The videos I watched became popular in ancient times

Throughout China's long history, the Tang Dynasty is famous for its prosperity and cultural achievements.

However, the glory of a dynasty not only comes from its cultural and economic prosperity, but also depends on the famous generals who silently guard behind the scenes.

Now let’s review the legendary life of Gao Chongwen, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty.

"Gao Chongwen was born in Youzhou. He was honest and taciturn by nature and could not read or write, but he was very smart and intelligent."

"When he was young, he served in the Pinglu Army and was stationed in Huaixi. He was quite familiar with military affairs."

"In the first year of Guangde, the Tubo occupied Fengtian and approached Chang'an. Emperor Daizong Li Yu fled to Shanzhou for refuge. Gao Chongwen went to the imperial court and later returned to the capital with Emperor Daizong, during which time he made great contributions."

"Gao Chongwen later participated in the wars against the rebellious vassal states such as Zhou Zhiguang, the governor of Tonghua, Li Lingyao, the governor of Bian Song, and Liang Chongyi, the governor of Shannan East Road. He often led a small army as the vanguard and achieved the most merits among all the armies."

"During the Zhenyuan period of Emperor Dezong of Tang, Gao Chongwen accompanied Han Quanyi, the governor of Changwu City and the governor of the Shen Ce Camp, to guard Changwu City."

"He was well-known for his military management, and was promoted to General of the Imperial Guards, and was given the title of Grand Master of the Imperial Court."

"In the summer of the fifth year of Zhenyuan, 30,000 Tibetan troops invaded Ningzhou."

"Gao Chongwen was ordered to lead 3,000 soldiers to rescue them. A fierce battle took place at Futangyuan, and the Tubo army was severely defeated, with more than half of them killed."

"After the war, Gao Chongwen was granted the title of Prince of Bohai."

"On the eleventh day of the fifth month of the fourteenth year of the Zhenyuan reign, Han Quanyi was promoted to the governor of Xiazhou, Suizhou, Yinzhou, and Youzhou. Emperor Dezong ordered him to lead his people from Changwucheng to take up the post."

"Because Xiazhou is a land of sand dunes and salt brine, and it is midsummer, the soldiers are unwilling to migrate to the harsh northwest."

"On the twelfth of the same month, the soldiers mutinied, killing General Wang Qiyan, and Han Quanyi escaped by climbing over the city wall."

"Gao Chongwen, then the military governor, executed the leaders of the mutiny, and only then did the soldiers settle down."

"On the 27th of the same month, Emperor Dezong appointed Gao Chongwen as the military commander of Changwu City. He did not issue an imperial edict, but had the imperial envoy announce it verbally."

"Gao Chongwen stored grain and trained his troops in Changwu City, and his reputation was greatly enhanced."

"In August of the 21st year of Zhenyuan, Emperor Xianzong of Tang, Li Chun, ascended the throne, Han Quanyi entered the court, Gao Chongwen took over the post of military governor of the camp, and concurrently served as the Chief Censor."

"In the first year of Yuanhe, Liu Pi, the deputy governor of Xichuan, seized control of Xishu and sent troops to besiege Li Kang, the governor of Dongchuan."

"Prime Minister Du Huangshang strongly advocated the attack on Liu Pi and recommended Gao Chongwen, who was then a general of the Shen Ce Army, as the commander."

"On the 23rd day of the first lunar month of the same year, Emperor Xianzong of Tang appointed Gao Chongwen as the acting minister of the Ministry of Works and concurrently the Imperial Censor, and appointed him as the governor of the Left Shence Camp, leading the troops stationed in the Left and Right Shence, Linyou, and Fengtian regions to march forward;"

"Li Yuanyi, the military commander of the Shen Ce Jingxi Camp, and Yan Li, the governor of Shannan West Road, also participated in the battle."

"At that time, many veteran generals who were highly respected for their reputation and status thought they should be the candidates to conquer Shu. When Emperor Xianzong issued an edict to appoint Gao Chongwen, they were all very surprised."

"When Gao Chongwen was stationed in Changwu City, he trained 5,000 soldiers and always kept them in a state of combat readiness."

"He received the imperial edict at 11:00 a.m. and had already set out at 11:00 a.m. The army's equipment and prepared dry food were not lacking in anything."

"On the 29th day of the first lunar month, Gao Chongwen sent troops from Xiegu, and Li Yuanyi sent troops from Luogu, and they all headed for Zizhou together."

"When Gao Chongwen led his army to Xingyuan, the soldiers were having a meal at a guesthouse on the way. Someone broke the owner's chopsticks, so Gao Chongwen beheaded him as a warning to the public."

"Gao Chongwen set out from Langzhou to relieve the siege of Zizhou, defeated Xing Ci, a general under Liu Pi, and stationed here."

"In order to clear himself of his guilt, Liu Pi returned the captured Dongchuan Jiedushi Li Kang to Gao Chongwen. Gao Chongwen beheaded Li Kang because he had "lost the army and lost the defense."

"Liu Pi ordered his men to build a city on Lutou Mountain, a strategic point 150 miles north of Chengdu, linking eight forts and stationing more than 10,000 soldiers to stop Gao Chongwen."

"On the fifth day of June, Gao Chongwen defeated the enemy troops on Lutou Mountain, but was prevented from attacking the fence due to heavy rain."

"Liu Pi also set up a fence at Wanshengdui, east of Lutou Pass."

"On the sixth day, Gao Chongwen sent his brave general Gao Xiayu to attack Wanshengdui."

"Gao Xiayu personally beat the drum, and the Tang army climbed up vigorously, and the enemy's arrows and stones rained down;"

Su Shi: Gao Chongwen's story begins in the late Tang Dynasty when war was raging.

With the separatist rule of local warlords and the invasion of Tubo, the Tang Dynasty was in turmoil.

At this critical moment of life and death, Gao Chongwen suddenly appeared.

He came from a military family and could not read a single word, but with his extraordinary military talent and outstanding leadership, he quelled rebellions, stabilized the border, and became a famous general.

From joining the army at the age of fifteen to suppressing the Xichuan Rebellion, Gao Chongwen spent almost his entire life on the battlefield.

He was brave and good at fighting, but he was also well versed in the art of military operations. He could not only defeat a larger force with a smaller one, but also win people over with his virtue.

He was strict in military discipline, clear in rewards and punishments, and was deeply loved by the soldiers.

After he pacified Xichuan, he refused high positions and generous salaries, and only wanted to continue guarding the border. His loyalty and humility are even more admirable.

Gao Chongwen's story can be described as a legend.

He grew from an unknown soldier to a famous general, not because of his birth or background, but because of his real military achievements and convincing personal charm.

He proved with his actions that a hero is not judged by his origin and wisdom is not limited to words.

However, the arrangement of fate is always full of drama.

Gao Chongwen spent his entire life in military service, extending the life of the Tang Dynasty for decades, but his grandson Gao Pian became one of the gravediggers of the Tang Dynasty.

Although Gao Pian inherited his grandfather's military talent, he lacked his loyalty and foresight.

He was ambitious, had his own army and was self-reliant, and eventually became a part of the separatist regime, which accelerated the demise of the Tang Dynasty.

The grandfather and grandson, one loyal and the other treacherous, one prospering and the other falling, formed a sharp contrast.

The fate of Gao Chongwen and Gao Pian is not only the result of personal choices, but also reflects the complex social environment and political ecology of the late Tang Dynasty.

During the late Tang Dynasty, local warlords were divided and local forces possessed great wealth and power, posing a serious threat to the central court.

Gao Pian's rebellion was largely driven by the temptation of money and power.

The political corruption and institutional rigidity in the late Tang Dynasty also provided fertile ground for separatist regimes.

Although Gao Chongwen was loyal, he was unable to change the direction of the entire era.

Gao Pian's betrayal also exposed the weakness of human nature.

In the face of power and desire, even the descendants of famous generals may lose their way.

The stories of Gao Chongwen and Gao Pian have left us with profound lessons.

The rise and fall of a country depends not only on the efforts of individual heroes, but also on the perfection of the entire social system and the goodness of human nature.

Although Gao Chongwen's story is inspiring, it could not prevent the decline of the Tang Dynasty.

Gao Pian's rebellion accelerated this process. The demise of the Tang Dynasty was a complex historical process, involving both external factors and internal contradictions.

The story of Gao Chongwen and Gao Pian is just a microcosm of this.

Gao Chongwen's story is not only a historical story, but also a story about loyalty, courage and wisdom.

Although he was illiterate, he wrote the legend of his life with his actions.

His story is worth remembering and learning from.

Gao Pian's story is a warning.

Power and desire are double-edged swords that can make a person successful or destroy him.

How to properly grasp the power in your hands is an eternal problem.

"Gao Xiayu ordered the death squad to climb up further, seize Wanshengdui, annihilate the rebels, and burn down their stockades."

"The fall of Wanshengdui allowed the Tang army to overlook the entire city of Lutouguan."

"The Tang army won eight major battles in total, which shook the rebels' morale."

"On the eighth and eleventh day of the sixth month, Gao Chongwen defeated Liu Pi twice in Deyang and Hanzhou."

"In July, Gao Chongwen defeated 10,000 rebels in Xuanwu."

"On the third day of the same month, Emperor Xianzong issued an edict ordering all reinforcements sent to conquer Xichuan to follow Gao Chongwen's command."

"On August 12, Gao Chongwen defeated Liu Pi's army again at Lutou Pass, and the rest of the army also advanced smoothly."

"In addition, the Hedong general Adie Guangyan stationed his troops west of Lutou Pass to block Liu Pi's food supply route."

"Soon after, Li Wenyue, the commander of Mianjiang Fort, and Qiu Liangfu, the commander of Lutou Pass, both led their cities to surrender to Gao Chongwen. They also captured Liu Pi's son-in-law Su Qiang, and tens of thousands of soldiers surrendered."

"After conquering Lutou Pass, Gao Chongwen led his army straight to Chengdu. Wherever he went, the enemy troops collapsed, and the army was never hindered in its march."

"On the 21st of the same month, Gao Chongwen captured Chengdu and sent Gao Xiayu, Li Dingjin and others to capture Liu Pi who had escaped."

"After Gao Chongwen entered Chengdu, he camped on the main road that led in all directions and let the soldiers rest there. The shops in the city were not disturbed, and the precious goods in the market were piled up like mountains, but they were not looted at all."

"Gao Chongwen sent Liu Pi and more than 20 others to the capital, beheaded Liu Pi's general Xing Ci and the post station inspector Shen Yan, and did not pursue the rest."

"Gao Chongwen ordered that all military affairs, no matter how big or small, should follow the practice followed during the time of Wei Gao, the former governor of Jiannan Xichuan and the Prince of Nankang. After Gao Chongwen's calm command, the entire Xichuan area was completely pacified."

"In October of the same year, Gao Chongwen was granted the title of Senior Official of the Imperial Academy and concurrently the title of Prefect of Chengdu. He was also appointed as the Governor of Jiannan and Xichuan, the Governor of the Ministry of Revenue and the Director of the Farmland Administration within his jurisdiction, the Governor of the Barbarians near the border, and the Envoy for the Pacification of the Eight Kingdoms of the Western Mountains and Yunnan."

"He was renamed the Prince of Nanping, with a fief of 300 households. Emperor Xianzong also issued an edict to carve a stone at the foot of Lutou Mountain to commemorate Gao Chongwen's achievements."

"In the second year of Yuanhe, Gao Chongwen had been in office in Shu for a full year."

"He was not good at writing and was tired of the busy government affairs in Shuzhong. One day, he said to the military supervisor."

"I am just a small soldier in the Heshuo region. Fortunately, I have made great contributions in the war and have reached my current position."

"Xichuan is where the prime minister flies. I have lived here for a long time with a guilty conscience. How can I stay here with a clear conscience?"

"Shu is peaceful and leisurely, and there is no place for me to display my abilities. I hope you will go to the frontier and serve me till my death."

"In December of the same year, Emperor Xianzong appointed Gao Chongwen as the co-minister of the Secretariat, the governor of Bingzhou, the governor of Bingzhou, Ningzhou, and the governor of Qingzhou, and he also served as the commander-in-chief of the military forces in the west of Beijing."

"Gao Chongwen relied on his merits and indulged himself in extravagance, and took away all the military supplies, gold and silk in the treasury, curtains, singing girls, dancers, and skilled craftsmen in Shu."

"Because Gao Chongwen did not understand the court etiquette and was afraid to go to the capital to pay homage, Emperor Xianzong issued an imperial decree ordering him to go directly to the post."

"Gao Chongwen was in Bingzhou for three years and made extensive preparations for war."

"On September 25, the fourth year of Yuanhe, Gao Chongwen died of illness at the age of 64. Emperor Xianzong stopped attending court for three days and posthumously awarded him the title of Si Tu and the posthumous title of Weiwu."

"On the 20th day of the first lunar month in the fifth year of Yuanhe, Gao Chongwen was buried in Wannian County. Emperor Xianzong held a memorial service for him in Chang'an, and all officials went to mourn. He was later given the title of Grand Tutor."

"In October of the sixth year of Huichang, Gao Chongwen, Pei Du, Du Huangshang, and Li Su were enshrined in the temple of Emperor Xianzong."

Li Qingzhao: Gao Chongwen was born into the Gao family of Bohai. In his early years, he served in the Pinglu Army and began his military career.

During the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang, he followed Han Quanyi to guard Changwu City, and with his outstanding military talents, he was promoted to General Jinwu.

In the summer of the fifth year of Zhenyuan, 30,000 Tibetan troops invaded Ningzhou of the Tang Dynasty.

Faced with this emergency, Gao Chongwen received an order and led three thousand soldiers to Ningzhou for rescue.

A fierce battle broke out at Futangyuan, in which Gao Chongwen demonstrated his outstanding military talent and command art.

The 3,000 elite soldiers he led fought a head-on battle with the Tubo army and ultimately won an overwhelming victory.

The Tubo army suffered heavy losses in this battle, with more than half of its troops killed, which shows that Gao Chongwen's army was not only successful in tactics, but also inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy in the battle.

This great victory over Tubo not only resolved the crisis in Ningzhou, but also dealt a heavy blow to Tubo's aggressive arrogance and effectively safeguarded the border security of the Tang Dynasty.

After the war, Gao Chongwen was conferred the title of Prince of Bohai for his merits. This honor was not only a recognition of his personal military talents, but also an affirmation of his brilliant achievements in the Battle of Futangyuan.

Gao Chongwen's victory demonstrated the powerful combat effectiveness of the Tang Dynasty army and the bravery and fighting skills of the border defense generals.

At the same time, this victory also played a positive role in stabilizing the northwestern border of the Tang Dynasty and had a profound impact on the long-term relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo.

Ten years later, he put down a mutiny among soldiers and was granted the title of Military Envoy of Changwu City. Later, he took charge of the military affairs of the four prefectures of Xia, Sui, Yin and You.

Liu Pi, the deputy governor of Xichuan, launched a rebellion and attempted to split Xishu.

On the recommendation of Prime Minister Du Huangshang, Gao Chongwen, then general of the Shen Ce Army, was ordered to enter Shu to attack Liu Pi.

When Gao Chongwen was stationed in Changwu City, he trained 5,000 soldiers and kept them in a state of combat readiness.

After receiving the imperial edict, he set off quickly, and the army was fully equipped with nothing missing.

Gao Chongwen and generals such as Li Yuanyi sent troops separately, Gao Chongwen from Xiegu and Li Yuanyi from Luogu, and they rushed to Zizhou together.

Gao Chongwen was strict in military discipline. If any soldier destroyed civilian property during the march, he would be beheaded as a warning to the public. This ensured the discipline and morale of the army and reflected his strict military discipline.

Gao Chongwen led his army to Zizhou, successfully lifted the siege of Zizhou, and defeated Liu Pi's general Xing Ci.

Liu Pi built a city on Lutou Mountain, a strategic location north of Chengdu, erected eight fortifications, and stationed more than 10,000 troops in an attempt to stop Gao Chongwen's attack.

Gao Chongwen sent his brave general Gao Xiayu to attack Wanshengdui. After a fierce battle, the Tang army captured this strategic point, annihilated the rebels, and laid the foundation for subsequent attacks.

In the following battles, Gao Chongwen defeated Liu Pi twice in Deyang and Hanzhou, which greatly boosted the morale of the Tang army and achieved great results.

Finally, in August of that year, Gao Chongwen conquered Chengdu and captured the rebellious Liu Pi. (End of this chapter)