1. Li Jiancheng is expected to ascend the throne
The Xuanwumen Revolution was a major turning point in the fate of the Tang Dynasty. If Li Jiancheng defeated his younger brother Li Shimin that day, he would most likely become the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Judging from the objective conditions, this possibility does exist.
First of all, Li Jiancheng, as the crown prince, has a natural political advantage. As Li Yuan's eldest son, he has always been at the core of power, and the important ministers in the court also favor him. For example, Li Yuanji, an important minister at that time, once advocated for Li Jiancheng to ascend the throne and become emperor. In addition, there are more than 2,000 elite Changlin soldiers in the East Palace, and the military strength is also very strong. In contrast, Li Shimin only had 800 warriors recruited by himself, and there was a huge disparity in strength.
Secondly, Li Jiancheng has always been considered a "benevolent" person, and he is not very willing to make up his mind to get rid of his younger brother Li Shimin. "Zizhi Tongjian" records that when Li Yuanji wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng stopped him, saying that it was "for his brother's ear". This kind of tolerant and benevolent character may fuel Li Shimin's luck psychology and give him a chance.
Moreover, Li Shimin's coup plan requires military power and timing, which requires a certain amount of strategy and courage. If Li Jiancheng can smell the crisis in advance, take effective precautions, and mobilize the forces around him, he may be able to reverse the situation.
In fact, in some previous battles, Li Jiancheng had shown excellent military command ability. For example, when Li Yuan raised troops to attack Xihe, Li Shimin, who was only 20 years old, fought with his brother Li Jiancheng. After that, in the battle of attacking Huoyi and pacifying Liu Heimin, Li Jiancheng's military exploits also performed remarkably. It can be seen that he is not as weak and incompetent as later generations have described.
Judging from these factors, if Li Jiancheng could be a little cautious during the Battle of Xuanwumen and mobilize the forces around him, it was entirely possible for him to achieve a final victory and become the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
2. Whether Li Jiancheng can create the "rule of Zhenguan"
However, even if Li Jiancheng can successfully ascend the throne, people's main concern is: can he also create an amazing "Zhenguan rule" like Li Shimin?
From a modern point of view, this is not impossible. First of all, we cannot one-sidedly think that Li Jiancheng is a weak and incompetent figure. In the battle of Xuanwumen, he was able to defeat a strong enemy, which shows his determination and courage at a critical moment. Such a figure is fully expected to become an excellent monarch.
Second, at the beginning of the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the entire ruling group realized that it was necessary to learn the lessons of the fall of the Sui Dynasty and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Therefore, whether it is Li Jiancheng or Li Shimin, the successor must implement a series of political, economic and social reforms in order to maintain the social stability of the country. This consensus determined the general direction of "governing the world" in the early days of the Tang Dynasty.
Moreover, by Li Jiancheng's side, there are also a group of senior advisers, such as Wei Zheng, Wang Qi, Xue Wanche and others. These important ministers who were originally loyal to Li Shimin were later used by Li Jiancheng to give advice to him in governing the world. Such a talent pool will certainly greatly strengthen Li Jiancheng's ability to govern.
Finally, although Li Jiancheng is considered a "benevolent" person, it is precisely this trait that may also be his advantage in governing the country. Compared with Li Shimin's "ruthless" style, Li Jiancheng may pay more attention to public opinion and people-oriented, so as to win the hearts of the people and establish a more stable ruling foundation.
It can be seen that as long as Li Jiancheng can successfully ascend the throne as the heir of the Tang Dynasty, he is also expected to continue to write the glorious chapter of Li Shimin's era and create a "completed rule" that will be admired by future generations. This is not only because Li Jiancheng himself has outstanding ability, but also because the entire ruling group has the ideal and responsibility to govern the country and secure the country.
3. The similarities and differences between the "governance of completion" and the "governance of Zhenguan".
So, if Li Jiancheng really ascends the throne and becomes emperor, what will be the difference between his "rule of completion" and Li Shimin's "rule of Zhenguan"?
From the above analysis, it can be seen that the fundamental goal of the two modes of governance should be the same, that is, to ensure the long-term stability of the Tang Dynasty and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. But in terms of specific methods and characteristics, there will still be differences.
First of all, in terms of political line, Li Jiancheng may pay more attention to public opinion and people-oriented. Compared with Li Shimin's highly centralized and deterrent style by force, Li Jiancheng may place more emphasis on harmonious co-governance and allow more social elites to participate in decision-making. This may lead to more democratic and transparent political operations.
Second, in terms of economic policy, Li Jiancheng may also be different. The focus of Li Shimin's "Zhenguan rule" was to strengthen the centralization of power, attach importance to military and diplomatic affairs, and pursue a policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce economically. If Li Jiancheng really pays more attention to public opinion as mentioned above, he may pay more attention to the well-being of the people, pay more attention to the development of people's livelihood and economy, and weaken the privileges of some privileged strata.
Moreover, in terms of culture and education, Li Jiancheng may also have his own characteristics. Although Li Shimin's "rule of Zhenguan" admired Confucianism ideologically and culturally, it was actually more to strengthen imperial power. If Li Jiancheng is really a "benevolent" person, he may pay more attention to governing the country with virtue, pay more attention to education and cultural construction, and make happiness, justice, and wisdom the focus of governance.
For example, in terms of Confucianism, Li Jiancheng may give more prominence to the concept of "benevolence" and advocate the statecraft strategy of "self-cultivation and family". He may vigorously advocate filial piety and brotherly harmony, and make loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and love the value orientation of the whole society, so as to achieve the goal of turning the people into customs.
At the same time, Li Jiancheng may also pay more attention to the development of education, so that the school will become an important position for cultivating talents and disseminating knowledge. He may vigorously build a school to make it a nursery for all kinds of talents to stand out, and provide solid intellectual support for the country's development.
Of course, this is just our speculation. The road of history has always been tortuous, and it is impossible to follow our expectations exactly. If Li Jiancheng really ascends the throne as emperor, his strategy for governing the world may encounter various unexpected challenges, and it will need to be constantly adjusted and innovated.
For example, Li Jiancheng, although he has a mild personality, may face pressure from hardliners. Just like in the Xuanwumen Change, Li Shimin narrowly won by surprise and succeeded with one blow, which shows the cruelty of the power struggle. If Li Jiancheng encounters a similar political turmoil after ascending the throne, it is unknown whether he will be able to deal decisively and maintain his dominance.
Or Li Jiancheng may believe too much in his "benevolent" policy and ignore the necessity of force. The early Tang Dynasty was a turbulent period, with frequent rebellions among the frontier ethnic groups, and there were "dissidents" like Li Shimin, and if Li Jiancheng could not maintain the country's military strength, it would inevitably affect the deterrent power of the imperial court, and then cause a serious ruling crisis.
In addition, the changing needs of the people and the complex diplomatic environment may also force Li Jiancheng to make some difficult trade-offs and adjustments. For example, how to find a balance between focusing on people's livelihood and maintaining power, and how to deal with the pressure from the successors of the Sui and Tang dynasties and the Turkic, Gaochang and other peripheral forces, all require Li Jiancheng to exert extraordinary political wisdom.
Therefore, even if Li Jiancheng can really win and ascend the throne as emperor, he still faces many difficulties and obstacles. Only by giving full play to his generosity and benevolence, and at the same time not forgetting the wisdom and foolishness of strengthening the army and rejuvenating the country, can he truly create a "built rule" that will be admired by future generations.
Of course, whether it is the "rule of Zhenguan" or the "rule of completion," in the end, it should serve the fundamental interests of the masses of the people. Only if the ruling group can correctly understand the current situation and adhere to the people-oriented, the Tang Dynasty will certainly be able to continue to create glory in human history.
If Li Jiancheng ascends the throne, he may pay more attention to public opinion and pay more attention to the rule of virtue, and create a "rule of completion" that is different from the "rule of Zhenguan" but is equally brilliant. Although history cannot develop exactly according to our expectations, as long as the ruler adheres to the concept of serving the people and worrying about the people, Datang will continue to write a more brilliant chapter under Li Jiancheng.
The all-round development of humanities, economy and military will surely make the Tang Dynasty one of the most brilliant dynasties in human history. Whether it is the "rule of Zhenguan" or the "rule of completion", it will surely become a model for future generations to learn from, so that the light of Chinese civilization will never be extinguished.