He is a famous prime minister of the Great Tang Dynasty, who has been in a position of power for 22 years, offended many people, but in the end he was able to retreat with his whole body, on what basis? There are two reasons for this, although it is simple, not many people can stick to it!
Fang Xuanling has been smart and studious since childhood, and with the education and support of his parents, he has become famous at a young age and is a child of other people's families. In addition, Fang Xuanling was born with a keen sense of politics, when he saw the weak crown Li Shimin for the first time, he felt that Li Shimin would definitely become a big tool in the future, although at this time Li Shimin father and son rose up against Sui for only two months, but Fang Xuanling had already concluded that the future world would be the world of the Li family, so he resolutely defected to Li Shimin!
Li Shimin saw such a knowledgeable person coming to him, coupled with Fang Xuanling's sweet words, and his reputation that had long been outside, Li Shimin was also very happy, and valued Fang Xuanling very much, basically listening to Fang Xuanling's suggestions and opinions in big and small things.
In order to strengthen Li Shimin's strength, Fang Xuanling even personally recruited troops for Li Shimin, and after every victory, all the people were snatching the fruits of victory, but Fang Xuanling did not plunder others, but recruited troops for Li Shimin, recruited talents, and collected various books, and this also made Li Shimin see the difference of Fang Xuanling!
And I have to mention that the success of Li Shimin's Xuanwu Gate change is inseparable from Fang Xuanling's advice! At that time, although Li Shimin was only a second son of Li Yuan, he was strong in martial arts, courageous, and made great battle achievements many times, so he was named "General of Heavenly Strategy" by Li Yuan, his status was higher than all princes and nobles, and his achievements also made Li Jiancheng feel threatened, afraid that it would threaten his future succession to the throne, so Li Jiancheng tried to join forces with Li Yuanji to kill Li Shimin!
Fang Xuanling keenly sensed Li Jiancheng's killing intent on Li Shimin and advised Li Shimin to preemptively, but Li Shimin blamed Fang Xuanling for being too sensitive and did not believe that Li Jiancheng would kill his compatriots, but then a series of strange events occurred, so that Li Shimin had to start to be wary!
Fang Xuanling understood that Li Shimin could not kill his brothers and sisters for his own selfish interests, so he recommended Li Shimin to follow the example of the Duke of Zhou and get rid of Li Jiancheng and his associates, only in this way could he consolidate the rule of the Li and Tang dynasties and ensure the stability and prosperity of the country's society, and this remark gave Li Shimin enough excuses to get rid of Li Jiancheng's people, so he launched the Xuanwu Gate Change!
After Li Shimin successfully ascended the throne, Fang Xuanling was not treated badly, and was appointed as Shangshu's left servant to perform the duties of prime minister! For the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, Fang Xuanling reigned for 22 years, doing everything personally, working day and night, his busyness made Li Shimin unbearable, and repeatedly advised him to put his body first and not to work too hard, but Fang Xuanling still did not change.
Fang Xuanling himself also understood that since ancient times, he was like a tiger, and he also knew the truth of benefiting from the loss, in order to ensure the safety of his life, when Li Shimin wanted to grant him the position of "Prince Young Master", he wrote to ask Emperor Taizong to remove him from his confidential position and withdraw from the center of power, but Li Shimin did not want to lose such a capable general, so he was not allowed to leave, and at the same time ordered Fang Xuanling not to talk about this again!
Every time the prince came to his residence to study, he did not put on the teacher's shelf, but humbly and courteously, and very cautiously maintained the way of the monarch!
In addition to his loyalty to Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling is also very tolerant and generous to others. Once Fang Xuanling was sick and lying on the bed, dying, at this time someone told him that someone in the palace said this:
A person should distinguish priorities, such as the prime minister's illness, in my opinion, it is necessary to treat differently, under normal circumstances, if Fang Xuanling is born with a minor illness, we should definitely go to visit, because this can deepen the relationship with the prime minister, and the prime minister will also give us some favors in the future, if the prime minister's illness is serious, then it is another matter, because once the prime minister dies of illness, what you pay to visit him will never be recovered!
Fang Xuanling did not get angry when he heard this, but put on a look of not caring, and even after his own health improved, when the person came to visit him, he said to the person like this: "Thank God, I know that I won't have any big problems myself, because you have come to see me!" And that person was very ashamed, and he admired Fang Xuanling's tolerance and generosity!
Fang Xuanling can hold a position of power for 22 years, nothing more than loyalty to the emperor and tolerance and generosity to others, and although such habits and upbringing are very simple, not many people can do it, such a prime minister has to be admired!