A Fateful Moment in Sui Dynasty’s Collapse

In the tumultuous final years of the Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD), Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang and future founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, was secretly plotting rebellion against the tyrannical Emperor Yang of Sui. But at this critical juncture, an unexpected betrayal nearly doomed Li Yuan and his sons—a betrayal orchestrated by none other than Li Jing, a brilliant strategist who would later become one of the Tang’s greatest generals.

This dramatic episode reveals the precarious nature of Li Yuan’s early ambitions, the razor-thin margin between success and failure, and the web of alliances and betrayals that shaped the birth of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Jing: The Man Who Almost Ended the Tang Before It Began

Li Jing, originally named Li Yaoshi, hailed from Sanyuan County in Guanzhong. Born into an aristocratic military family, his uncle was the famed Sui general Han Qinhu, who played a pivotal role in unifying China under the Sui. From a young age, Li Jing displayed exceptional intellect and a mastery of military strategy, earning praise from powerful officials like Chancellor Yang Su, who once told him, “You will one day sit in my seat.”

As a mid-ranking official in Mayi Commandery—a region under Li Yuan’s jurisdiction—Li Jing noticed signs of rebellion where others, including Emperor Yang’s spies, saw none. Deciding to expose the plot, he took an unusual approach: he shackled himself as a prisoner and attempted to travel to Emperor Yang’s court in Jiangdu (modern Yangzhou).

### The Mystery of Li Jing’s Self-Imprisonment

Sima Guang, the Song Dynasty historian, later questioned this tactic in Zizhi Tongjian: “Why shackle himself when speed was essential?” The likely answer? Li Yuan controlled Shanxi’s roads, and Li Jing’s disguise as a criminal being transported may have been his only chance to evade capture.

His journey took a detour through Chang’an, where he discovered that rebel forces had cut off routes south. Stranded, he failed to deliver his warning—a twist of fate that spared Li Yuan and, ultimately, allowed the Tang Dynasty to emerge.

Li Yuan’s Brush with Death and Li Jing’s Redemption

After Li Yuan captured Chang’an in 617 AD, he arrested Li Jing and sentenced him to execution. As the executioner raised his blade, Li Jing shouted: “Did the Duke of Tang not vow to save the realm? Why kill a hero over personal grudges?”

This plea caught the attention of Li Shimin (later Emperor Taizong), who admired Li Jing’s talents and intervened. Spared at the last moment, Li Jing joined Li Shimin’s inner circle, though Li Yuan never fully trusted him.

The Power Behind Li Yuan’s Rebellion

Li Yuan’s success hinged on two key groups: his family and a cadre of shrewd allies.

### The Princes: Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji

– Li Jiancheng, the eldest son, played a crucial but often overlooked role. Historical records, skewed by Li Shimin’s later revisions, downplay his contributions. Contemporary accounts like The Records of the Founding of the Great Tang praise his humility and leadership.
– Li Yuanji, the fourth son, was a reckless warrior whose later alliance with Li Jiancheng against Li Shimin ended in the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

### The Strategists: Liu Wensheng and Pei Ji

– Liu Wensheng, a disgraced official, was among the first to urge rebellion, famously telling Li Shimin: “Only a ruler like Tang or Wu can end this chaos.”
– Pei Ji, Li Yuan’s drinking companion, allegedly tricked him into rebellion by arranging a scandal with palace maids—a story likely embellished to justify Li Yuan’s rise.

### The Financier: Wu Shihuo

Father of the future Empress Wu Zetian, Wu Shihuo bankrolled Li Yuan’s forces but remained an outsider in the inner circle.

Legacy: How a Foiled Betrayal Shaped Chinese History

Li Jing’s failed betrayal underscores the fragility of the Tang’s founding. Had he reached Emperor Yang, China’s golden age might never have dawned. Instead, his redemption under Li Shimin marked the beginning of a legendary career—one that saw him crush rebellions and expand the empire’s borders.

This episode also reveals the Tang’s foundational tensions: between Li Yuan’s pragmatism and Li Shimin’s ambition, between recorded history and political spin, and between loyalty and survival in a collapsing empire.

From near-disaster to dynasty, the story of Li Yuan’s rise reminds us that history often turns on the narrowest of margins.