Yuwen Shiji - Under Yuwen Huaji's Command

Under Yuwen Huaji's Command

Yuwen Huaji retained power as regent, and he made Yuwen Shiji Neishi Ling (內史令), the head of the legislative bureau of the government. Yuwen Huaji soon abandoned Jiangdu and led the Xiaoguo Army back north, toward Luoyang. His army battled those of another rebel leader, Li Mi the Duke of Wei, but was repeatedly defeated by Li Mi. During this time, Li Yuan, who has himself taken the throne at Chang'an, establishing Tang Dynasty as its Emperor Gaozu, sent secret messengers to Yuwen Shiji, then at Liyang (黎陽, in modern Hebi, Henan), and Yuwen Shiji secretly sent messengers to him as well, offering him golden bracelets -- using bracelets (環, huan, a homophone to 還, meaning "return") to show that he intended to support Tang at some point. Later, Yuwen Huaji, unable to prevail over Li Mi, crossed the Yellow River north to Wei (魏縣, in modern Handan), Yuwen Shiji suggested that he head west and submit to Tang. Yuwen Huaji refused, and instead poisoned Yang Hao and declared himself emperor of a new state of Xu. He created Yuwen Shiji the Prince of Shu.

Subsequently, when Yuwen Huaji was further forced to retreat to Liaocheng (聊城, in modern Liaocheng, Shandong), Yuwen Shiji and Feng Deyi requested permission to leave Liaocheng to collect food supplies, and the supplies he obtained allowed Yuwen Huaji to withstand attacks from the Tang general Li Shentong (李神通, Emperor Gaozu's cousin). Later, however, Yuwen Huaji was attacked by another rebel ruler, Dou Jiande the Prince of Xia, and Dou captured Liaocheng in spring 619, executing Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji. (Initially, Dou offered to spare Yuwen Shiji's son Yuwen Chanshi, but the Princess Nanyang, reasoning that the Sui laws required that the nephews of treasonous individuals, allowed Yuwen Chanshi to be executed.)

At the time Liaocheng fell, Yuwen Shiji and Feng were at Jibei (濟北, also in modern Liaocheng). Some of Yuwen Shiji's followers suggested that he gather his troops and attack Dou and try to take over the land north of the Yellow River. Yuwen Shiji refused, but instead headed to Chang'an with Feng and surrendered to Tang.