Li Shimin Assigned a Secret Task to Cheng Yaojin on His Deathbed

In all official historical records, Cheng Yaojin is described as a hero with a cheerful personality, superb martial arts skills, and a strong sense of loyalty. He was loyal to Li Shimin and made significant contributions to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty.

Cheng Yaojin accompanied Li Shimin in his quest to conquer the world and achieved numerous feats. Wang Shichong of Luoyang was also a great hero, and he had many capable men under his command, especially heroes like Luo Shixin, Zhang Zhiang, and Shan Xiongxin.

For Li Shimin to conquer Luoyang was not an easy task, as Wang Shichong was not an ordinary person and also had aspirations for great achievements. Li Shimin led his twelve personal guards, including Cheng Yaojin, to besiege Luoyang.

The siege lasted for a long time. Li Shimin and his men first defeated Luo Shixin, Zhang Zhiang, and Shan Xiongxin. However, later, the situation developed beyond Li Shimin's expectations.

Wang Shichong received reinforcements, and the fortifications of Luoyang were solid. According to historical records, Cheng Yaojin was among those who accompanied Li Shimin in besieging Luoyang. However, in the final battle, Cheng Yaojin disappointed everyone.

Wang Shichong and Li Mi formed an alliance to oppose Li Shimin. The two men were Li Shimin's main concerns. However, this time, Li Shimin did not take their alliance seriously.

Li Shimin and Cheng Yaojin, along with their men, attacked Luoyang with lightning speed. However, Shan Xiongxin and others fiercely counterattacked, leaving Li Shimin and his men in dangerous situations. According to historical records, Cheng Yaojin saw that the situation was not right and fled the battlefield.

Both the "Old Book of Tang" and the "New Book of Tang" record Cheng Yaojin's desertion on the battlefield. It seems that Cheng Yaojin in history was not a very loyal hero. So, what kind of person was Cheng Yaojin in history?

In official history, Cheng Yaojin was not someone who fought against the Sui Dynasty out of desperation but fled the battlefield out of fear in a critical moment? In fact, the Cheng Yaojin in official history and the Cheng Yaojin in novels share the same name but are not the same person.

The Cheng Yaojin in official history was born into a poor family. However, he was not ordinary and possessed great abilities. According to historical records, he had a handsome appearance, was skilled in both martial arts and literature, and possessed exceptional martial arts skills.

The most crucial point is that he was very intelligent and knew how to survive in desperate situations. In the late Sui Dynasty, there were frequent wars and disasters. When Cheng Yaojin grew up, he encountered widespread famine.

Cheng Yaojin's family struggled to find enough food to eat. Unable to bear the hunger, Cheng Yaojin resorted to begging for money. He was willing to do whatever it took to make money quickly. As the saying goes, a beggar has nothing to lose, so if things got out of hand, he would flee immediately.

During his begging days, Cheng Yaojin was arrested three times, and each time he faced the prospect of execution. Even ordinary people would panic before being executed. However, Cheng Yaojin remained calm and composed.

Every time the executioner was about to execute him, he always found a way to survive, whether it was through bribery or seeking help from acquaintances. In short, Cheng Yaojin had various methods to stay alive.

In official history, Cheng Yaojin is not a true hero. When faced with difficulties, he did not think of positive solutions but rather found ways to survive by exploiting the time difference before execution. Although his intelligence and wit are admirable, he is not a true hero. His desertion on the battlefield during critical moments is indeed a shameful act compared to true heroes.

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