History is the memory of things that have been said and done. —Carl Baker
The ancient art of the emperor was unfathomable, and if the minister failed to understand it, he would definitely be killed. Only when the minister understands the way of the people and the subject, and knows the advance and retreat, can he save himself and get the emperor's reuse. Xu Maogong of the Tang Dynasty was a military master in the "Biography of Sui and Tang Heroes", who could pinch and calculate and was good at scheming. However, xu Maogong in history was a brave and good warrior, and he was also an elder minister who had gone through the three dynasties of the Tang Dynasty. In his early years, he followed Li Shimin from birth to death, defeated the Turks and Goguryeo, and made great achievements. The emperor warned the crown prince: After I die, I will demote him to an official, and if he has no opinion, I will make him the prime minister.
This person is Xu Maogong, who has countless meritorious achievements in his life, spent his heart and soul for the Tang Dynasty, and contributed his life's energy and effort. Before Li Shimin died, he still specially entrusted him with loneliness, but what did he not trust behind his back? In fact, Li Shimin's attitude toward Xu Maogong has always been wavering, although he is capable and brilliant, he has never let down his guard against him, and the relationship between the two is not a really harmonious monarch-vassal relationship. At that time, after Xu Maogong returned to the Tang Dynasty, he was clearly helping Li Shimin to do things, but behind his back, his attitude was not clear, and he wavered between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, which once made Li Shimin have scruples.
Therefore, Li Shimin entrusted many heavy responsibilities to Xu Maogong, and Xu Maogong also lived up to the military achievements entrusted to the Tang Dynasty: pacifying the Turks, fighting Goguryeo and so on. After Li Shimin boarded the dragon chair, he did his best to win over Xu Maogong, and the historical records record that once Xu Maogong was sick and bedridden, the doctor said to use his beard as a medicine guide, Li Shimin heard about it, personally cut off his beard, boiled medicine for Xu Maogong, Xu Maogong saw Li Shimin treat himself like this, grateful to Shu Zero, at this time Tang Taizong said a very standard sentence: "I am for Jiangshan, Ai Qing does not have to thank." ”
Before his death, Li Shimin repeatedly warned Li Zhi that he should demote Xu Maogong, who had no fault, and if Xu Maogong lingered, he would kill him immediately. If they obey their words, then they can be dissuaded and made prime minister. As a result, after Xu Maogong was degraded, he saw the stakes at a glance and immediately rushed to his new post, which also made him trusted and valued by Li Zhi. After Li Zhi ascended the throne, the idea of making Wu Zetian empress was born, and at that time, the imperial court was strongly opposed, but Li Zhi was determined by Xu Maogong's sentence "Why should we ask outsiders about family affairs". Thus making Wu Zetian usher in the first day, but also also making the Li Dynasty into a wrong path.