When it comes to death row inmates, everyone must hate it, because in modern times and in ancient times, only people who are extremely vicious and have a very bad impact on individuals or society will be sentenced to death. However, if it is said that the people do not worry about eating and wearing, then the number of death row prisoners will certainly be relatively small, of which there were almost no death row prisoners during the tang taizong Li Shimin period.
In history, Li Shimin can be called an emperor throughout the ages, because Li Shimin not only led the Tang Dynasty to expand its territory and create a great and prosperous era, but also knew and made good use of people when governing the country, appointing people on the basis of merit, and humbly listening to the suggestions of others. Therefore, during this period, the people's lives were very happy, the number of death row prisoners was very small, and even during the Zhenguan period, such an interesting thing happened.
According to the Zizhi Tongjian, at the end of the sixth year of Zhenguan, when Li Shimin approved the recitation, he knew that there were 390 death row inmates in the prison. Supposedly, these death row crimes are extremely heinous, and they should all be put to death, but Li Shimin saw that the New Year was approaching and felt that it was too pitiful for them to be locked up in prison, so he asked all these death row inmates to go home for the New Year, and then ask for beheading after the New Year.
At that time, this matter was making a lot of noise in Chang'an, and everyone did not believe that death row inmates would honestly come over and ask for a chop after the New Year, and would definitely take the opportunity to escape. However, what people did not expect was that after the end of the year, all 390 death row inmates arrived at the execution site on time, and even a death row prisoner named Xu Fulin rushed to the execution ground to be tortured even if he was sick. This scene touched Li Shimin greatly, so he pardoned all death row inmates.
Ouyang Xiu expressed his views on this matter in the Northern Song Dynasty, and Ouyang Xiu said in the "Theory of Indulgence Prisoners" that Li Shimin's release of death row prisoners home was actually a carefully planned show, and he wanted to leave himself in the name of Xianjun. At the same time, some people feel that these released death row inmates are controllable, and their every move may be seen by Li Shimin. What do you think about this?