In 2012, the Police of Xi'an Cracked a case of cultural relics theft, and a cultural relic that had been repeated several times reappeared in front of the public.
This epitaph stone, which has only 55 Chinese characters, brings us back to a historical case in the late Sui and early Tang dynasties, because the owner of this epitaph is Li Jiancheng, the prince of Yin, who witnessed the Xuanwumen Incident.
As a loser in the political struggle, Li Jiancheng's life deeds were deliberately erased, and the tomb was stolen several times after his death, and this epitaph stone almost became the only physical evidence of his existence.
People originally hoped that the excavated epitaph stones would restore that period of history, but the few crosses of epitaphs were obviously not enough to explain everything.
However, even in this few words, we can still glimpse Li Jiancheng, the lingering figure and the history books, a different Li Shimin.
Neglected life
In the ninth year of the sui dynasty, that is, in 589 AD, with the future Sui Emperor Yang Guang personally leading a large army into Jiankang, which lasted for nearly three hundred years, peace was finally ushered in again.
It was also in this year that Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang of the Sui Dynasty, also ushered in his eldest son, Li Jiancheng.
Although as the nephew of the Dugu Empress, Li Yuan was deeply respected by The Sui Emperor Yang Jian, but with the successive deaths of the two, Li Yuan had to face his cousin Yang Guang, who did not deal with him very much.
How Li Jiancheng's childhood experience is unknown, but Li Yuan is walking on thin ice in front of Yang Guang, lest the slightest difference will land on the ground.
I believe that under such high pressure, Li Jiancheng is also cautious in his daily life.
It was not until after the great chaos in the world, when Li Yuan raised an army in Taiyuan, that Li Jiancheng secretly returned to Li Yuan with his family, which also became one of the few highlight moments in the record of Li Jiancheng.
In fact, from the Taiyuan army to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin were like Li Yuan's right and left hands, one responsible for logistical support and the other responsible for attacking the city.
But unfortunately, the long-term cooperation, far from making the relationship between the brothers more intimate, laid the groundwork for Li Jiancheng's future tragedy.
The tragedy of Li Jiancheng is that he has a brilliant younger brother, even if the historical aura is removed, from the perspective of people at that time, Li Shimin is also an uncompromising young hero, and he has made countless immortal merits at a young age.
On the other hand, Li Jiancheng, even if he is not as bad as recorded in the history books, he still lacks the immortal merit of opening up the territory and expanding the territory like Li Shimin.
Therefore, although Li Jiancheng was already Li Yuan's designated heir, he always had a sharp sword hanging high in his heart.
The tranquility before the storm
Li Yuan is not ignorant of the thoughts in Li Jiancheng's heart, after all, Li Shimin is the first hero of the founding of the country, and his subordinates are even more fierce.
Such a powerful political force cannot be ignored by anyone.
If Li Yuan chooses to intervene early, there may still be a possibility of properly handling the relationship between the two people, but history has not if, and Li Yuan has also chosen the worst way to deal with it, that is, to support Li Jiancheng against Li Shimin.
The reason why Li Yuan made this "next policy" was precisely because at that time, Li Shimin's power had reached the point where even Li Yuan, who was the emperor, had to be jealous of three points.
Whether Li Yuan had thought about making Li Shimin the crown prince, whether Li Jiancheng intended to kill Li Shimin, and whether Li Shimin had been coveting the throne for a long time, we don't know, but the development of the situation has made the gods go out of control.
According to the "Twenty-two Sons of the Fourteenth Emperor gaozu in the Old Book of Tang", on the eve of the xuanwumen revolution, Li Jiancheng had already persuaded Li Yuan to acquiesce to Li Jiancheng through the mouth of Li Yuan's concubines in the harem, and killed Li Shimin.
And gradually transferred Li Shimin's protégés and old people away from Chang'an, and it has become an inevitable fact that flesh and blood cannibalism has become an inevitable fact.
Through intensive personnel transfers, Li Shimin sensed the conspiracy behind him, and many of his subordinates around him warned Li Shimin to be strong first.
However, Li Jiancheng is li yuan's designated heir after all, and his legitimacy comes from Li Yuan's authority.
Even though Li Shimin had all the merits of the world, these were not necessary conditions for the heir of the ancient Chinese ideal, and just the identity of the eldest son was worth a thousand words.
As Li Jiancheng's younger brother and possibly a courtier of the future emperor, Li Shimin could not directly challenge Li Jiancheng no matter what.
Several changed nicknames
After several deliberations, Li Shimin finally made up his mind under the persuasion of his subordinates, and he decided to make a final attempt for the sake of the society, for the sake of his subordinates, and for himself.
Therefore, in the ninth year of Wude of the Tang Dynasty, that is, on June 3, 626 AD, Li Shimin secretly wrote to Li Yuan, on the one hand, he denounced Li Jiancheng's concubines in Li Yuan's harem, and on the other hand, he cried to Li Yuan, and he was persecuted by Li Jiancheng everywhere.
Li Yuan did not know how to be good for a while, but only promised Li Shimin to summon Li Jiancheng tomorrow to return Li Shimin's justice.
On June 4, on the day of the Xuanwumen Rebellion, Li Shimin set up an ambush in advance, personally ended Li Jiancheng, and killed Li Yuanji, who entered the palace with Li Jiancheng.
After receiving the news that Li Jiancheng had been killed, Li Yuan summoned Li Shimin, who wept bitterly in front of Li Yuan and begged for forgiveness, but the overall situation was decided, and Li Yuan finally chose to give way to Li Shimin.
After Li Jiancheng's death, the liquidation was not over, Li Shimin first reduced him to a commoner and buried him hastily, and then executed all the descendants of Li Jiancheng's clan.
But not long after, Li Shimin offered to restore Li Jiancheng's identity as a member of the royal family and rebury him with the courtesy of the prince, and the 55-character epitaph was also made at this time.
Li Jiancheng's epitaph is so simple that it says nothing about his life.
But even among these simple 55 words, there is one word with obvious traces of modification, and this word is Li Jiancheng's nickname "Interest". According to the handwriting of modern scholars and calligraphers, the underside of the word "breath" should have been "spirit".
According to the Falun Gong, if you are not diligent enough to become famous as "Ling" and concealed as "Cain", although they are not beautiful, as the nickname "Cain", mourning also has less rebuke and more pity than "Ling".
This also reflects Li Shimin's state of mind when he cried on the day of Li Jiancheng's reburial.
Li Shimin may not be a qualified family member, but as a king, he also has an unusual mind.
epilogue
The most ruthless imperial family, between the brothers of ordinary people, will still earn a head and blood for an acre and a third, not to mention facing the whole world.
The truth of history has long been blurred with the erosion of time, and Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, who is right and who is wrong, may never have a clear answer.
But we can imagine that in the face of fratricide, Li Yuan, who had lived for nine years after the change of Xuanwu Gate, was the most painful person.