang at the first time, but did not ask for it. The generals knew it, but they also competed to steal, and Junji was afraid of the matter and did not dare to control it. And the Jingshi, please shirk his crime and imprison him.
After Hou Junji encountered such a political attack, his attitude was completely different from Li Jing's attitude of compromise and tolerance. He was quite dissatisfied. The "Old Tang Book · Collected Biography of Hou Jun" records:
Jun Ji has been credited with meritorious service in the Western Regions, but he was imprisoned for greed, and he was very unhappy.
This attitude caused Hou Junji to be dissatisfied with Li Shimin. Three years later, in the 17th year of Zhenguan, he took the initiative to confuse the crown prince Li Chengqian to rebel. After his defeat, Hou Junji was killed by Li Shimin.
Both Li Jing and Hou Junji were impeached after soldiers robbed the country of property.
Soldier plundering was something that could not be avoided in ancient wars. Li Shimin and the Manchu civil and military knew well.
Using the same reason to impeach Li Jing and Hou Junji, who had been successful in destroying the country, is a tacit understanding between the emperor and his confidants.
The purpose is to suppress the prestige of Li Jing and Hou Junji, and prevent them from being arrogant and indulgent after they have made meritorious services. They will not be constrained in the future. If they can accept it honestly, they will be good courtiers.
In the political environment at the time, this was a political process that might inevitably be encountered by a leading general who had a high level of merit. The key was to see whether the leading general could understand this tacit understanding.
Li Jing understood Li Shimin's thoughts, so he had a corresponding response that satisfies Li Shimin, and in exchange for a good death, Hou Junji did not understand, and because of this, he felt resentment, and the result was naturally not so good.
Hou Junji may be comparable to Li Jing in leadership ability, but he is far behind in political consciousness.
Li Shimin is considered to be one of the better emperors in history to treat heroes, but the premise is that heroes can cooperate with his emperor's heart, otherwise, Li Shimin can also raise a butcher knife against heroes.
Leave a Comment