566-635
Emperor

Sui General. The Sui Dynasty (589-618) was falling apart under Emperor Yang (Sui Yang Di), who ruled from 604 to 617. During the first decade of the seventh century many Chinese staged rebellions against the dynasty. Tan Gaozu Li Yuan, a military governor of Taiyuan under the Sui in northern China, was sent by Emperor Yang in 617 to fight and control a peasant rebellion that had arisen in the province.

Founding the Dynasty. Under the persuasion of his son, Li Shimin, Li Yuan instead took this opportunity to challenge the rule of the emperor. He traveled throughout the country to raise troops. Soon after this recruitment trip, Li Yuan and thirty thousand soldiers headed for Chang'an, the capital of the Sui dynasty. They crossed the Yellow River and arrived at Guan Zhong, where their army was increased by two hundred thousand people who were...