Liu Zhenghui

1.1. Ancestry and Family Background

Liu Zhenghui hailed from a prestigious lineage, tracing his ancestry back to Qubei, a notable Xiongnu prince during the Han dynasty. His family maintained a significant presence in Chinese politics through various dynasties. His direct ancestor was Liu Wanling, a descendant of Liu Luochen, a chieftain of the Xiongnu Dugu tribe. Liu Zhenghui was the son of Liu Tan, who served as the chief official of the Court of Judicature and Revision during the Sui dynasty. His grandfather, Liu Huanjuan, held the esteemed position of Chancellor (or Zhongshu Shilang, 中書侍郎^Chinese) during the Northern Qi dynasty.

1.2. Birthplace and Family

Liu Zhenghui was born in Zuocheng County (胙城県^Chinese), within Huazhou (滑州^Chinese), which is currently part of Xinxiang City in Yanqin County, Henan province. Information regarding his immediate family beyond his grandfather and father is limited for his early life.

2.1. Official Position in Taiyuan

During the Daye (大業^Chinese) era (605-618) of the Sui dynasty, Liu Zhenghui served as the Sima (司馬^Chinese, vice-officer) in the Yingyang Fu (鷹揚府^Chinese, regional military office) of Taiyuan. In this capacity, he was under the command of Li Yuan, who was then the Duke of Tang and a prominent Sui general.

2.2. Support for Li Yuan's Uprising

In 617, as the Sui dynasty faced widespread rebellions, Liu Zhenghui actively joined Li Yuan's preparations for an uprising in Taiyuan. Before Li Yuan formally launched his rebellion, Liu Zhenghui played a critical role in neutralizing internal threats. He assisted Li Yuan and his son Li Shimin in the capture and execution of Wang Wei (王威^Chinese) and Gao Junya (高君雅^Chinese). These two individuals were senior officials in Taiyuan who had been sent by Emperor Yang of Sui to monitor Li Yuan and were plotting against him. Liu Zhenghui's swift and decisive action in apprehending Wang Wei and Gao Junya was essential for clearing the path for Li Yuan to openly declare his rebellion.

3.1. Major Contributions to Early Tang Establishment

Following the successful initiation of Li Yuan's rebellion, Liu Zhenghui continued to make significant contributions. His actions in helping to execute Wang Wei and Gao Junya are regarded as his first and fundamental contributions to the establishment of the Tang dynasty, as they enabled Li Yuan to proceed with his uprising without immediate internal sabotage. After the Grand General's office (大將軍府^Chinese) was established, Liu Zhenghui was appointed Hucao Canjun (戶曹參軍^Chinese). When the Tang forces successfully pacified Chang'an, the Sui capital, he was further promoted to Chengxiang Fu Yuan (丞相府掾^Chinese), an official position within the Prime Minister's office.

3.2. Capture and Intelligence During Liu Wuzhou's Rebellion

Upon the formal establishment of the Tang dynasty in 618, Liu Zhenghui was appointed Weiwei Shaoqing (衛尉少卿^Chinese) and then assigned as Taiyuan Liushou (太原留守^Chinese), effectively acting as the governor tasked with defending and administering Taiyuan, the Tang's ancestral homeland. In 619, a rival warlord, Liu Wuzhou, who was based in northern Shanxi, launched an attack on Bingzhou (并州^Chinese), capturing Taiyuan. During this conflict, Liu Zhenghui was taken captive by Liu Wuzhou.

Despite being imprisoned, Liu Zhenghui demonstrated remarkable loyalty and resourcefulness. He managed to secretly send a detailed letter to Li Yuan, who had by then become Emperor Gaozu of Tang, providing critical intelligence on Liu Wuzhou's military strengths, strategies, and the overall situation within the enemy's camp. This vital intelligence proved invaluable, assisting Li Shimin (the future Emperor Taizong) in successfully devising a plan to defeat Liu Wuzhou. Following Liu Wuzhou's defeat in 620, Liu Zhenghui was rescued and his former official positions and honors were fully restored.

4.1. Key Official Posts

Following his restoration, Liu Zhenghui received several significant appointments within the Tang government. He successively served as Minister of Justice (刑部尚書^Chinese), overseeing legal and judicial matters, and also held the post of Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments (Guanglu Qing, 光祿卿^Chinese), which was responsible for imperial banquets and rituals. In 627, during the early reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Liu Zhenghui was transferred to serve as the Governor of Hongzhou (Hongzhou Dudufu, 洪州都督^Chinese), a key regional military command, and was granted a "seal of 300 households" as a mark of imperial favor.

4.2. Titles and Honors

For his invaluable contributions to the founding of the dynasty, Liu Zhenghui was bestowed with the noble title of Dukedom of Xing (邢國公^Chinese). His most significant honor came with his inclusion among the 24 meritorious officials whose portraits were commissioned by Emperor Taizong and displayed in the Lingyan Pavilion (凌煙閣^Chinese) within the Daming Palace in Chang'an. This recognition solidified his place as one of the key figures responsible for the Tang dynasty's establishment and initial stability. He was listed as the 21st official among the 24.

5.1. Death and Emperor Taizong's Assessment

Liu Zhenghui passed away in 635. Following his death, Emperor Taizong of Tang personally acknowledged Liu Zhenghui's profound contributions to the dynasty's founding. Emperor Taizong issued an imperial edict stating that Liu Zhenghui had made "special merits" on the day the uprising was launched and that his burial should be conducted with "great favor," reflecting the emperor's high regard for him.

5.2. Posthumous Honors and Titles

In recognition of his distinguished service, Liu Zhenghui was posthumously appointed as Minister of Revenue (Minbu Shangshu, 民部尚書^Chinese), a high-ranking position responsible for the empire's finances. He was also granted the posthumous name of 'Xiang' (襄^Chinese), a descriptor often given to officials who distinguished themselves through their helpful and cooperative nature. Later, his ducal title was changed posthumously from Duke of Xing to Duke of Yu (渝國公^Chinese), signifying continued imperial recognition of his family's prestige.

6.1. Sons

Liu Zhenghui had several sons, including Liu Xuanyi (劉玄意^Chinese), Liu Xuanxiang (劉玄象^Chinese), and Liu Xuanyu (劉玄育^Chinese).

• Liu Xuanyi**, his eldest son, inherited his father's ducal title, which became Duke of Yu (渝國公^Chinese). He was honored with a marriage to Princess Pingnan (南平公主^Chinese), the third daughter of Emperor Taizong of Tang, and was appointed Fuma Duwei (駙馬都尉^Chinese), a title for imperial sons-in-law. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Liu Xuanyi served as the Cishi (刺史^Chinese, Prefect) of Ruzhou (汝州^Chinese).
• Liu Xuanxiang** served as Zhuke Langzhong (主客郎中^Chinese), an official responsible for receiving foreign envoys and managing guest affairs.
• Liu Xuanyu** held the position of Cishi (Prefect) of Yizhou (易州^Chinese).

6.2. Later Descendants

Liu Zhenghui's family continued to thrive for generations, with notable descendants making their mark in Tang history:

• His grandson, **Liu Qi** (劉奇^Chinese), who was the son of Liu Xuanyi, became Tianguan Shilang (天官侍郎^Chinese) in 693 during the reign of Wu Zetian. However, he was later implicated and executed by cruel officials acting under Wu Zetian's orders.
• Liu Qi's younger brother, **Liu Xun** (劉循^Chinese), served as Jinwu Jiangjun (金吾將軍^Chinese), a general of the imperial guards.
• A fourth-generation grandson, **Liu Fangping** (劉方平^Chinese), achieved renown as a famous poet during the Tang dynasty.
• A seventh-generation grandson, **Liu Chongwang** (劉崇望^Chinese), became a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, demonstrating the family's continued influence in later periods of the dynasty.

7.1. Primary Sources

The main historical accounts detailing Liu Zhenghui's biography and contributions are found in two significant official histories of China:

• Old Book of Tang (舊唐書^Chinese, Jiu Tangshu), specifically Volume 58, Biography 8 ("Liu Zhenghui's Biography").
• New Book of Tang (新唐書^Chinese, Xin Tangshu), specifically Volume 90, Biography 15 ("Liu Zhenghui's Biography").

8.1. Recognition as a Lingyan Pavilion Official

His inclusion among the 24 meritorious officials depicted in the Lingyan Pavilion stands as a testament to his significant contributions. This honor was reserved for individuals considered to have played the most crucial roles in the establishment and early success of the Tang dynasty. The selection underscored his importance in Emperor Taizong's view and in the official historical narrative of the dynasty's founding.

8.2. Overall Historical Significance

Liu Zhenghui is historically regarded as a loyal and capable official whose strategic actions, particularly in neutralizing internal threats to Li Yuan's uprising and providing vital intelligence during Liu Wuzhou's rebellion, were fundamental to the Tang dynasty's successful establishment. His subsequent appointments to high official posts and his continued service under Emperor Taizong further underscore his contributions to the governance and stability of the early Tang state. His enduring historical impact is rooted in his role as a key architect of one of China's most prosperous imperial periods.