Later depiction of Li Mi
Later depiction of Li Mi · 1714A transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portraitTachibana MorikuniSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Li Mi李密

SuiHistory × Fiction

A warlord at the end of the Sui dynasty, who submitted to the Tang.

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DIRECT FIGURES
27
RELATION RECORDS
51
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Li Mi, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

3 figures · 3 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

15 figures · 24 records
11 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

8 figures · 11 records
5 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

2 figures · 2 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

FeatureFact and Fiction in the Sui-Tang Transition: The Lingyan Pavilion Officials vs. Outlaw Brotherhoods"Romance of Sui and Tang" writes this period of history as a jianghu of sworn brotherhood, martial contests, and roaming, while the "Old Book of Tang" records a different matter. The meritorious officials in the Lingyan Pavilion become greenwood brothers in the romance, and several of the most deeply rooted fierce generals are nowhere to be found in the official history; whereas a coup like the Xuanwu Gate Incident is actually written more plainly in the official history than in the romance. This piece compares the two sides, noting which volume each part comes from.

In history · Old Book of Tang

A warlord at the end of the Sui dynasty, who submitted to the Tang. Leader of the Wagang Army, later surrendered to the Tang. A warlord at the end of the Sui dynasty, leader of the Wagang Army, later proclaimed Duke of Wei.

In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

A thousand-bull, resigned due to suspicion; inherited the title of Duke of Pushan, abandoned office to travel together, and was close with Wang Bodang. Leader of the Wagang Army.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    27 profile notes
    20 relations31 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ receive →Li Mi
    • Li Yuan→ appoint official →Li Mi
    • Li Mi→ send letter →Li Yuan
    • Li Mi→ attack →Emperor Yang of Sui
    Verified original text · 31
    1. 密见太宗天姿神武

      receive · Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪上

    2. 令记室温大雅作书报密

      reply letter · Old Book of Tang, 李密传

    29 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    23 profile notes
    27 relations46 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ captured →Li Mi
    • Li Mi→ imprison →Li Shimin
    • Li Yuan→ appoint official →Li Mi
    • Qin Shubao→ submit →Li Mi
    Verified original text · 46
    1. 一行人带进金墉城来

      captured · Romance of Sui and Tang, 051

    2. 匹夫也有今日！本待射你一箭，以报缧绁之仇

      humiliate · Romance of Sui and Tang, 054

    44 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    27 profile notes
    16 relations18 verified quotations
    • Li Mi→ praise →Li Shimin
    • Li Yuan→ appoint official →Li Mi
    • Li Yuan→ grant marriage →Li Mi
    • Qin Shubao→ submit →Li Mi
    Verified original text · 18
    1. 真英主也

      praise · New Book of Tang, 太宗本纪

    2. 帝览书，笑曰

      send letter · New Book of Tang, 李密传

    16 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

The historical truth of the late Sui warlord and leader of the Wagang Army

  • based on factThe rise and fall of the Wagang Army and the fate of Li Mi

    The Old Book of Tang, Biography of Li Mi, records that Zhai Rang first gathered followers at Wagang, and later Li Mi replaced him, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops, shaking the realm for a time, but ultimately was defeated by Wang Shichong. In the romance, the Wagang generals are often called the 'Forty-six Friends' or greenwood heroes, but the official history records a large-scale, far-reaching peasant uprising and brutal warlord conflicts in the late Sui Dynasty.

Relationship network

28 figures · 236 links
Li MiLi MiLi ShiminLi ShiminLi YuanLi YuanEmperor Yang of SuiEmperor Yang of SuiQin ShubaoQin ShubaoXu ShijiXu ShijiWang ShichongWang ShichongDou JiandeDou JiandeYang GuozhongYang GuozhongWei ZhengWei ZhengShan XiongxinShan XiongxinCheng ZhijieXu JingzongLiu HeitaEmperor TangYuwen HuajiLuo ShixinYang SuWang BodangLiu WenjingEmperor Gaozu of HanYuwen ShuJia RunfuXu YuanlangLi DaliangZhang XutuoWang JunkuoZhai Rang
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 二刘殷许程柴任丘传; Old Book of Tang, 五行志; Romance of Sui and Tang, 003; New Book of Tang, 侯君集张亮薛万钧弟 万彻弟 万淑弟 万备附 盛彦师附 卢祖尚附 刘世让附 刘兰等传; Old Book of Tang, 侯君集张亮薛万彻传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 009; New Book of Tang, 儒学传上; Old Book of Tang, 儒学传上

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.