The Tang Dynasty's top-secret infighting: the mystery of Li Yuanji's betrayal
During the Tang Dynasty, the throne was contested and the court was in turmoil, and one of the little-known stories was the betrayal of Li Yuanji, the king of Qi. This seemingly ordinary prince chose to deviate from the rules and disputes in the troubled times and stood on Li Jiancheng's side. Today, we dig deep into the dust of history and unravel the mysteries of this ancient era.
First of all, return to the four sons of Tang Gaozu Li Yuan and Empress Dou, Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, Li Yuanji, and Li Xuanba, who died young. At the time of the Jinyang Uprising, Li Yuanji was fifteen years old and did not fight in Guanzhong with the army, but stayed in Jinyang and took on the responsibility of maintaining the rear. During this period, he demonstrated astonishing strategic vision and leadership qualities.
However, fate is unpredictable. In the face of Liu Wuzhou's attack, Li Yuanji actually abandoned the city and fled, which caused many speculations. Is it because of cowardice, or is there a different kind of mystery hidden? This mystery will run through Li Yuanji's later life choices and form the mystery of his legendary life.
With the peace of the world, the dispute between the crown prince Li Jiancheng and the king of Qin, Li Shimin, heated up fiercely. Li Yuanji, the little brother with a tortuous background, chose to stand on Li Jiancheng's side in this power struggle. What is the reason for this?
First of all, emotional entanglements cannot be ignored. Li Yuanji has been neglected since he was a child and almost became an outcast. Thanks to the nursing mother's care, he survived. Among the three brothers, Li Yuan favored Li Shimin more, and Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, and his half-brother Li Zhiyun, who stayed in Hedong, obviously received relatively low treatment. This kind of treatment makes Li Yuanji emotionally more inclined to support his eldest brother Li Jiancheng.
Secondly, Li Shimin's power is strong. On Li Shimin's side, the affairs of the crown prince are bound to be involved, and the throne may eventually be difficult to escape Li Shimin's hands. In contrast, although Li Yuanji has some talent in military and politics, he does not consider himself to be Li Shimin's opponent in relation to his prestige. If he takes refuge in Li Shimin, perhaps the throne will never belong to him.
In the end, standing on Li Jiancheng's side, Li Yuanji had an ambition. He may think that once he gets rid of Li Shimin, he will have a chance to defeat his eldest brother Li Jiancheng and seize the throne in the future. Li Jiancheng once promised him that if he ascended the throne, he would crown Li Yuanji as the emperor's younger brother. Such an opportunity made Li Yuanji yearn for it, and finally chose to stand by Li Jiancheng's side.
However, history is often full of dramatic turns. When the coup broke out, Li Shimin made a desperate bet and successfully wiped out Jiancheng and Yuanji in Xuanwumen. This coup d'état not only ended the struggle between the two princes, but also allowed Li Shimin to ascend to the throne smoothly.
Looking back on this battle between the court brothers, one can't help but ponder. Is Li Yuanji's choice a family emotional distress or a release of his ambition for the throne? Perhaps, the truth of history will always be buried in the depths of time and become a mystery for future generations to ponder.
This is just one episode in the long history of the Tang Dynasty, and more stories are waiting for us to discover. Thank you for your company, let's travel through time and unlock the secrets of this ancient era. History is always the grandest story. ️✨