Run, Li Yuan!

The contemptuous sneer of Emperor Yang of Sui, calling him “Old Woman Face,” burned into the back of Li Yuan, Duke of Tang, like a brand. Faced with Emperor Yang's debauchery and tyranny, and with warlords vying for supremacy, Li Yuan had once endured humiliation to protect himself, maneuvering through the whirlpool of political intrigue. At last, he tore away his mask of forbearance.

Deeply versed in the art of keeping one's ambitions hidden, he made Taiyuan his “land of the rising dragon,” quietly gathering popular support and strength. The remnants of the old Sui, bold heroes from humble beginnings, the powerful clans of Guanlong, and even the ambitions of the Turks all became levers with which to move the realm. The uprising at Jinyang was his cry of defiance against fate; his march toward Chang'an was a solitary, desperate sprint toward the imperial crown.

When the banner of Tang finally flew above the palaces of Taiji, founding emperor Li Yuan stood at the summit of power, only to realize that he was gradually being overshadowed by the achievements of the Heavenly Strategy General and the age of prosperity created by his own son, Li Shimin. He had spent his life running with all his might, escaped the humiliation of “Old Woman Face,” and ascended to the supreme throne, yet beneath history's spotlight, he became an ever fainter figure beside his son's dazzling brilliance.

This work tells not only the epic tale of Li Yuan's rise, but also tears away the historical label of “the father whose life's achievements were eclipsed by his son, Li Shimin.” It shows readers how this founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty walked the tightrope between power and human nature, and how, in the dust of history, he left behind the lonely figure of a man who had struggled forward for a thousand years. When history's spotlight follows only the victors' most dazzling moments, who still remembers the person who first kindled the spark and laid the foundation?