Li Shimin and Zhu Di, two famous emperors in Chinese history, usurped the throne by force and ushered in the prosperity of their respective dynasties during their reigns.
Li Shimin planned the Xuanwumen Rebellion in order to protect himself and seize power in the context of life and death and adapting to the situation, thus inheriting the throne of the Tang Dynasty.
And Zhu Di was driven by his ambition and unwilling to bow down to his nephew, so he launched the Battle of Jingjing and usurped the throne.
Despite Zhu Di's remarkable achievements during his reign, his usurpation of the throne still became a stain on his life, and he seemed to be trying to wash away this stain throughout his life by fighting in the south and the north and establishing great achievements.
Battle of Jingjing: A bloody battle for the throne
In the thirty-first year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang died of illness, and Zhu Yunwen, who was only 22 years old, ascended the throne as Emperor Jianwen. In order to consolidate the imperial power, he began to weaken the power of the feudal kings.
Zhu Di, the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, was the king of Fengyan and guarded Beiping. He was brave and good at fighting and was deeply loved by the people, which made Emperor Jianwen very jealous.
In 1399, when Zhu Yunwen began to take action against him, Zhu Di decided to raise an army to resist, and the slogan was "Eliminate the traitorous ministers and restore the dynasty", thus starting the famous Battle of Jingyan in history.
Zhu Di used the northern frontier as a base and launched a three-year arduous battle. In the end, Zhu Di relied on his military talent and strategic vision to break through Nanjing, and the whereabouts of Emperor Jianwen were unknown, and he ascended the throne with the support of hundreds of civil and military officials, and changed his name to Yongle.
Yongle Shengshi: brilliant achievements in the annals of history
After Zhu Di ascended to the throne, he did not forget his original intention of usurping the throne, and he first purged Emperor Jianwen's cronies and supporters in order to consolidate his power.
However, his exploits were by no means limited to the consolidation of power. During Zhu Di's reign, he presided over the compilation of the Yongle Canon, the largest encyclopedia in Chinese history, containing almost all the knowledge of the time, and becoming one of the largest classics in human history.
At the same time, he also sent Zheng He to the Western Ocean, and the seven voyages not only demonstrated the national strength of the Ming Dynasty, but also promoted cultural and trade exchanges between the East and the West. Zhu Di also decided to move the capital to Beijing, built the Great Wall, and personally conquered Mobei five times, consolidating the northern border defense.
Under Zhu Di's rule, the Ming Dynasty was strong, economically prosperous, and culturally prosperous, becoming one of the most powerful countries in the world at that time.
Merit and Demerit: A Judgment of History
Zhu Di's life is full of contradictions and controversies. Some say he is a hero because he created a prosperous era and performed great deeds. Some people say that he is a traitor because he usurped power and was cruel and unkind.
The wheels of history are rolling forward, and Zhu Di will eventually be given a fair judgment.