Li Yuan's Taiyuan Rebellion

Li Yuan was a nobleman of the Sui dynasty and became the Duke of Tang by inheriting his ancestor's title. In 617 A.D., Emperor Yang sent him to Taiyuan as a retainer (official name) to suppress the peasant rebellion, and at first, he won a few battles, but later he became nervous when he saw that the rebel army was getting stronger and stronger.

Li Yuan had four sons. The second son, Li Shimin, was just eighteen years old at that time and was a very bold young man who usually liked to make friends with talented people. People also found him generous and hospitable and liked to deal with him. He saw that the Sui Dynasty would not be ruled for a long time and had his plans in mind.

Liu Wenjing, the magistrate of Jinyang (now Taiyuan, Shanxi), thought highly of Li Shimin. Li Shimin also regarded him as his friend. Liu Wenjing was related to Li Mi. After Li Mi joined the uprising army, Emperor Yang ordered to arrest of Li Mi's friends and relatives. Liu Wenjing was dismissed from his post and imprisoned in a prison in Jingyang because he was implicated.

When Li Shimin heard that Liu Wenjing was in jail, he was very anxious and rushed to the jail to visit him.

Li Shimin took Liu Wenjing's hand and said, "Brother Liu, I came to visit, not only to catch up with my friend but also to ask you to help me with an idea."

Liu Wenjing had long known what Li Shimin had in mind. He said, "Now the emperor is far away in Jiangdu, Li Mi is approaching the eastern capital, and people are rebelling everywhere. This is a good time to fight the world. I can help you collect 100,000 men and horses, and your father still has tens of thousands of men under him. If you use this force to raise an army, enter Chang'an, and give orders to the world, you can gain the world in less than six months."

Li Shimin said happily, "You have spoken to my heart."

Li Shimin returned home and thought about Liu Wenjing's words, and the more he thought about them, the more he thought they made sense. But it was a difficult task to convince his father. Just at this time, the Turkic (one of the ancient northern peoples of China) Khan to the north of Taiyuan attacked Ma Yi. Li Yuan sent his troops to resist, but they were defeated. Li Yuan was afraid that Emperor Yang would find out about this and hold him accountable, so he didn't know what to do.

Seizing this opportunity, Li Shimin approached Li Yuan and persuaded him to rise against Sui. When Li Yuan heard this, he was frightened to death and said, "How can you say such words without any authority? If I go to the police, I will have you arrested."

Li Shimin was not afraid and said, "Father, if you want to sue, go ahead, I am not afraid of death."

Li Yuan, of course, would not denounce him, but only instructed him not to say such things in the future.

The next day, Li Shimin approached Li Yuan again and said, "Father was appointed by the emperor to crush the rebellious people here. But seeing that there are more and more rebellious people, can you crush them? Besides, the emperor is very suspicious, even if you have achieved success, your situation will be more dangerous. The only way out is to do as I said yesterday."

Li Yuan hesitated for many hours before he sighed and said, "Last night, when I thought about what you said, it made sense. I can't make up my mind. From now on, it's up to you whether your family will be destroyed or whether you can turn your family into a country!"