Preface
At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the struggle for power could be described as thrilling. A palace coup, a glass of poisonous wine, a bloody storm, who will be able to climb the dragon chair in the end?
Chapter 1: The Fate of the Son-in-law
Tang Gaozu Li Yuan founded the Tang Dynasty, and his eldest son Li Jiancheng naturally became the crown prince, which seemed to be a matter of course. As the eldest son, Li Jiancheng received strict education and training from an early age, and under Li Yuan's patronage, he gradually grew into a brave and warlike general.
When Li Yuan raised troops to attack the Sui Dynasty, Li Jiancheng was the main general who charged ahead, and successively conquered important strongholds such as Xihe, Huoyi, and Tongguan, and made great contributions to Li Yuan's great cause. When Li Yuan finally ascended the throne and became emperor, he did not hesitate to establish Li Jiancheng as the crown prince, which was undoubtedly an affirmation and trust in him.
However, Li Jiancheng's position was not cemented because of this. In Li Yuan's eyes, his second son Li Shimin was also brave and good at fighting, and he was quite popular in the army. Li Yuan was worried that Li Shimin would pose a threat to Li Jiancheng's position, so he arranged for him to fight outside, hoping to distract him.
However, as time went by, Li Shimin's prestige in the army became higher and higher, which made Li Jiancheng feel an unprecedented sense of crisis. He began to be jealous of Li Shimin, worried that his succession to the throne would be taken away by him.
As the eldest son, Li Jiancheng is naturally the most qualified candidate to inherit the throne, but his position has always been threatened by his younger brother. This kind of anxiety and uneasiness will inevitably give him some irrational thoughts. So, Li Jiancheng and his younger brother Li Yuanji began to plot a conspiracy.
Chapter 2: The Poisonous Wine of the Hongmen Feast
In order to consolidate his position, Li Jiancheng decided to take action. He set up a Hongmen banquet in the mansion and invited Li Shimin to come to the banquet. At the same time, he also involved Li Yuanji, and the two brothers conspired to get rid of this thorn in the side.
At the banquet, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji quietly poisoned Li Shimin's wine glass. Their goal is simple, that is, to get rid of this younger brother who threatens their position completely. This practice is undoubtedly extremely cruel and insidious, but for Li Jiancheng, he can no longer tolerate Li Shimin's existence.
When Li Shimin drank the poisoned wine, he immediately felt a violent pain in his heart, and then began to vomit a lot of blood. This scene startled everyone present, and Li Shimin's personal guard, King Huai'an, hurriedly helped him back to the West Palace to rest.
When Li Yuan heard about this, he immediately went to express his condolences to Li Shimin. He blamed Li Jiancheng for saying that Li Shimin had always been a bad drinker and should not have partyed at night. However, Li Yuan did not take any punitive measures against Li Jiancheng, which makes people wonder if he did not believe that Li Shimin drank poisoned wine at all.
Chapter 3 Poisoned wine is not killed
Whether or not Li Shimin drank poisoned wine has always been controversial. Judging from historical records, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were indeed suspected of poisoning, but Li Shimin was miraculously not poisoned.
Some people believe that Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji's method of poisoning was not skillful, and there was a problem with the measurement, so Li Shimin was not killed. However, this claim does not seem too credible.
After all, Li Jiancheng, as the crown prince, had a very high status in the court, and he was fully capable of finding the best poison and carefully calculating the dose. If he really wanted to kill Li Shimin, there should be no such miss.
Then, another possibility is that Li Shimin himself poisoned. It may sound incredible, but when you think about it, it's not entirely impossible.
As Li Yuan's second son, although Li Shimin's status is not as good as Li Jiancheng, he is also brave and good at fighting, and he also has many supporters in the army. He may have realized that if he wanted to climb the dragon chair, he had to remove the obstacle of Li Jiancheng.
So, at the Hongmen banquet, Li Shimin deliberately pretended to be poisoned, the purpose was to splash dirty water on the heads of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, so that they would become suspects. In this way, you can not only save your life, but also increase your chances of winning the imperial power.
It's just that Li Yuan didn't care too much about this, and simply blamed Li Jiancheng and didn't take any further action. This made Li Shimin's plan fall through for the time being, but he did not give up. He knew that as long as he survived, he would one day be able to climb the dragon chair.
Chapter 4 The Changes of Xuanwumen
Time passed in a flash, and Li Yuan finally abdicated in 626 after reigning for seventeen years, giving way to Li Shimin. This result can be said to be the brainchild of Li Shimin for many years.
Before that, Li Shimin did not let go of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji. The two brothers maintained a good relationship until the Xuanwumen Rebellion in 626, when Li Shimin finally made up his mind and killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji with his own hands. This bloody coup completely changed the pattern of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Shimin not only killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, but also forced Li Yuan to abdicate, and finally ascended the throne as Tang Taizong. From then on, Li Shimin began his path of rule. He not only achieved brilliant military achievements, but also made great contributions politically and culturally. He was hailed by later generations as the "founder of the prosperous era" and became one of the greatest emperors in history.
After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he immediately embarked on a series of reforms. He abolished some of the outdated systems and greatly improved the treatment of soldiers, while also attaching importance to cultural construction and vigorously supporting the development of Buddhism and Taoism. Under his rule, the Tang Dynasty entered a period of unprecedented prosperity, which was later called the "Pioneering Prosperous Era".
Li Shimin's achievements are not only reflected in the political and military aspects, but also in the cultural field. He is passionate about poetry and is good at music and painting. He also personally presided over the compilation of important classics such as "Shufu Yuangui", leaving a valuable cultural heritage for future generations.
It can be said that Li Shimin is a great monarch who combines military, politics, and culture. Not only did he rely on his resourcefulness and courage to finally ascend the dragon chair, but he also ushered in an unprecedented period of glory for the Tang Dynasty. Such an achievement undoubtedly made him one of the greatest emperors in history.
epilogue
A glass of poisoned wine, a palace coup, and a person's fate is changed. Li Shimin's story is undoubtedly the most wonderful page in the history of the Tang Dynasty. With his resourcefulness and courage, he finally ascended the dragon chair and became the great monarch who ushered in the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty.
This story teaches us that nothing is impossible in the struggle for power. As long as you are smart and brave enough, you will be able to overcome all obstacles and achieve your dreams. Li Shimin's story is undoubtedly the best footnote. His transformation from a feared second son to a great monarch who created a prosperous era is truly impressive.
Perhaps, in real life, we will also encounter various difficulties and challenges. But as long as we maintain sufficient wisdom and courage, we will definitely be able to overcome everything and realize our ideals. Li Shimin's story is undoubtedly the best inspiration and inspiration. Let's learn from his spirit together and work hard for our dreams!