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Li Sheng came from a family of military generals. His grandfathers Li Gong and Li Qin both served as deputy generals in the Longyou Army.

He lost his father at a young age and was very filial to his mother. Influenced by his family tradition, he had a strong character, was good at riding and shooting, and was extremely brave.

Li Sheng joined the Hexi Army at the age of eighteen, and later followed the Hexi Jiedushi Wang Zhongsi to conquer Tubo. They encountered a fierce Tubo general who was defending the city. The Tang army failed to capture the city after a long siege and suffered heavy casualties.

So the Hexi Jiedushi Wang Zhongsi recruited soldiers who were good at archery. Li Sheng responded and killed a fierce Tibetan general with one arrow, becoming famous in the army.

After the war, Li Sheng was rewarded heavily by Wang Zhongsi, who regarded him as a fierce general who could defeat ten thousand enemies.

Because he was appreciated by Fengxiang Jiedushi Gao Shengya, he was recruited to serve as a general. He led his troops to quell the rebellions of the Qiang people in Diezhou and Dangzhou. Due to his merits, he was promoted to the rank of General of the Left Yulin.

"In the first year of Guangde, Sun Zhizhi, the governor of Fengxiang, appointed Li Sheng as the acting commander of the guerrilla army and led his troops to defeat the Dangxiang Qiang people."

"He was awarded the title of Special Advancement and the title of Trial Guangluqing for his merits, and later transferred to the position of Trial Taichangqing."

"In the early years of the Dali period, Li Sheng was appointed as the commander of the Right Army by Fengxiang Jiedushi Li Baoyu."

"In the fourth year of Dali, Tubo besieged Lingzhou. Li Baoyu sent Li Sheng to lift the siege of Lingzhou."

"Li Sheng led a thousand Tang troops to quickly march out of Dazhen Pass and head straight to Lintao, where they attacked Dingqin Fort, burned the enemy's food and grass, captured the Tibetan garrison commander Murong Guzhong, and forced the Tibetans to withdraw."

"The siege of Lingzhou was lifted. After the battle, he was awarded the title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi for his merits, and concurrently served as the General of the Left Jinwu Guard and the Military Commander of the Beiting Commander of the Four Towns of Jingyuan."

"In October of the eighth year of the Dali reign, the Jiedushi Ma Lin was besieged by the Tubo in a salt warehouse. Li Sheng led his troops to attack the Tubo army and rescued Ma Lin from the encirclement. He was conferred the title of Prince of Hechuan for his meritorious service."

"Because Ma Lin was afraid of Li Sheng's reputation, he sent Li Sheng to the capital to pay homage to Emperor Daizong Li Yu. Later, Li Sheng was appointed as the commander of the Right Shen Ce Army, responsible for guarding the capital Chang'an."

"In the 14th year of Dali, Emperor Dezong Li Shi succeeded to the throne, and Jiannan Jiedushi Cui Ning came to Beijing to pay homage. Tubo took the opportunity to send troops to attack Jiannan, and Shu was shaken."

"Li Sheng was appointed by Emperor Dezong Li Shi as the Crown Prince's guest, commanding the Shen Ce Army to rescue Shu."

"Li Sheng led his troops through Loutian, captured Feiyue and three other cities in succession, crossed the Dadu River, defeated the Tubo army, and beheaded more than a thousand people."

"The Tubo tribe was defeated and retreated, and Li Sheng led his troops to pursue the victory and stayed in Chengdu for several months before returning to the court."

"In the first month of the second year of Jianzhong, Li Baochen, the governor of Chengde Army, died of illness. His son Li Weiyue submitted a petition to inherit his father's position, but Emperor Dezong Li Shi did not allow it. Later, Li Weiyue contacted Tian Yue, the governor of Weizhou, and Li Zhengji, the governor of Zibo and Qingzhou, to raise an army."

"Tian Yue led his troops to besiege Linming and Xingzhou. Emperor Dezong Li Shi appointed Li Sheng as the vanguard commander of the Shen Ce Army, and he led the army with Ma Sui, the governor of Hedong, and Li Baozhen, the governor of Zhaoyi, to rescue Linming."

"Li Sheng led his troops and the Hedong cavalry generals Li Ziliang and Li Fengguo to defeat Tian Yue at Shuanggang. After the defeat, Tian Yue's army withdrew, and the Tang army killed the enemy general Yang Zhaoguang."

"Li Sheng and other Tang troops took advantage of the victory and pursued Tian Yue outside Linming City. The Tang army was at a disadvantage in the battle."

"Li Sheng led his troops across the Ming River on ice and attacked the flank of Tian Yue's army, which greatly boosted the morale of the Tang army and eventually defeated Tian Yue."

"The following year, Li Sheng led his troops to defeat Tian Yue at Huanshui and took advantage of the victory to attack Weizhou."

"Because of his merits, he was granted the title of Inspector of the Left Imperial Guards and concurrently the title of Left Sima of the Wei Palace, and was also awarded the title of a hundred households."

"At that time, Zhu Tao and Wang Wujun were dissatisfied with the court's rewards. In order to support Tian Yue who was besieged in Weizhou by the Tang army, they led their troops to rebel and besiege Zhaozhou. Zhaoyi Jiedushi Li Baozhen sent 2,000 Tang troops to guard Xingzhou."

"Hedong Jiedushi Ma Sui was dissatisfied with Li Baozhen's division of troops and wanted to lead his troops back. Li Sheng actively persuaded Ma Sui, and Ma Sui and Li Baozhen became friends again."

"In order to resolve the crisis in Zhaozhou, Li Sheng proposed to the court to lead his troops to Dingzhou to join Li Xiaozhong and seize Fanyang."

"Emperor Dezong Li Shi agreed with Li Sheng's strategy and appointed him as Imperial Censor. He also ordered the Imperial Guards Generals Mo Renzhuo, Zhao Guangxian, and Du Jici to be under Li Sheng's command."

"Li Sheng led his troops northward from Weizhou and headed straight for Zhaozhou. When Wang Wujun heard that the Tang army was approaching, he led his troops to evacuate Zhaozhou."

"Li Sheng joined Zhang Xiaozhong, and the entire army rested in Zhaozhou for three days before heading north to capture Hengzhou and besiege Zhu Tao's general Zheng Jingji in Qingyuan."

"The Tang army dug water to attack the city, and then fought against Tian Yue and Wang Wujun's reinforcements in Bailou."

"Zhang Xiaozhong's Yiwu Army's attack was thwarted, and Li Sheng led his troops to defeat the rebel reinforcements."

Su Shi: Zhu Tao and Wang Wujun personally led a large army to support and besieged the Tang army led by Li Sheng.

After that, Li Sheng continued to besiege the enemy general Zheng Jingji internally and resist the attacks of enemy generals such as Zhu Tao externally under unfavorable circumstances. The two sides fought several times every day and held out with the enemy for four months.

Later, Li Sheng became seriously ill, and the generals discussed retreating to Dingzhou. Zhu Tao and other enemy generals were afraid of Li Sheng's reputation and did not dare to send troops to pursue.

In October of the fourth year of Jianzhong, the soldiers of Jingyuan mutinied in Chang'an and enthroned the former Jingyuan Jiedushi Zhu Ci as emperor. Emperor Dezong Li Shi fled to Fengtian.

When Li Sheng was about to lead his troops north again after recovering from his illness, he received an imperial edict from Emperor Dezong, ordering him to return to serve the emperor.

Because the Yiwu Army was on the front line against the rebel generals Zhu Tao and Wang Wujun, Zhang Xiaozhong tried several times to stop Li Sheng from leading his troops back.

Li Sheng left his son Li Ping as a hostage, and gave a jade belt to Zhang Xiaozhong's confidants before he agreed to let Li Sheng lead his troops back.

Li Sheng led his troops across Feihu Pass and arrived in Daizhou. Emperor Dezong Li Shi appointed him as the Acting Minister of Works and the Jiedushi of the Shen Ce Camp, and granted him a fief of 200 households.

Later, he arrived at Weibei via Puzhen and stationed troops at Dongwei Bridge to intimidate Zhu Ci.

At that time, after Liu Dexin was defeated in the battle, he led his troops to Weinan to defend the king and joined forces with Li Sheng. Because the military orders could not be unified, Li Sheng executed Liu Dexin for the crime of defeat and incorporated his troops to strengthen the army's strength.

In the first month of the first year of Xingyuan, Li Huaiguang, the governor of Shuofang, led his troops back from Hebei to defend the king and stationed them in Xianyang. He was worried that Li Sheng would take over the battle alone and would divide his military achievements, so he petitioned the court to join forces with Li Sheng. Later, Emperor Dezong Li Shi issued an edict ordering Li Sheng to move his camp.

Li Huaiguang was reluctant to send troops to attack Zhu Ci. Li Sheng was willing to be the vanguard and suggested a quick attack on Chang'an, but Li Huaiguang refused.

At that time, the Shence Army received more rewards than other armies. Li Huaiguang requested that all armies be rewarded equally, hoping that Li Sheng would lose the support of his soldiers by reducing rewards.

So Emperor Dezong Li Shi sent Hanlin scholar Lu Zhi to the military camp and ordered Li Huaiguang and Li Sheng to make a joint decision.

Li Sheng believed that as the marshal, Li Huaiguang should make the decision on this matter.

Seeing that he couldn't embarrass Li Sheng, Li Huaiguang had to give up.

Li Huaiguang stationed his troops in Xianyang for more than 80 days. Emperor Dezong Li Shi urged him to go out several times, but Li Huaiguang refused to go out on the pretext of waiting for the right opportunity and secretly contacted Zhu Ci.

Li Sheng was worried that his army would be annexed by Li Huaiguang, so he secretly requested to move his troops to Dongwei Bridge, but Emperor Dezong did not agree. Li Sheng believed that Li Huaiguang's rebellion was clear and that preparations should be made early, so he requested to send Lieutenant Generals Zhao Guangxian, Tang Liangchen, and Zhang Yu to serve as governors of Yangzhou, Lizhou, and Jianzhou respectively to keep Hanzhong and Shu connected.

At this time, Tubo wanted to send troops to help the Tang court eliminate Zhu Ci, so Dezong Li Shi planned to go to Xianyang to supervise the war. Li Huaiguang was worried that the court wanted to seize his military power and accelerate the rebellion.

Li Sheng falsely issued an imperial edict and led his troops to move to Weiqiao to get rid of Li Huaiguang's control. A few days later, Li Huaiguang annexed the armies of Fufang Jiedushi Li Jianhui and Shen Ce General Yang Huiyuan. Emperor Dezong Li Shi fled to Liangzhou and later appointed Li Sheng as Shangshu Zuo Pushe and Tongpingzhangshi.

"Li Sheng fought alone against the powerful enemy, and was very wary of Li Huaiguang, while also constantly maneuvering around him."

"Because of the lack of food and fodder, officials were sent to collect taxes from the Weibei area."

"Because Li Sheng's loyalty moved people, Dai Xiuyan's Fengtian Army, Han Yougui's Bining Army, Luo Yuanguang's Huazhou Army, and Shang Kegu's Shen Ce Army near the capital were all under Li Sheng's command."

"Li Sheng wrote another letter to Li Huaiguang, urging him to attack Zhu Ci and redeem himself for meritorious service, but Li Huaiguang refused. As his food and grass were running out, and he was worried about being ambushed by Li Sheng, he led his troops to move to Hezhong in March."

"On the way, Li Huaiguang allowed his troops to plunder. Generals Meng She and Duan Weiyong were dissatisfied with Li Huaiguang's actions and led thousands of people to surrender to Li Sheng. Later, Li Sheng was appointed as the governor of Hezhong and Jinjiang."

"Emperor Dezong Li Shi wanted to go to Xichuan, but Li Sheng thought that Emperor Dezong should stay in Liangzhou to calm the people's hearts."

"In April, Li Sheng was appointed as the deputy marshal of the troops of Jingji, Weibei, Fufang, and Shanghua."

"Li Sheng shared the joys and sorrows with the soldiers, and used justice to inspire the soldiers' morale, and the soldiers had no complaints."

"Some soldiers escaped from Chang'an City, believing that Zhu Ci and his men would fail, and their morale was greatly boosted."

"On May 3, Li Sheng led his troops to Tonghua Gate, and the enemy generals did not dare to leave the city to fight;"

"The next day, Li Sheng summoned all the generals to discuss the battle plan. The generals thought that they should first attack the outer city, occupy the market town, and then attack the palace. Li Sheng thought that they should concentrate their forces to attack the imperial city."

"On the night of the 25th, Li Sheng moved from Dongwei Bridge to Guangtai Gate and commanded the Tang army to attack the city."

"Zhu Ci took advantage of Li Sheng's unstable position and sent his generals Zhang Tingzhi and Li Xiqian to lead the troops to fight. They were defeated twice by Li Sheng's generals, and the Tang army took advantage of the victory to attack Guangtai Gate."

"The next day, Li Sheng rejected the generals' plan to wait for the Tang army to arrive in the west and implemented a pincer attack."

"Then on the 28th, we stationed our troops outside Guangtai Gate and launched a general attack. We first sent soldiers to dismantle more than 200 steps of the palace wall at night, and the enemy will block the city with fences."

"Li Sheng sent his general Shi Wanqing to lead the charge, and Wang Qi led the cavalry to follow up. The rest of the Tang army attacked the city in different directions and quickly broke through the enemy's defenses."

"Outside Baihua Gate, thousands of enemy cavalry rushed out from behind the Tang army. Li Sheng personally led hundreds of cavalry to help. When the enemy saw Li Sheng, they fled. The Tang army chased and killed the enemy and defeated them."

"Zhu Ci led the remaining troops to flee Chang'an. Li Sheng sent his general Tian Ziqi to pursue them, and the remaining enemy generals surrendered one after another."

"On that day, Li Sheng entered the city and stationed his troops in front of the Hanyuan Palace, commanding his troops not to harm anyone. He then executed the enemy general Li Xiqian and others who followed Zhu Ci in the rebellion, commending those who remained loyal and refused to submit."

"After the news of the recovery of Chang'an reached Liangzhou, Emperor Dezong Li Shi appointed Li Sheng as Minister of the Interior and Minister of the Central Secretariat, and granted him a fief of 1,000 households."

"When Emperor Dezong returned to Chang'an, Li Sheng went to Sanqiao to pay his respects. Emperor Dezong stopped his horse and comforted him personally."

"Later, Li Sheng's father Li Qin was given the title of Prince Taibao, and his mother Wang was given the title of Lady of Dai. He was also given a mansion, fertile land, gardens and other rewards. A stele was erected at Dongwei Bridge to commemorate his achievements, which was written by the crown prince."

"After retaking Chang'an, Li Sheng thought that Jingzhou was close to the border and a key military town, and that there had been many military disturbances. He wrote a letter to the emperor requesting to be transferred to Jingzhou."

"So Emperor Dezong appointed Li Sheng as Jiedushi of Fengxiang, Longyou, and Jingyuan, and concurrently deputy marshal of the field camp, promoted him to Prince of Xiping, and rewarded him with a fief of 1,500 households."

"In August, Li Sheng arrived in Fengxiang and dealt with more than a dozen military officers who had murdered the former Fengxiang Jiedushi."

"When Zhu Ci rebelled, the soldiers of Jingzhou killed the governor Feng Heqing and appointed Tian Xijian as their commander."

"Li Sheng requested that the criminal be severely punished. Later, he suddenly came to Jingzhou on the pretext of patrolling the border, and Tian Xijian came to greet him."

"Li Sheng killed more than 30 border generals who had repeatedly caused rebellion, including Tian Xijian, and recommended Li Guan, who was feared by the Tubo, as the governor of Jingyuan."

"At that time, the eunuch Yin Yuanzhen was inspecting Tongzhou and Huazhou, but he went to Hezhong without authorization to comfort Li Huaiguang."

Li Qingzhao: Li Sheng impeached Yin Yuanzhen for using the emperor's order to exonerate the rebellion culprit Li Huaiguang.

He also believed that Li Huaiguang had five major reasons why he could not be pardoned, and was willing to lead 5,000 elite troops to attack Li Huaiguang, but Dezong handed the matter over to Ma Sui and Hun Yu.

The Tubo Prime Minister Shang Jiezan was afraid of Li Sheng and believed that the only famous generals in the Tang Dynasty were Li Sheng, Ma Sui and Hun Yu.

He then implemented a counter-espionage plan, sending envoys to seek peace with Ma Sui, taking advantage of the alliance to capture Hun Yu and pinning the blame on Ma Sui.

In September of the second year of Zhenyuan, Tubo launched an attack on Longzhou and arrived at Fengxiang. They did not plunder but intended to alienate Li Sheng.

Li Sheng ordered his general Wang Qi to lead 3,000 elite soldiers to ambush in Weiyang. They unexpectedly attacked the Tubo central army and won a great victory. Only Shang Jiezan escaped.

The next month, Li Sheng sent his generals to capture the Tibetan Cuisha Fort and killed the defending general Huqulu Ximeng. Later, Shang Jiezan sent an envoy to seek peace.

In December, Li Sheng returned to the capital to meet Emperor Dezong and petitioned to send troops to attack Tubo. He received support from Prime Minister Han Huang, but Emperor Dezong thought that this was a frontier general's attempt to win credit and did not agree.

In the third year of Zhenyuan, Han Huang died of illness and Zhang Yanshang became prime minister. Li Sheng was at odds with him and wanted to replace Li Sheng with Liu Xuanzuo and Li Baozhen to be responsible for the northwest border defense. Dezong agreed with Zhang Yanshang's strategy and dismissed Li Sheng's military power.

In March of the following year, Li Sheng was appointed as the Grand Marshal and the Minister of the Central Secretariat. Later, Hun Yu and Shang Jiezan held a meeting in Pingliang and were kidnapped by Tubo troops. Only Hun Yu survived.

In September of the fifth year of Zhenyuan, Li Sheng and the attendant Ma Sui went to the Yanying Palace to meet Emperor Dezong Li Shi. Later, Li Sheng was rewarded and his portrait was hung on the Lingyan Pavilion by Emperor Dezong.

In August of the ninth year of Zhenyuan, Li Sheng died of illness in Chang'an at the age of 67.

After Emperor Dezong learned about it, he suspended court for five days and ordered all officials to go to Li Sheng's residence to pay their respects. He also let Jingzhao Yin Li Chong handle Li Sheng's funeral. He posthumously awarded him the title of Grand Tutor and the posthumous name of Zhongwu. He was buried in Fengzhengyuan, Gaoling County, and later in the fourth year of Yuanhe, he was enshrined in Emperor Dezong's temple.

When Emperor Xizong Li Xuan fled to Shu, Yuan Hao, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Warehouses, collected Li Sheng's meritorious deeds and gave them to encourage military generals.

Li Sheng was good at commanding the army, and the troops he led had strong combat effectiveness. He mainly used four methods to command the army.

First, educate the generals with the idea of ​​loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, and insist on loyalty to the court as the goal. This is the fundamental requirement of Li Sheng's military management;
Second, we should discipline the troops with strict discipline, put military discipline first, and never harm the people; third, we should encourage morale by clearly distinguishing rewards and punishments;
Fourth, he insisted on leading by example. In battle, Li Sheng often led the troops and shared the joys and sorrows with them. (End of this chapter)