Emperor Taizong of Tang was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and during his reign (reigned 626-649), his throne was not inherited in peace and stability, but by virtue of his own ability, he took the throne after the change of Xuanwumen.
During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, he listened to the advice of his subjects, studied with an open mind, and at the same time ruled the world over the inner culture, enabling the people to cultivate and recuperate after the wars and chaos of the Sui Dynasty, creating the famous rule of Zhenguan, and in the external struggle, he successively attacked the Eastern Turks and Goguryeo, which exposed the Tang Dynasty to border troubles and laid the foundation for the next prosperous world.
On July 10, 649, Emperor Taizong of Tang died at the Hanfeng Temple, reigning for twenty-three years, making him one of the most famous sages in Chinese history. During his reign, he once made a bizarre story.
Towards the end of the year 633, Li Shimin suddenly proposed to visit the death row inmates in the Heavenly Prison, where about 400 death row prisoners were being escorted to the execution ground for beheading.
Tang Taizong issued an order, life is not easy, ordered all these prisoners to go home for the New Year reunion, wait until the autumn of next year to harvest the grain in the field, and then let them come back on their own, and then execute them.
As soon as this news came out, the ministers immediately dissuaded them, knowing that these death row prisoners were all murderous and vicious criminals, and that they might do evil again when they were released. And everyone is not a fool, let them leave, how can they take the initiative to run back to die?
However, the king's fate was difficult, Tang Taizong said that he would follow his word, and if he really let these four hundred prisoners go home, at first the ministers were very worried, after all, it was very likely that they would once again cause problems that endangered social order, but what was amazing was that these four hundred prisoners not only did not have any transgressions when they returned home, but also honestly obeyed the rules and regulations.
Moreover, after the autumn of the following year, four hundred people returned to Chang'an in a neat and tidy manner, and none of them escaped. Li Shimin was very happy, so he released these death row inmates again, sparing them a way to live, on the grounds that since they were willing to come back and accept the death penalty, they were already aware of their sins. As a result, the ministers admired Tang Taizong's pattern and personality.
Tang Taizong was a very capable monarch, but does this mean that he was a kind man, the purpose was to save the lives of death row prisoners, for an emperor who killed his brother and forced his father to ascend to the throne, Li Shimin was definitely not a kind and soft-hearted person, so why did he do this?
At this time, Li Shiming had been on the throne for less than a few years, and his way of ascending to the throne was very disgraceful, and in ancient times when loyalty and filial piety were first, it was not in line with the hearts of the people, and Li Shimin naturally needed a political show in order to reflect his glorious and magnificent image.
These death row inmates have become the tools of his performance, and the prisoners must have understood this meaning through the news channels, or Li Shiming's confidants, as long as they don't run, honestly, and when the autumn comes, they will naturally be fine, then they will definitely be happy to pick up a life.
Sure enough, no one escaped after the autumn, and Li Shiming also bribed the people's hearts and became a virtuous monarch, and both were very happy, in fact, those who committed evil did not get the punishment they deserved, but were easily released and returned home, so that for the laws of the Tang Dynasty, it was not fair.