5 kilometers northeast of Pingning County, Shanxi, at the junction of Shanxi and Hebei provinces, stands a majestic pass. On the two wings of Guancheng, there is the Great Wall of China, which is built windingly on the mountain. To the north of Guancheng, there is the Tao River with rapid water flow. This majestic pass, surrounded by mountains and water, can be called the Jincheng Tangchi. And among the majestic Taihang Mountains, which are full of peaks and ridges, it is like an eagle, looking down at the peaks.
Such a magnificent pass has a gentle and beautiful name - Niangzi Pass .
Historical records: At the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the Women's Army commanded by Princess Pingyang once guarded the dangerous Weize Pass. Later, Weize Pass was renamed Niangzi Pass. The famous name of Princess Pingyang, who led the women's army to follow her father and brother to conquer the world, was spread in the morning breeze bathed in the golden sun in Xiongguan.
1. The Tiger Girl of Jiangmen
One day in 601 AD, with a loud cry of "Wow", a baby girl was born in a large family of a powerful man named Li. Just like her mother when she was born, this baby girl has very long fetal hair. At the time, this was seen as a good omen. Coupled with her round face and bright little eyes, she was loved by everyone from the beginning. This baby girl became the legendary Princess Pingyang.
The family into which Princess Pingyang was born has a glorious past. Her great-grandfather Li Hu was an official in the Later Zhou Dynasty and became a Taiwei in the five dynasties. Grandfather Li Sha also became the general of Zhuguo. His father Li Yuan succeeded Tang Guogong at the age of 7. By the time Princess Pingyang was born, he had already served as governor of several states and was deeply favored by the court.
Princess Pingyang’s mother family is also a famous family. My maternal grandfather, Dou Yi, was the Duke of Shenwu in the Sui Dynasty. His mother, Mrs. Dou, was beautiful and virtuous. She served the elders at the top and taught her children at the bottom. She did not pamper or pamper her only biological daughter at all. Instead, she educated her with principles so that she could develop a strong character. She did not have the delicate and willful habits of aristocratic ladies at all.
Princess Pingyang’s brothers Li Jiancheng , Li Shimin , Li Yuanba , Li Yuanji have been smart, agile and courageous since childhood. As prominent generals for generations, they have been influenced by their family's martial habits since they were young, and the education they received was also about riding, archery, and military strategy.
The family background and the prowess of her father and brother had a great impact on the growth of Princess Pingyang. When the boys were dancing with guns and sticks, riding horses and shooting arrows, she would also tie up her hair, put on her boots, and learn martial arts with her brothers. Compared with her brothers, she is best at swordsmanship. Every time she dances, she is vigorous and agile, with energy like a rainbow, strong and soft, and often wins applause from her family members. And when her father and brothers were talking about strategy and the use of troops, she was also listening attentively with her eyes wide open. She often expressed some of her own opinions. Although she was young, she sometimes spoke clearly and logically, which amazed her father and brothers.
Among the many brothers, the one who doted on Princess Pingyang the most was her second brother Li Shimin, who was 3 years older than her and later became a famous king. Whether it was studying essays or practicing martial arts, whenever she encountered something she didn't understand, her second brother would always patiently explain and demonstrate to her. Especially in archery, her second brother often taught her various stunts step by step, which greatly benefited her. Moreover, whenever her parents warned her not to wield swords too much like boys, her second brother always stood up to speak for her.
was influenced by the heroic temperament of her second brother, and Princess Pingyang naturally developed a heroic spirit.
Time flies like water, and in a blink of an eye, Princess Pingyang has reached the age of hair extensions. Her appearance not only inherited her mother's dignity and beauty, but also brought some of her father's fortitude and heroism between her eyebrows. The name of the third lady of the Li family spread throughout the city of Chang'an in an instant, and the noble prince who came to propose marriage crossed the threshold.
When my grandparents chose a son-in-law for their doting mother, they spent a lot of effort before choosing a handsome and suave father. Now that the parents are choosing a son-in-law for this beautiful, well-versed, literary and martial daughter, they naturally cannot make the mistake of choosing a dandy son who is charming and charming. Moreover, when a beauty matches a hero, a manly and charming woman like Princess Pingyang needs a dashing young hero to match her. After careful consideration, they selected the beautiful boy Chai Shao from Linfen, Jinzhou.
Speaking of Chai Shao, readers who are familiar with " Shuo Tang " will naturally be familiar with the heroic and chivalrous Cheshire Horse. He was also born into a noble family, and his father served as the crown prince of the Sui Dynasty. He himself has little training in martial arts, is agile, hates evil, and likes to fight against injustice. His reputation as a chivalrous man at a young age has spread throughout the Guanzhong area. Due to his father's relationship and his own reputation, he had already held the official position of "千niupreparation" in the Sui Dynasty before his marriage, and became the prince's personal bodyguard.
A well-matched family, a talented man and a beautiful woman. After the grand wedding, the young couple lived a fairy-like happy life in Chang'an City.
2. The heroine created by the times
If it were a peaceful and prosperous age, if her father, brother and husband were all peaceful and inactive people, Princess Pingyang might spend her whole life in such a happy life, raising her husband and raising her children, taking care of the housework, and doing nothing. Then, she would not be able to become a princess, and her achievements that would shine in the annals of history would be out of the question.
The famous name of the heroine Princess Pingyang was created by the current situation in the late Sui Dynasty.
Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty After he came to the throne, he killed his father and his brother, and became arrogant, extravagant and rebellious. As soon as he came to power, he carried out a large-scale construction project to build the eastern capital of Luoyang. Fine trees and herbs, rare birds and beasts, and exotic flowers and stones from all over the country were sent to the capital to enrich the gardens. They built the Great Wall, opened canals, and built roads, which made the people miserable.
Emperor Yang was very happy with his success. He toured the south of the Yangtze River several times and went north to Yulin to show off his power. He also sent troops to the frontier and invaded Goryeo to show his might. As a result, corvee labor was endless, wars were frequent, a large number of laborers were separated from the front line of production, social production was severely damaged, and people's lives were miserable. As a result, the north of the Yellow River was uninhabited for thousands of miles, and the land between the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers was barren.
The sky was angry, people were complaining, and the world was in turmoil. The people had no choice but to take risks and rise up. For a time, peasant armed uprisings against the tyranny of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty spread across the country.
At the same time, many aristocratic bureaucrats also took advantage of the situation to rebel against the Sui Dynasty based on their own interests. Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was at a loss for what to do. While trying his best to suppress the rebels, he also purged and killed many of the heroes and generals he suspected to eliminate hidden dangers.
For a time, all the ministers in the DPRK were in danger and panic, and Emperor Yang was even more betrayed and separated from his relatives.
At that time, Princess Pingyang's father, Li Yuan, had been promoted to stay in Taiyuan because of his outstanding military exploits in many battles with the invading Turkic cavalry and peasant rebels.
Taiyuan was the gateway to Guanzhong, the center of Sui rule, and its military status was extremely important; Taiyuan Liushou, as the highest political and military officer in the region, also had extremely prominent status and power. Being in a strategic location, holding a large number of troops, witnessing the turmoil in the world and the rise of heroes, Li Yuan, who has always been ambitious, is naturally unwilling to remain silent. He took the opportunity to continuously expand his power and plot to do something. In May 617, Li Yuan secretly sent people to Hedong and Chang'an to recall his son and son-in-law and prepare to mobilize troops immediately.
History has since involved Princess Pingyang in its turbulent years.
3. Sending her husband to join the army
At this time, Princess Chai Shao and Ping Yang who were far away in Chang'an were also watching the development of the situation closely. Princess Pingyang has never put down her favorite guns, sticks and swords. In addition to taking care of the housework, she often likes to practice two tricks, which make the children and maids in the house envious.She and her husband Chai Shao spent a lot of their married life together discussing martial arts and discussing the art of war.
They had already talked a lot about the rapidly developing world trend and the actions of their father and brother, and were
mentally prepared.
On this day, Princess Pingyang had just finished practicing swordsmanship in the garden. When she returned to the bedroom to wipe off the sweat from her temples, she saw Chai Shao pacing thoughtfully, looking a little excited, but also a little worried and restless.
"What happened to my husband?" Princess Pingyang inserted the sword into its sheath and asked with concern.
Chai Shao picked up a letter that had just been unsealed on the desk and handed it to her: "Father is going to raise an army to clear up the world's disaster. He asked me to meet in Taiyuan quickly."
"Great! This is a great opportunity for your husband to make contributions. Go quickly and don't delay the important event." Princess Pingyang said excitedly.
"But..." Chai Shao held her in his arms and looked at her tenderly, "What should you do? If I go with you, there will be a lot of inconvenience along the way and it will easily arouse people's suspicion; I will go alone and leave you at home, just in case anything happens..."
Chai Shao's worries are justified. The court's suspicion of the father-in-law will inevitably also involve the son-in-law. Chai Shao's every move would inevitably reach the ears of Emperor Sui Yang very quickly.
Therefore, if the whole family moves away, the goal is too big and it will inevitably attract suspicion from others. But if Princess Pingyang is left alone at home, when the court discovers Chai Shao's whereabouts, she will inevitably be implicated.
Moreover, in these turbulent years, once couples are separated, it is not easy to see each other again.
"You'd better go quickly and leave me alone." Princess Pingyang suppressed the reluctance in her heart and firmly supported her husband's career. She swept her hair and said, "I am a woman, so if something happens, it is easier to hide. I will take care of myself."
Looking at his wife's gentle and encouraging eyes, Chai Shao made up his mind.
On this night, this loving couple reluctantly talked a lot, and their love was better than their wedding night.
Before dawn the next day, the door of Chai Mansion quietly opened. Princess Pingyang handed the sword to Chai Shao, carefully fastened the buttons of her husband's cloak, and watched with affectionate eyes as her husband mounted the horse and disappeared into the dim morning light.
4. The Birth of the Detachment of Women
After Chai Shao left, Chang'an City could not stay any longer, because there was no guarantee that the news of Chai Shao's involvement in the rebellion would reach the capital one day. Instead of being killed, it is better to avoid it temporarily.
Princess Pingyang packed up her valuables and entrusted the mansion in Chang'an City to a reliable servant. A few days later, also in the dim morning light, she quietly left Chang'an City in a car with some maids and servants, and moved to a manor in Jingzhao County, County, 50 miles away from the capital.
It only takes less than a day by carriage from Chang'an City to the county. But what she saw along the way in less than a day deeply shocked Princess Pingyang.
There was a severe drought in the world this year. From last winter to May of this year, not even a drop of water fell. The Guanzhong area has been desolate for thousands of miles. The trees are dead, the fields are cracked, and there is no smoke on the roofs. It is a desolate scene. Guanzhong, which used to be famous for its prosperity, has turned into a lifeless extremity. On both sides of the road, many old people, women and children who were dying of hunger stretched out their skinny hands and begged for a little alms from pedestrians. Along the way, people walking on crutches and holding earthen jars were fleeing famine, supporting the old and the young, and passed by group after group. Seeing this tragic scene, the kind-hearted Princess Pingyang shed sad tears.
She thought a lot along the way. After arriving at the county, Princess Pingyang immediately gave an order to her family: open the manor's grain depot to provide relief to the surrounding victims.
This move is the result of her thinking along the way. Princess Pingyang has a long-term vision. She expected that once her father and brother rebelled against Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty in Taiyuan, the Chai Family Manor in the county, which was very close to Chang'an, would inevitably attract revenge from the imperial court. Rather than being caught unawares when the time comes, it is better to prepare early. Opening a warehouse to help the poor can be regarded as a kind act for the displaced victims. It can not only win people's hearts and create momentum, but also take the opportunity to recruit the refugees to gather armed forces to protect their homes. At the same time, they can also wait for an opportunity to respond to his father's rebellion.
As soon as the news of the opening of the warehouse to release grain spread, hungry people came to Princess Pingyang's manor to eat in an endless stream. In the name of recruiting bankers, Princess Pingyang selected some young and strong boys and formed a team of several hundred people.
While Princess Pingyang sent people to work hard to build weapons, she also personally went to the school field to train sergeants. While teaching them the methods of attack, advance and retreat, and the art of riding and shooting, Princess Pingyang paid special attention to enforcing strict discipline. Her military genius was first revealed at this time. Soon, Princess Pingyang created a team with strict discipline and strong combat effectiveness.
Soon, the news that Tang King Li Yuan raised troops was relayed to Guanzhong. Here, Princess Pingyang also publicly provoked an anti-Sui banner in the county. On the day of the incident, Princess Pingyang was dressed in military uniform and looked heroic. She recounted the atrocities of the Sui Dynasty and called on people to follow her father, Tang Wang Li Yuan, and fight to "clear the troubles" and restore peace to the world. For a time, the villagers cheered loudly.
This team led by Princess Pingyang was called the "Women's Army" by people at the time because the coach was a "woman".
5. Who says women are inferior to men?
After the uprising, the reputation of Princess Pingyang and her army of women quickly spread. People who hated the tyranny of Emperor Sui Yang and were forced to live by hunger joined this team one after another, and the Detachment of Women quickly grew.
At this time, Princess Pingyang's talent as a coach was gradually reflected. While she worked hard to manage her Detachment of Women, she also saw with foresight that under Qiang Sui's eyes, the isolated Detachment of Women was in danger of being wiped out by the court at any time. Only by uniting other anti-Sui armed forces, supporting each other, and acting in concert can we gain a firm foothold, gain development, and truly pose a threat to the Sui Dynasty.
At that time, there were several independent anti-Sui armed groups around the county. Among them, five teams including Shi Wanbao, He Panren, He Shanren, Li Zhongwen, and Qiu Shili have the largest number of people and the strongest combat effectiveness. Starting from the unanimous anti-Sui strategy, Princess Pingyang made contact with them one after another.
Shi Wanbao turned out to be a hero in Chang'an City. He eliminated violence and brought peace to the good, killing the rich and helping the poor. Because he was dissatisfied with the tyranny of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he hid in the mountains of the county and raised a rebellion. Because he has a reputation as a knight, the team developed quickly and became relatively powerful. At this time, Li Yuan's younger brother Li Shentong , who was staying in Chang'an City, was wanted by Qu Tutong , the ambassador who stayed behind in the pass to arrest him, because he was implicated in Taiyuan's rebellion. Li Shentong was a good friend of Shi Wanbao, so he immediately fled to Shi Wanbao's army.
Shi Wanbao respected this good friend very much and obeyed his words. After Princess Pingyang learned the news, she immediately sent a letter to her uncle Li Shentong, and he came forward to persuade Shi Wanbao to form a friendly army with the Detachment of Women, exchange news with each other, and cooperate in fighting.
He Panren is a Hu from Jingzhao County, and his team is mainly composed of ethnic minorities. They used Sizhuyuan in Wu County as their base, gathered in docks and built forts to compete with the Sui army. He also kidnapped Sui Shangshu Youcheng Li Gang who was living in seclusion in the county, forced him to be the chief historian of the rebel army, and called himself the general manager. There are more than 10,000 Sizhuyuan rebels and they are very powerful.
Princess Pingyang spent a lot of effort to contact He Panren. At first, He Panren was very disapproving of Princess Pingyang and her Detachment of Women, thinking that they were not enough to achieve great things. As the Detachment of Women continued to grow, he suspected that Princess Pingyang had other agendas, so he was unwilling to join forces. Princess Pingyang's unique patience and perseverance as a woman came into play at this time. She sent Ma Sanbao, an eloquent family member, to Sizhuyuan several times to state to He Panren the interests of "dead lips and cold teeth", and at the same time, she expressed the great cause of overthrowing the Sui rule. After repeated persuasion, He Panren was finally moved by Princess Pingyang's sincerity and agreed to join forces with the Detachment of Women to fight against the Sui Dynasty.
In September of this year, Princess Pingyang led the Detachment of Women to conduct the first major battle since the uprising - joining forces with Li Shentong, He Panren and other troops to attack the county seat. During the battle, Princess Pingyang commanded decisively and advanced and retreated well, showing her qualities as a commander who was well versed in the art of war. On the battlefield, she took the lead and fought bravely, which greatly boosted the morale of the rebels. After a bloody battle, the county seat was quickly captured. This battle fully demonstrated the heroic demeanor of the heroine Princess Pingyang, and also convinced the seven-foot-tall men such as Shi Wanbao and He Panren who had doubts about the alliance at the beginning.
For a time, the prestige of the Detachment of Women spread far and wide. Princess Pingyang sent people to repeatedly lobby Li Zhongwen, Xiang Shanren, Qiu Shili and others, causing them to abandon their original banner and lead their troops to join the Detachment of Women. The Detachment of Women, which grew up during the war, advanced westward along the Weishui River, attacking cities and lands, and soon occupied Wuxian, Wugong, and Shiping counties.
Unlike other peasant armed forces, the Detachment of Women has strict discipline. Princess Pingyang, who has been familiar with military books with her brothers since she was a child, understands that only strict discipline can ensure strong combat effectiveness. Therefore, during the march, she paid special attention to clarifying the laws and strictly prohibited soldiers from looting property and bullying the people. Those who violate the prohibition will be severely punished regardless of their closeness and merit.
Therefore, wherever the Detachment of Women went, the people would welcome them with pots of food and pulp. Many people even came from far away places to join the Detachment of Women.
At first, Qu Tutong, the Sui general in charge of the defense of the Guanzhong area, did not take Princess Pingyang seriously, thinking that
she was young and a prostitute, and would not be able to achieve much. Unexpectedly, the Women's Army became stronger and stronger as they fought, and soon they took action, but were defeated one by one by Princess Pingyang either with force or outsmarting them. At this time, Qu Tutong, who had always been proud of himself, could only sigh helplessly: "Who said women are inferior to men? I didn't expect Li Yuan's daughter to be so powerful!"
6. The princess who established the shogunate
While the Detachment of Women continued to grow, over there, the Tang army led by Li Yuan had killed the Sui general Song Laosheng in Huoyi, and then successively defeated Linfen, Gushan and Jiangjun, approaching Hedong. After encountering the stubborn resistance of Qu Tutong, Li Yuan's troops divided into two groups, continued to besiege Hedong, and then turned from the foot of Longmen Mountain in the northwest, via Hancheng and Taiyang in Hexi, and went straight to Chang'an.
Princess Pingyang has been trying every means to get in touch with her father and brother since the incident. But it suffers from the continuous traffic and inconvenient transportation. One day, she suddenly received the news that her father's army was not far from Chang'an, which made her extremely happy. She hurriedly wrote a secret letter, introduced her situation in detail, and sent her confidants to the Tang army.
At this time, Li Yuan had led the Tang army into Tun Hukou. He unexpectedly received a letter from Princess Pingyang, and he couldn't help but be overjoyed: "Sure enough, the general's tiger girl is indeed my daughter!" All the generals in the army also praised her. Chai Shao, who had been missing his wife, was so surprised that he wished he could have two wings and fly to his lover's side.
With the Detachment of Women galloping behind enemy lines and cooperating in combat, the Tang army's aggressive advance into Chang'an would be more assured of victory. Li Yuan fully understood the mood of his daughter and son-in-law, and he immediately ordered Chai Shao to lead hundreds of cavalry to Huayin and along the foothills of Nanshan Mountain to meet the princess.5 kilometers northeast of Pingning County, Shanxi, at the junction of Shanxi and Hebei provinces, stands a majestic pass. On the two wings of Guancheng, there is the Great Wall of China, which is built windingly on the mountain. To the north of Guancheng, there is the Tao River with rapid water flow. This majestic pass, surrounded by mountains and water, can be called the Jincheng Tangchi. And among the majestic Taihang Mountains, which are full of peaks and ridges, it is like an eagle, looking down at the peaks.
Such a magnificent pass has a gentle and beautiful name - Niangzi Pass .
Historical records: At the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the Women's Army commanded by Princess Pingyang once guarded the dangerous Weize Pass. Later, Weize Pass was renamed Niangzi Pass. The famous name of Princess Pingyang, who led the women's army to follow her father and brother to conquer the world, was spread in the morning breeze bathed in the golden sun in Xiongguan.
1. The Tiger Girl of Jiangmen
One day in 601 AD, with a loud cry of "Wow", a baby girl was born in a large family of a powerful man named Li. Just like her mother when she was born, this baby girl has very long fetal hair. At the time, this was seen as a good omen. Coupled with her round face and bright little eyes, she was loved by everyone from the beginning. This baby girl became the legendary Princess Pingyang.
The family into which Princess Pingyang was born has a glorious past. Her great-grandfather Li Hu was an official in the Later Zhou Dynasty and became a Taiwei in the five dynasties. Grandfather Li Sha also became the general of Zhuguo. His father Li Yuan succeeded Tang Guogong at the age of 7. By the time Princess Pingyang was born, he had already served as governor of several states and was deeply favored by the court.
Princess Pingyang’s mother family is also a famous family. My maternal grandfather, Dou Yi, was the Duke of Shenwu in the Sui Dynasty. His mother, Mrs. Dou, was beautiful and virtuous. She served the elders at the top and taught her children at the bottom. She did not pamper or pamper her only biological daughter at all. Instead, she educated her with principles so that she could develop a strong character. She did not have the delicate and willful habits of aristocratic ladies at all.
Princess Pingyang’s brothers Li Jiancheng , Li Shimin , Li Yuanba , Li Yuanji have been smart, agile and courageous since childhood. As prominent generals for generations, they have been influenced by their family's martial habits since they were young, and the education they received was also about riding, archery, and military strategy.
The family background and the prowess of her father and brother had a great impact on the growth of Princess Pingyang. When the boys were dancing with guns and sticks, riding horses and shooting arrows, she would also tie up her hair, put on her boots, and learn martial arts with her brothers. Compared with her brothers, she is best at swordsmanship. Every time she dances, she is vigorous and agile, with energy like a rainbow, strong and soft, and often wins applause from her family members. And when her father and brothers were talking about strategy and the use of troops, she was also listening attentively with her eyes wide open. She often expressed some of her own opinions. Although she was young, she sometimes spoke clearly and logically, which amazed her father and brothers.
Among the many brothers, the one who doted on Princess Pingyang the most was her second brother Li Shimin, who was 3 years older than her and later became a famous king. Whether it was studying essays or practicing martial arts, whenever she encountered something she didn't understand, her second brother would always patiently explain and demonstrate to her. Especially in archery, her second brother often taught her various stunts step by step, which greatly benefited her. Moreover, whenever her parents warned her not to wield swords too much like boys, her second brother always stood up to speak for her.
was influenced by the heroic temperament of her second brother, and Princess Pingyang naturally developed a heroic spirit.
Time flies like water, and in a blink of an eye, Princess Pingyang has reached the age of hair extensions. Her appearance not only inherited her mother's dignity and beauty, but also brought some of her father's fortitude and heroism between her eyebrows. The name of the third lady of the Li family spread throughout the city of Chang'an in an instant, and the noble prince who came to propose marriage crossed the threshold.
When my grandparents chose a son-in-law for their doting mother, they spent a lot of effort before choosing a handsome and suave father. Now that the parents are choosing a son-in-law for this beautiful, well-versed, literary and martial daughter, they naturally cannot make the mistake of choosing a dandy son who is charming and charming. Moreover, when a beauty matches a hero, a manly and charming woman like Princess Pingyang needs a dashing young hero to match her. After careful consideration, they selected the beautiful boy Chai Shao from Linfen, Jinzhou.
Speaking of Chai Shao, readers who are familiar with " Shuo Tang " will naturally be familiar with the heroic and chivalrous Cheshire Horse. He was also born into a noble family, and his father served as the crown prince of the Sui Dynasty. He himself has little training in martial arts, is agile, hates evil, and likes to fight against injustice. His reputation as a chivalrous man at a young age has spread throughout the Guanzhong area. Due to his father's relationship and his own reputation, he had already held the official position of "千niupreparation" in the Sui Dynasty before his marriage, and became the prince's personal bodyguard.
A well-matched family, a talented man and a beautiful woman. After the grand wedding, the young couple lived a fairy-like happy life in Chang'an City.
2. The heroine created by the times
If it were a peaceful and prosperous age, if her father, brother and husband were all peaceful and inactive people, Princess Pingyang might spend her whole life in such a happy life, raising her husband and raising her children, taking care of the housework, and doing nothing. Then, she would not be able to become a princess, and her achievements that would shine in the annals of history would be out of the question.
The famous name of the heroine Princess Pingyang was created by the current situation in the late Sui Dynasty.
Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty After he came to the throne, he killed his father and his brother, and became arrogant, extravagant and rebellious. As soon as he came to power, he carried out a large-scale construction project to build the eastern capital of Luoyang. Fine trees and herbs, rare birds and beasts, and exotic flowers and stones from all over the country were sent to the capital to enrich the gardens. They built the Great Wall, opened canals, and built roads, which made the people miserable.
Emperor Yang was very happy with his success. He toured the south of the Yangtze River several times and went north to Yulin to show off his power. He also sent troops to the frontier and invaded Goryeo to show his might. As a result, corvee labor was endless, wars were frequent, a large number of laborers were separated from the front line of production, social production was severely damaged, and people's lives were miserable. As a result, the north of the Yellow River was uninhabited for thousands of miles, and the land between the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers was barren.
The sky was angry, people were complaining, and the world was in turmoil. The people had no choice but to take risks and rise up. For a time, peasant armed uprisings against the tyranny of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty spread across the country.
At the same time, many aristocratic bureaucrats also took advantage of the situation to rebel against the Sui Dynasty based on their own interests. Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was at a loss for what to do. While trying his best to suppress the rebels, he also purged and killed many of the heroes and generals he suspected to eliminate hidden dangers.
For a time, all the ministers in the DPRK were in danger and panic, and Emperor Yang was even more betrayed and separated from his relatives.
At that time, Princess Pingyang's father, Li Yuan, had been promoted to stay in Taiyuan because of his outstanding military exploits in many battles with the invading Turkic cavalry and peasant rebels.
Taiyuan was the gateway to Guanzhong, the center of Sui rule, and its military status was extremely important; Taiyuan Liushou, as the highest political and military officer in the region, also had extremely prominent status and power. Being in a strategic location, holding a large number of troops, witnessing the turmoil in the world and the rise of heroes, Li Yuan, who has always been ambitious, is naturally unwilling to remain silent. He took the opportunity to continuously expand his power and plot to do something. In May 617, Li Yuan secretly sent people to Hedong and Chang'an to recall his son and son-in-law and prepare to mobilize troops immediately.
History has since involved Princess Pingyang in its turbulent years.
3. Sending her husband to join the army
At this time, Princess Chai Shao and Ping Yang who were far away in Chang'an were also watching the development of the situation closely. Princess Pingyang has never put down her favorite guns, sticks and swords. In addition to taking care of the housework, she often likes to practice two tricks, which make the children and maids in the house envious.She and her husband Chai Shao spent a lot of their married life together discussing martial arts and discussing the art of war.
They had already talked a lot about the rapidly developing world trend and the actions of their father and brother, and were
mentally prepared.
On this day, Princess Pingyang had just finished practicing swordsmanship in the garden. When she returned to the bedroom to wipe off the sweat from her temples, she saw Chai Shao pacing thoughtfully, looking a little excited, but also a little worried and restless.
"What happened to my husband?" Princess Pingyang inserted the sword into its sheath and asked with concern.
Chai Shao picked up a letter that had just been unsealed on the desk and handed it to her: "Father is going to raise an army to clear up the world's disaster. He asked me to meet in Taiyuan quickly."
"Great! This is a great opportunity for your husband to make contributions. Go quickly and don't delay the important event." Princess Pingyang said excitedly.
"But..." Chai Shao held her in his arms and looked at her tenderly, "What should you do? If I go with you, there will be a lot of inconvenience along the way and it will easily arouse people's suspicion; I will go alone and leave you at home, just in case anything happens..."
Chai Shao's worries are justified. The court's suspicion of the father-in-law will inevitably also involve the son-in-law. Chai Shao's every move would inevitably reach the ears of Emperor Sui Yang very quickly.
Therefore, if the whole family moves away, the goal is too big and it will inevitably attract suspicion from others. But if Princess Pingyang is left alone at home, when the court discovers Chai Shao's whereabouts, she will inevitably be implicated.
Moreover, in these turbulent years, once couples are separated, it is not easy to see each other again.
"You'd better go quickly and leave me alone." Princess Pingyang suppressed the reluctance in her heart and firmly supported her husband's career. She swept her hair and said, "I am a woman, so if something happens, it is easier to hide. I will take care of myself."
Looking at his wife's gentle and encouraging eyes, Chai Shao made up his mind.
On this night, this loving couple reluctantly talked a lot, and their love was better than their wedding night.
Before dawn the next day, the door of Chai Mansion quietly opened. Princess Pingyang handed the sword to Chai Shao, carefully fastened the buttons of her husband's cloak, and watched with affectionate eyes as her husband mounted the horse and disappeared into the dim morning light.
4. The Birth of the Detachment of Women
After Chai Shao left, Chang'an City could not stay any longer, because there was no guarantee that the news of Chai Shao's involvement in the rebellion would reach the capital one day. Instead of being killed, it is better to avoid it temporarily.
Princess Pingyang packed up her valuables and entrusted the mansion in Chang'an City to a reliable servant. A few days later, also in the dim morning light, she quietly left Chang'an City in a car with some maids and servants, and moved to a manor in Jingzhao County, County, 50 miles away from the capital.
It only takes less than a day by carriage from Chang'an City to the county. But what she saw along the way in less than a day deeply shocked Princess Pingyang.
There was a severe drought in the world this year. From last winter to May of this year, not even a drop of water fell. The Guanzhong area has been desolate for thousands of miles. The trees are dead, the fields are cracked, and there is no smoke on the roofs. It is a desolate scene. Guanzhong, which used to be famous for its prosperity, has turned into a lifeless extremity. On both sides of the road, many old people, women and children who were dying of hunger stretched out their skinny hands and begged for a little alms from pedestrians. Along the way, people walking on crutches and holding earthen jars were fleeing famine, supporting the old and the young, and passed by group after group. Seeing this tragic scene, the kind-hearted Princess Pingyang shed sad tears.
She thought a lot along the way. After arriving at the county, Princess Pingyang immediately gave an order to her family: open the manor's grain depot to provide relief to the surrounding victims.
This move is the result of her thinking along the way. Princess Pingyang has a long-term vision. She expected that once her father and brother rebelled against Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty in Taiyuan, the Chai Family Manor in the county, which was very close to Chang'an, would inevitably attract revenge from the imperial court. Rather than being caught unawares when the time comes, it is better to prepare early. Opening a warehouse to help the poor can be regarded as a kind act for the displaced victims. It can not only win people's hearts and create momentum, but also take the opportunity to recruit the refugees to gather armed forces to protect their homes. At the same time, they can also wait for an opportunity to respond to his father's rebellion.
As soon as the news of the opening of the warehouse to release grain spread, hungry people came to Princess Pingyang's manor to eat in an endless stream. In the name of recruiting bankers, Princess Pingyang selected some young and strong boys and formed a team of several hundred people.
While Princess Pingyang sent people to work hard to build weapons, she also personally went to the school field to train sergeants. While teaching them the methods of attack, advance and retreat, and the art of riding and shooting, Princess Pingyang paid special attention to enforcing strict discipline. Her military genius was first revealed at this time. Soon, Princess Pingyang created a team with strict discipline and strong combat effectiveness.
Soon, the news that Tang King Li Yuan raised troops was relayed to Guanzhong. Here, Princess Pingyang also publicly provoked an anti-Sui banner in the county. On the day of the incident, Princess Pingyang was dressed in military uniform and looked heroic. She recounted the atrocities of the Sui Dynasty and called on people to follow her father, Tang Wang Li Yuan, and fight to "clear the troubles" and restore peace to the world. For a time, the villagers cheered loudly.
This team led by Princess Pingyang was called the "Women's Army" by people at the time because the coach was a "woman".
5. Who says women are inferior to men?
After the uprising, the reputation of Princess Pingyang and her army of women quickly spread. People who hated the tyranny of Emperor Sui Yang and were forced to live by hunger joined this team one after another, and the Detachment of Women quickly grew.
At this time, Princess Pingyang's talent as a coach was gradually reflected. While she worked hard to manage her Detachment of Women, she also saw with foresight that under Qiang Sui's eyes, the isolated Detachment of Women was in danger of being wiped out by the court at any time. Only by uniting other anti-Sui armed forces, supporting each other, and acting in concert can we gain a firm foothold, gain development, and truly pose a threat to the Sui Dynasty.
At that time, there were several independent anti-Sui armed groups around the county. Among them, five teams including Shi Wanbao, He Panren, He Shanren, Li Zhongwen, and Qiu Shili have the largest number of people and the strongest combat effectiveness. Starting from the unanimous anti-Sui strategy, Princess Pingyang made contact with them one after another.
Shi Wanbao turned out to be a hero in Chang'an City. He eliminated violence and brought peace to the good, killing the rich and helping the poor. Because he was dissatisfied with the tyranny of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he hid in the mountains of the county and raised a rebellion. Because he has a reputation as a knight, the team developed quickly and became relatively powerful. At this time, Li Yuan's younger brother Li Shentong , who was staying in Chang'an City, was wanted by Qu Tutong , the ambassador who stayed behind in the pass to arrest him, because he was implicated in Taiyuan's rebellion. Li Shentong was a good friend of Shi Wanbao, so he immediately fled to Shi Wanbao's army.
Shi Wanbao respected this good friend very much and obeyed his words. After Princess Pingyang learned the news, she immediately sent a letter to her uncle Li Shentong, and he came forward to persuade Shi Wanbao to form a friendly army with the Detachment of Women, exchange news with each other, and cooperate in fighting.
He Panren is a Hu from Jingzhao County, and his team is mainly composed of ethnic minorities. They used Sizhuyuan in Wu County as their base, gathered in docks and built forts to compete with the Sui army. He also kidnapped Sui Shangshu Youcheng Li Gang who was living in seclusion in the county, forced him to be the chief historian of the rebel army, and called himself the general manager. There are more than 10,000 Sizhuyuan rebels and they are very powerful.
Princess Pingyang spent a lot of effort to contact He Panren. At first, He Panren was very disapproving of Princess Pingyang and her Detachment of Women, thinking that they were not enough to achieve great things. As the Detachment of Women continued to grow, he suspected that Princess Pingyang had other agendas, so he was unwilling to join forces. Princess Pingyang's unique patience and perseverance as a woman came into play at this time. She sent Ma Sanbao, an eloquent family member, to Sizhuyuan several times to state to He Panren the interests of "dead lips and cold teeth", and at the same time, she expressed the great cause of overthrowing the Sui rule. After repeated persuasion, He Panren was finally moved by Princess Pingyang's sincerity and agreed to join forces with the Detachment of Women to fight against the Sui Dynasty.
In September of this year, Princess Pingyang led the Detachment of Women to conduct the first major battle since the uprising - joining forces with Li Shentong, He Panren and other troops to attack the county seat. During the battle, Princess Pingyang commanded decisively and advanced and retreated well, showing her qualities as a commander who was well versed in the art of war. On the battlefield, she took the lead and fought bravely, which greatly boosted the morale of the rebels. After a bloody battle, the county seat was quickly captured. This battle fully demonstrated the heroic demeanor of the heroine Princess Pingyang, and also convinced the seven-foot-tall men such as Shi Wanbao and He Panren who had doubts about the alliance at the beginning.
For a time, the prestige of the Detachment of Women spread far and wide. Princess Pingyang sent people to repeatedly lobby Li Zhongwen, Xiang Shanren, Qiu Shili and others, causing them to abandon their original banner and lead their troops to join the Detachment of Women. The Detachment of Women, which grew up during the war, advanced westward along the Weishui River, attacking cities and lands, and soon occupied Wuxian, Wugong, and Shiping counties.
Unlike other peasant armed forces, the Detachment of Women has strict discipline. Princess Pingyang, who has been familiar with military books with her brothers since she was a child, understands that only strict discipline can ensure strong combat effectiveness. Therefore, during the march, she paid special attention to clarifying the laws and strictly prohibited soldiers from looting property and bullying the people. Those who violate the prohibition will be severely punished regardless of their closeness and merit.
Therefore, wherever the Detachment of Women went, the people would welcome them with pots of food and pulp. Many people even came from far away places to join the Detachment of Women.
At first, Qu Tutong, the Sui general in charge of the defense of the Guanzhong area, did not take Princess Pingyang seriously, thinking that
she was young and a prostitute, and would not be able to achieve much. Unexpectedly, the Women's Army became stronger and stronger as they fought, and soon they took action, but were defeated one by one by Princess Pingyang either with force or outsmarting them. At this time, Qu Tutong, who had always been proud of himself, could only sigh helplessly: "Who said women are inferior to men? I didn't expect Li Yuan's daughter to be so powerful!"
6. The princess who established the shogunate
While the Detachment of Women continued to grow, over there, the Tang army led by Li Yuan had killed the Sui general Song Laosheng in Huoyi, and then successively defeated Linfen, Gushan and Jiangjun, approaching Hedong. After encountering the stubborn resistance of Qu Tutong, Li Yuan's troops divided into two groups, continued to besiege Hedong, and then turned from the foot of Longmen Mountain in the northwest, via Hancheng and Taiyang in Hexi, and went straight to Chang'an.
Princess Pingyang has been trying every means to get in touch with her father and brother since the incident. But it suffers from the continuous traffic and inconvenient transportation. One day, she suddenly received the news that her father's army was not far from Chang'an, which made her extremely happy. She hurriedly wrote a secret letter, introduced her situation in detail, and sent her confidants to the Tang army.
At this time, Li Yuan had led the Tang army into Tun Hukou. He unexpectedly received a letter from Princess Pingyang, and he couldn't help but be overjoyed: "Sure enough, the general's tiger girl is indeed my daughter!" All the generals in the army also praised her. Chai Shao, who had been missing his wife, was so surprised that he wished he could have two wings and fly to his lover's side.
With the Detachment of Women galloping behind enemy lines and cooperating in combat, the Tang army's aggressive advance into Chang'an would be more assured of victory. Li Yuan fully understood the mood of his daughter and son-in-law, and he immediately ordered Chai Shao to lead hundreds of cavalry to Huayin and along the foothills of Nanshan Mountain to meet the princess.
Once a loving couple reunites after a long separation, they don’t know how much they have to say. Looking at his wife, who was handsome and had a bit of mature charm, but was thin due to overwork, Chai Shao felt happy and loving in his heart.
The world is uncertain, and it is not yet time for children to love each other. When she heard that her second brother, Li Shimin, only led a small number of troops to move around the Weibei area in order to contain the enemy, Princess Pingyang resolutely bid farewell to her husband who had just reunited, and handed over the main force of the Detachment of Women to Chai Shao. She personally selected more than 10,000 elite soldiers and crossed the Wei River to reinforce her brother.
This pair of close brother and sister met, and naturally they had to talk about their separation. The elite soldiers and generals brought by his sister made Li Shimin even more powerful. The two brothers and sisters led this part of the team to the west, seizing the wind, south to the Wei River, taking Sizhu, and breaking Acheng. They were invincible in battles and invincible in every attack.
At this time, the main force of the Tang army also arrived at Chang'an City. The Detachment of Women participated in the siege of the city. Princess Pingyang was authorized by her father to set up her own shogunate (military and political advisory body) and have her own officials and staff, just like her brothers and husband. This right of hers has been retained after the establishment of and in the Tang Dynasty. Princess Pingyang can be said to be the only one in Chinese history who led the army in battle and established a shogunate as a princess.
7. Leave a name in history
In November 617 AD, the Tang army invaded Chang'an. In May 618, Li Yuan ascended the throne of emperor and changed the country's name to Tang, which was Tang Gaozu . At this time, Princess Pingyang was finally named a princess.
Tang Gaozu was extremely fond of Princess Pingyang, who had made great achievements in establishing the Tang Dynasty. He often gave her far more rewards than other princesses.
It stands to reason that the world has stabilized, with the love of her parents and the tenderness of her husband, Princess Pingyang should start enjoying her happy life again. However, fate is unpredictable, and something unfortunate happened at this time: Princess Pingyang, who was in her early twenties and in her prime, became bedridden due to overwork for many years.
Emperor Gaozu and Queen Dou not only sent the best imperial doctors to treat the princess, but also visited Fu Ma Mansion in person several times and expressed their condolences. The considerate husband often sits on the sick bed with no clothes on.
But Princess Pingyang was still getting haggard, and her former heroic spirit was no longer visible. In the face of the disease, the mighty heroine could not escape the tragic fate of the beauty.
On this day, the weather seemed particularly gloomy, and the black crows on the trees seemed to smell something ominous, and from time to time they let out heart-piercing wails. Princess Pingyang, who was on the sick bed, took one last look at her husband and two young sons, shed two lines of tears, and passed away. It was the sixth year of Wude (623 AD) and she was not yet 23 years old.
Li Yuan, Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty, was extremely grieved for the premature death of his daughter. During the burial, he issued an edict to "increase forty people with feathers and drums, large chariots, chariots, and swords in the front and rear, and soldiers with tigers and soldiers." This was completely a standard for mourning the meritorious generals. Taichang Qing, the official in charge of etiquette, reported that this was unreasonable, because according to etiquette, "women are not allowed to play drums." Li Yuan retorted: "Drums and pipes are the music of the army.
Of course The princess raised troops in Yang to respond to the rebel army, and personally beat the drums and charged, and made great contributions. The princess's achievements are not inferior to the heroes of this dynasty, and are not comparable to ordinary women. Why can't they advocate it?" Therefore, he ordered the princess to be buried in an unusual manner. At the same time, according to the posthumous law of "people with outstanding virtues and meritorious service are called Zhao" in the etiquette, the posthumous title of the princess is "Zhao".
Princess Pingyang's deeds are listed in a special biography in the "Old Book of Tang Dynasty", and there are also detailed records in "Zizhi Tongjian" written by Sima Guang. This is rare among countless princesses throughout the ages.
Today, Niangziguan still stands tall and the Tao River still flows rapidly.The heroic figure of Princess Pingyang leading her army of women galloping around was just like the afterglow of the setting sun on the majestic city tower. It was magnificent and brilliant, which made people fascinated and moved them for a long time.
Understanding everything in the world is knowledge, and being knowledgeable in human relationships is an article! Follow Yaoshan Shuyan and appreciate the profound history and culture with you!
The heroic figure of Princess Pingyang leading her army of women galloping around was just like the afterglow of the setting sun on the majestic city tower. It was magnificent and brilliant, which made people fascinated and moved them for a long time.
Understanding everything in the world is knowledge, and being knowledgeable in human relationships is an article! Follow Yaoshan Shuyan and appreciate the profound history and culture with you!
