Zhang Chuchen, the leader of Nanchen generals, was captured when the country was defeated and became a female concubine in Sikong Yangsu's house. In the troubled times of the late Sui Dynasty, Yang Su was in a high position but had no intention of saving the country. The suggestions of his retainers were often ignored. Zhang Chuchen, who was full of humiliation, yearned for freedom wholeheartedly, and had endured it for many years and wanted to escape.
Li Jing, a commoner, came to the court to offer his advice. Zhang Chuchen saw his extraordinary bearing, searched around for his residence, and exchanged letters, hoping to get Li Jing's help in escaping. That winter, she escaped from the Yang Mansion in the middle of the night dressed in red and ran to Taiyuan with Li Jing in the snow. On the way, they met Zhang Boyong, a knight-errant, and the three of them became friends. They were introduced to Li Shimin by Li Jing's friend. Zhang Boyong thought that there was no hope of success, so he dispersed all his wealth and went to the southeast.
Zhang Chuchen knew that it was difficult to escape by one person in troubled times, so he took advantage of Zhang Boyong's departure and ran alone at night with tens of thousands of silver notes, fleeing all the way south to Wudi, disguised himself and changed his name, hid in the market, and lived an ordinary life.
After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he heard about this from Li Jing. He became very interested in Zhang Chuchen and worried that he was relying on huge sums of money to support his army privately, so he secretly ordered a search for Zhang Chuchen's traces.
When Zhang Chuchen was found, he knew that once he entered the palace, he would have no chance of escaping, so he finally committed suicide by hanging a foot of white silk from the beam.
Purpose: In troubled times, no one can truly have freedom