Biography
Family Background and Early Life
Li Shentong belonged to the Longxi Li clan and was a grandson of Li Hu, one of the Eight Pillars of State of Western Wei. His father Li Liang served as Inspector of Hai Prefecture and was posthumously created Prince Xiao of Zheng. Li Yuan's father Li Bing and Li Liang were brothers, making Li Shentong and Li Yuan paternal cousins. In youth Li Shentong was generous with wealth, valued righteousness, and enjoyed associating with martial men, gaining a reputation in Guanzhong.
Raising Troops at the End of the Sui
In 617, when Li Yuan rose at Taiyuan, Li Shentong was living in Chang'an. Sui authorities began arresting Li Yuan's relatives, forcing him to flee to the mountains south of Hu County. He contacted Shi Wanbao, Pei Ji, Liu Chongli, and others and raised troops in support of Li Yuan. The western-region merchant He Panren, who commanded tens of thousands at Sizhu Garden, was meanwhile persuaded by Princess Pingyang's household servant Ma Sanbao to cooperate with Li Shentong. Li Shentong, Princess Pingyang, and He Panren combined forces, captured Hu County, and gathered more than 10,000 followers. Li Shentong styled himself Commander-in-Chief of the Guanzhong Route, with Shi Wanbao as deputy, Pei Ji as chief secretary, Liu Chongli as army adjutant, and the former magistrate Linghu Defen as secretary.
After Li Yuan crossed the Yellow River, Li Shentong, Princess Pingyang, and Duan Lun each sent envoys to welcome him. Li Yuan granted Li Shentong the title Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and appointed his eldest son Li Daoyan a court gentleman. After Li Shentong joined Li Yuan in taking Chang'an, he was appointed Minister of the Imperial Clan and placed in charge of palace guard troops.
Pacification Commissioner of Shandong and the Campaign against Yuwen Huaji
After Li Yuan proclaimed the Tang in 618, Li Shentong was advanced from Duke of Zheng to Prince of Yongkang Commandery, then Prince of Huai'an, and appointed General of the Right Guard. In October he became Pacification Commissioner of the Shandong Circuit with authority over Tang forces in the region; Huangmen Vice Director Cui Gan served as deputy.
In the first month of 619, Li Shentong attacked Yuwen Huaji at Wei County. Yuwen withdrew east to Liaocheng. Li Shentong captured Wei County, killed or captured more than 2,000 men, pursued, and besieged Liaocheng. In the intercalary second month, Yuwen Huaji, short of grain, sought to surrender. Li Shentong refused, arguing that victory would allow the army to seize the enemy's property for rewards. Cui Gan warned that Dou Jiande was approaching and that fighting enemies both inside and outside the siege would be disastrous; Li Shentong became angry and imprisoned him. Yuwen Shiji later brought supplies from Jibei, strengthening Yuwen Huaji. During another assault, Zhao Junde, Inspector of Bei Prefecture, was first onto the wall, but Li Shentong, jealous of his achievement, ordered the army to withdraw and failed to take the city. When Dou Jiande's army approached, Li Shentong had to retreat.
Defeat, Captivity, and Release
In August 619, Dou Jiande advanced south with more than 100,000 troops. Li Shentong retreated first to Xiang Prefecture, then to Liyang, where he relied on Li Shiji. In November Dou Jiande captured Liyang and took Li Shentong, Li Shiji, Wei Zheng, Princess Tong'an, and others prisoner. After moving his capital to Ming Prefecture, Dou Jiande housed Li Shentong at Xiabo and treated him as an honored guest. Li Shentong later returned to Tang territory together with Princess Tong'an.
Renewed Campaigns in Shandong
After Dou Jiande's defeat in 621, Li Shentong again became Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs at the Hebei Circuit Branch Secretariat. In the seventh month the Tang established the Shandong Circuit Branch Secretariat at Ming Prefecture, and he became its Right Vice Director. In September he led Guanzhong troops to Ji Prefecture to join Li Yi, requisitioned more than 50,000 men from Xing, Ming, Xiang, Wei, Heng, Zhao, and other prefectures, and fought Liu Heita south of Raoyang. During a snowstorm he attacked with the wind at his back, but when the wind suddenly reversed the Tang army suffered a major defeat and lost two-thirds of its troops, horses, and supplies. In 622 he was ordered to attack Xu Yuanlang, later followed Li Shimin in defeating Liu Heita, and was promoted to General of the Left Martial Guard.
The Xuanwu Gate Incident and Later Years
In 626, the text records that Li Shimin was poisoned by wine associated with Li Jiancheng and vomited several pints of blood; Li Shentong helped escort him back to the Western Palace. After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Shimin became emperor. In 627 Li Shentong was appointed Grandee of Opened Office with the Rank of the Three Excellencies and granted an assessed fief of 500 households. He died at Chang'an in 630 at age fifty-four. Emperor Taizong suspended court in mourning, posthumously appointed him Minister of Works, and granted the title Jing. In 640 he was enshrined in Emperor Gaozu's ancestral temple.