Li Shimin, a native of Didao, Longxi (now Lintao County, Gansu Province), was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin is not only an outstanding politician, strategist and poet, but also an avid calligrapher, which is why we tell this story today.
As mentioned above, Li Shimin is a calligraphy lover, and naturally likes to collect the original works of calligraphers of past dynasties, especially Wang Xizhi's works. Although he has a large collection, he still wants to collect the Preface to Lanting Collection, which is known as the best running script in the world. Therefore, he has been sending people to observe the whereabouts of Preface to Lanting Collection through unannounced visits. A subordinate reported that in a temple in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, a monk was holding the manuscript of Preface to Lanting Collection.
This monk is the eloquent monk of Yongxin Temple in Shaoxing. He is a disciple of Wang Xizhi's seventh generation Sun Zhiyong. He has Preface to Lanting Collection, which he never shows to anyone. Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, refused to sell it, even though he paid a high price for many times. He did not admit that he had the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, but only said that he had the original version of the thousand-character script.
Emperor Taizong, who can't buy the original Wang Xizhi, is in a dilemma day and night. After all, he can't rob others. Just when he was in a dilemma, he recommended a talented minister to him.
Xiao Yi came to Yongxin Temple with two or three original works of Wang Xizhi, dressed as a scholar in Shandong, and met with eloquent monks. After that, they talked about Mr. Wang Xizhi's calligraphy all night. And Xiao Yi used strategy to arouse the eloquence of eloquence, and let eloquence come up with the real edition of Preface to Lanting Collection.
Then Xiao Yi used his eloquence to steal the original of Preface to Lanting Collection and gave it to Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong.