1. Cheng Zhijie, courtesy name Yizhen, better known by his original name Cheng Yaojin, was a Chinese general who served under the emperors Gaozu, Taizong and Gaozong in the early Tang dynasty.
25 Facts About Cheng Yaojin
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Cheng Yaojin's portrait was on display in Lingyan Pavilion along with those of another 23 officials who rendered meritorious service to the Tang Empire during the reign of Emperor Taizong.
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Cheng Yaojin was born during the Sui dynasty in Dong'e County, Ji Prefecture, which is located southwest of present-day Dongping County, Tai'an, Shandong.
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Cheng Yaojin was highly skilled in horse-riding and using the shuo.
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Cheng Yaojin later came to serve the rebel leader Li Mi, who treated him respectfully and generously and made him a bodyguard.
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Cheng Yaojin was a commander of the 8,000 horsemen who formed the "Inner Corps" of Li's army.
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Cheng Yaojin led a cavalry detachment and was stationed at Beimang while his colleague Shan Xiongxin garrisoned at Yanshi.
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Cheng Yaojin fought his way through enemy lines, rescued Pei, brought him onto horseback and rode off.
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Wang's men tried to stop them with long spears, but Cheng Yaojin broke the spears, killed the pursuers and managed to escape to safety.
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Cheng Yaojin became a prisoner-of-war after Li was defeated by Wang.
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Cheng Yaojin was appointed as a military officer under Li Yuan's second son, Li Shimin.
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Cheng Yaojin fought for the Tang Empire against rival warlords such as Wang Shichong, Song Jingang and Dou Jiande, who were either defeated or surrendered to Tang.
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Cheng Yaojin was enfeoffed as the "Duke of Su" for his contributions in battle.
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Cheng Yaojin was appointed as a "Right Guard Commander to the Crown Prince" and subsequently promoted to "Right Martial Guard Senior General" and awarded 700 taxable households in his dukedom.
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Cheng Yaojin outlived Emperor Taizong and continued serving under Emperor Taizong's successor, Emperor Gaozong.
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When his army reached Hengdu City, thousands of Turkic civilians came out of their homes to surrender, but Cheng Yaojin ordered his troops to massacre the city's population and the Turkic army used the opportunity to retreat further.
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Cheng Yaojin was stripped of his military command after he returned from the campaign, but was later appointed as the Prefect of Qi Prefecture.
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Cheng Yaojin Chumo inherited his father's ducal title and dukedom as the "Duke of Lu".
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Cheng Yaojin Chuliang married Emperor Taizong's daughter, Princess Qinghe, and held the positions of Chief Commandant of Escorting Cavalry and Left Guard General of the Household.
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Cheng Yaojin was posthumously honoured as "Senior General of Chariots and Cavalry" and Grand Viceroy of Yi Prefecture.
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Cheng Yaojin was buried in the Zhao Mausoleum, where Emperor Taizong was interred.
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Cheng Yaojin's tomb is located in the Zhao Mausoleum in present-day Liquan County, Xianyang, Shaanxi.
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Cheng Yaojin's biography was inscribed on the tombstone by Xu Jingzong and contained more than 2,000 hanzis.
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Cheng Yaojin is often depicted in Chinese folklore and popular culture as a somewhat inept and bumbling warrior who sometimes shows up at the right place and right time to save the day.
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Cheng Yaojin is portrayed by Hong Kong actor Wong Chun in TVB's 1985 series The General That Never Was, its 1986 sequels General Father General Son and Destined to Rebel as well as its 1987 series The Grand Canal.