The first page of history begins with mutual suspicion, intrigue and trickery. - Mi Zochenko (Su)
Articles categorized | historical anecdotes
The article has a word count of | 825 words and takes about 2 minutes to read
Presumably, everyone knows that Tang Taizong Li Shimin was a great monarch in history. Li Shimin worked hard to govern, appointed talents, and was as good as a stream, and the relationship with Wei Zheng's monarchs and subjects became a good story in history. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang and Li Shimin, the Tang Dynasty gradually recovered from the chaos after the war, and the population, agriculture, economy, and culture flourished, creating the first "Rule of Zhenguan" in the Tang Dynasty.
Although Li Shimin was a ming emperor of a generation, his earlier throne could not take his turn. In ancient times, there was an inheritance system "first son system", there was a firstborn, but there was no first son, even if the eldest son was not virtuous, this was to avoid infighting between the royal family and waste energy. For example, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Yuan Shao did not like his eldest son Yuan Tan, but liked his younger son Yuan Shang, and finally caused Tan and Shang to attack, which benefited Cao Cao.
Li Shimin was not the eldest son, he was the second son of Li Yuan, the Emperor Gaozu of Tang. The position of crown prince fell to the head of the eldest son, Li Jiancheng. According to the Zizhi Tongjian, Li Yuan originally wanted Li Shimin to be crown prince, but Li Shimin disagreed. Later, his prestige became higher and higher, surpassing Li Jiancheng, and there was a great momentum of replacement between the two. Li Yuan was also a little shaky. So Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji joined forces and began to suppress Li Shimin.
Li Jiancheng tried every means to get rid of Li Shimin, and even wanted to poison him with poisoned wine. The two sides have reached the point where they are inseparable. In order to protect himself, Li Shimin took the initiative to launch the "Xuanwumen Rebellion", killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, and let Li Yuan retire early and sit on the dragon chair.
Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji are dead, and they still have many sons. These people were Li Shimin's nephews and Li Yuan's grandsons. Li Yuan once asked Li Shimin if he could spare his grandson. Li Shimin had promised. But then a minister told him a name and he changed his mind.
This person is Liu An, the king of Huainan, who is a big and small celebrity in history. He wrote Huainanzi and invented tofu, but he was also a rebel. His father, Liu Chang, wanted to overthrow Han Gaozu, but he did the opposite, and the result was exposed. Emperor Wen of Han was really a good man. He had just exiled Liu Chang and spared his life. Liu Chang committed suicide in the middle of the way.
Emperor Wen spared Liu Chang's son. Liu An did not appreciate it and wanted to oppose the Han Dynasty. In the end, he also wanted to rebel, but without success, died. Li Shimin listened to Liu An's name and understood the meaning. So he ordered the killing of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji's sons, thus cutting the grass and removing the roots.
References: History of the Ming Dynasty, History of History, New Book of Tang
The road is stepped out of the feet, and history is written by people. Every step of man's action is writing his own history.