In April of the seventeenth year of Zhenguan (643 AD), the crown prince Li Chengqian was deposed due to rebellion, and the position of prince was vacant.
Among them, the two most competitive are Li Tai, the king of Wei, and Li Zhi, the king of Jin, who were born to the eldest grandson empress.
Prime Minister Cen Wenwen and Liu Xun favored Li Tai, the eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang favored Li Zhi, and Tang Taizong was in an unresolved state, so there was a small debate between the monarch and the minister that changed the direction of history.
One
At first, Tang Taizong was biased towards Li Tai. Since Li Chengqian was deposed, Li Tai has become particularly attentive. Running to the palace every day, coquettish and courteous to Tang Taizong.
Once, Li Tai ran to the palace again, and he threw himself into the arms of Tang Taizong and said: "Being able to become the son of Your Majesty is a blessing that the ministers have cultivated for several generations." The minister had a son, and on the day of the minister's death, he should be killed for His Majesty, and he was passed on to the king of Jin. ”
After hearing this, Tang Taizong actually believed it, and he was very moved! He promised on the spot to make Li Tai the crown prince.
Of course, the matter of establishing a prince is related to the fortunes of the country, and Tang Taizong still needs to discuss it with important ministers.
The next day, Tang Taizong relayed Li Tai's words to Chu Suiliang and the eldest grandson Wuji and others.
After paraphrasing, Tang Taizong did not forget to add, "Who doesn't love his son, I feel very sorry when I see him like this." The implication is that I believe in Li Tai's sincerity, and he is sincere.
Tang Taizong was confused, but Chu Suiliang, the counselor, was very sober, and he criticized unceremoniously: "Your Majesty's words are very wrong! I hope to think deeply and don't make mistakes!"
If these words were changed to other emperors, they would be dragged out and cut down on the spot. But Tang Taizong had long been used to it, and he still listened patiently to Chu Suiliang's reasons.
Two
Chu Suiliang continued: "Once Your Majesty is long lived, the King of Wei becomes the Son of Heaven, how can he kill his beloved son and pass on the throne to the King of Jin?"
Anyone who has heard the story of "Yi Ya Cooking" will not believe this nonsense.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Qi Huan said to Yi Ya, a favored minister, that he regretted that he had never eaten human flesh. This Yi Ya killed his four-year-old son and made a dish for Qi Huan Gong to eat. Qi Huangong was moved by Yi Ya's love for himself more than his own flesh and blood, so he favored him even more.
Later, Yi Ya was in turmoil, and after Qi Huan Gong was imprisoned, he starved to death.
Tang Taizong is familiar with history and must know this allusion, but he has just experienced the pain of the abolished prince, and he was carried away by family affection for a while, but he was irrational.
At this time, the importance of the ministers is reflected.
Chu Suiliang was not used to Tang Taizong, and then said: "Your Majesty not only established Chengqian as the crown prince before, but also favored King Wei, and the etiquette and treatment surpassed that of the prince, which eventually led to today's disaster. ”
Such words are tantamount to slapping the emperor's face, and only an emperor like Tang Taizong, who is good at admonishment, can tolerate his courtiers being so presumptuous.
In fact, Tang Taizong had already realized his problem, and he personally said to the courtiers later: "If I set up Li Tai, the position of the prince can be managed." From now on, if the prince loses his way, the vassal king will watch the camp. ”
Three
Maybe he realized that he was a little too much, or he wanted to better convince Tang Taizong.
Chu Suiliang followed Tang Taizong's words and said: "If Your Majesty has to establish the King of Wei, then you must first arrange the King of Jin to ensure his personal safety." ”
This sentence has two meanings:
On the surface, he was reminding Tang Taizong to arrange Li Zhi in advance, but secretly he was revealing Taizong's scars, the tragedy of fratricidal brothers who couldn't bear to recall.
Since the Xuanwumen Change, Tang Taizong has always wanted to prevent his sons from going down his old path, and when choosing the crown prince, his first consideration was how to avoid fratricide.
Chu Suiliang's words were ostensibly to protect Li Zhi, but behind him was Li Chengqian. Li Tai can even kill his own son, if he really becomes the emperor, then will Li Chengqian and Li Zhi still have a way to live?
This is what Tang Taizong does not want to see, and he is trying his best to avoid it. After listening to Chu Suiliang's words, Tang Taizong said with tears in his eyes: "I can't do it!" and then got up and went back to the palace.
Is it really impossible for Tang Taizong to do it?
No, he's already realized his mistake, he just needs to go down.
Four
In order to find a step for himself, the ministers accompanied Tang Taizong to a show the next day.
At that time, the early dynasty had ended, and the ministers had all retreated, and Tang Taizong left the eldest grandson Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Li Shiyun, Chu Suiliang and others alone, and Li Zhi, the king of Jin, was also serving on the side.
Tang Taizong said to everyone: "Li Chengqian's great rebellion makes me disheartened!" After speaking, he fell down on the couch, and pulled out his saber to stab himself, the eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang hurriedly went up to help, and took the knife and handed it to Li Zhi.
Everyone knew that Tang Taizong was performing, but he couldn't break it, so he could only cooperate with the performance. The eldest grandson Wuji comforted Taizong while asking him to tell his true thoughts.
Tang Taizong felt that the heat was almost over, and it would be too hypocritical to continue acting, so he said: "I want to establish the king of Jin, but I don't know what the ministers think." ”
This remark was in line with the intention of the eldest grandson Wuji, and he was the first to say: "I respectfully obey the edict, if there is any dissent, please let the minister behead him!"
With the eldest grandson Wuji taking the lead, everyone also responded, so Li Zhi was promoted to the position of prince.
On April 7, the emperor issued an edict to establish Li Zhi, the king of Jin, as the crown prince, and granted amnesty to the world and feasted for three days.
After Li Zhi ascended the throne, he still continued the policy of the Zhenguan Dynasty, making the people Fu'an, and the social and economic development continued, which was known as the "rule of Yonghui" in history. During his reign, he successively destroyed the Western Turks, Baekje, and Goguryeo, making the territory of the Tang Dynasty reach its maximum, laying the foundation for the later "Kaiyuan Prosperous Era".
It can be said that Li Zhi did not disappoint his father Li Shimin, and he also treated his brother very favorably after he ascended the throne.
Five
So, why did the eldest grandson Wuji support Li Zhi so much? You know, Li Tai is also his own nephew.
In the matter of supporting Li Zhi, the king of Jin, as the crown prince, the eldest grandson Wuji changed his cautious words and deeds, and resolutely and decisively supported Li Zhi.
The reason why he wants to support Li Zhi is mainly because Li Tai is too outstanding, and there is a group of henchmen around him. If Li Tai is appointed as the crown prince, the eldest grandson Wuji will not have much merit; if Li Zhi is established, the eldest grandson Wuji will not only have great merit, but also be able to play the role of assistant and control the court in the new dynasty.
Later facts also proved that in the Gaozong Dynasty, the eldest grandson Wuji, no longer had the submissive and cautious appearance of the Taizong Dynasty, but became aggressive and domineering, and did not take Gaozong Li Zhi in his eyes at all.
Because of the desire for power, the eldest grandson Wuji pushed Li Zhi to the position of the crown prince, and it was also because of the desire for power that the eldest grandson Wuji and Li Zhi finally went to opposition, and he ended up with a death and a seizure of his family.