Li Yuan was a cloth cloth in the last years of the Sui Dynasty, and with his extraordinary wisdom and great ambition, he stepped onto the throne of the founding emperor step by step. But no one thought that between him and his biological flesh and blood Li Shimin, there was a cruel family turmoil. The two sides come and go, father and son turn against each other, and there are many contradictions. Until the end, Li Yuan and Li Shimin reconciled and reconciled, which was quite surprising. What is the reason for this incompatible father and son to come back together? Was Li Shimin's filial piety that moved Li Yuan? Or did Li Yuan let go of his personal grudges and forgive Li Shimin? Or did Li Shimin help Li Yuan realize his greatest wish? Let's find out.
Li Yuan's Top Gun
In the last years of the Sui Dynasty, the national strength gradually declined, the army was reckless, and the people were struggling to make a living. Just when the people were miserable, a young man from a humble background gradually rose in this dark land with the ambition of revitalizing the great cause. He is Li Yuan, who lives in Kuinan, Henan (now Luoyang, Henan).
Li Yuan, who was in the prime of life, was originally a little cloth cloth, diligent, pure, and resolute. But in the face of the increasingly dark rule of the Sui Dynasty, his heart was full of grievances. Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was mediocre, conquered for many years, increased the people's endowment, and the government was in trouble. In that year, the Turks suddenly arrived at Tongguan, and the Sui army was defeated and retreated. The treasury was empty, the servants were heavy, and the life of the people of Li fell into a desperate situation.
Just when the people were struggling to make a living, Li Yuan suddenly had a sense of self-consciousness and made up his mind to find a way out for the common people. Li Yuan had a pair of fiery eyes, and he clearly saw that this was no longer a matter of dynastic change, but the autumn of life and death faced by the entire Central Plains civilization. Therefore, he secretly made up his mind to revitalize Chinese civilization and establish a strong and prosperous new dynasty!
It can be said that Li Yuan is a generation of heroes born by the call of the people. Although he had a humble status, he had great ambitions to revitalize the Central Plains. In the decades that followed, Li Yuan realized his ideals and ambitions step by step.
In 617 AD, Li Yuan was entrusted by Emperor Yang of Sui with important responsibilities and concurrently served as a general, and since then he has started his glorious military career. Soon after, the Sui Dynasty fell, and Li Yuan was ordered to set up the Jiedu Embassy to control Henan and other six states, and since then he has been in charge of the actual military and political power.
In 626 AD, Li Yuan, who supported his own army, gradually took control of the 46 counties of Guanzhong, and then officially overthrew the Sui Dynasty under the banner of "reviving the great cause and conforming to the mandate of heaven". In the following year, Li Yuan ascended the throne in Chang'an, established the Tang Dynasty, and issued an edict called the emperor for 16 years.
In the fifth year of Guangqi (624), Li Yuan felt that the Li family was prosperous by Yang Xuan, so he passed on the throne of the Wei family, changed his name to "Kui Clan", and canonized Li Yuan as "Duke of Tang Guo". The following year, Li Yuan was ordered to quell the Li Ziyou Rebellion, and his meritorious service was outstanding, and he was officially proclaimed emperor in Chang'an.
Father-son feud
In the first year of Wude (618), Li Yuan ascended the throne in Chang'an and appointed the crown prince Li Jiancheng as the prince. However, Li Jiancheng had a withdrawn personality and died young, leaving no heirs. Therefore, Li Yuan summoned his second son Li Shimin from the post of Hedong Yin to Chang'an, worshiped as the crown prince Taibao, and was in charge of the affairs of the dynasty and the military.
Since then, Li Shimin began to control the government and intrigue with the kings and ministers. In particular, the contradiction with the prison army Lu Qinsui intensified. Lu Qinsui was an old general of the first dynasty, with a high and powerful position, and repeatedly clashed with Li Shimin.
In the first year of Zhenguan (627), Li Shimin lured Lu Qinsui out of the pass in the name of attacking the Zuo nationality and was besieged. In the chaos, many of Lu Qinsui's men were killed. Afterwards, Li Shimin skillfully used his tongue to make Li Yuan blame Lu Qinsui for violating the order. As a result, Li Yuan dismissed Lu Qinsui and demoted him.
Since then, Li Shimin has been even more suspicious and plotting to seize power. He continued to seal the king's nephews in various places, formed parties for personal gain, and gradually controlled the military and political power of the government and the opposition.
In April of the fourth year of Zhenguan (630), Li Shimin, instigated by his son Li Kewang and others, launched the "Xuanwumen Change" that shocked the world. Li Shimin led the crowd to attack the imperial city, killed his brother Li Jiancheng and other six or seven princes, and deposed his father Li Yuan to abdicate. Li Shimin forcibly seized power and was canonized as the second emperor.
Faced with this sudden change, Li Yuan was undoubtedly shocked and angry. He personally witnessed the tragic murder of the crown prince Li Jiancheng, and several other concubines and heirs were also killed. The only survivor is Li Shimin, who is in power.
Li Yuan was full of grief and indignation in his heart. He originally wanted to make Li Jiancheng, the crown prince during his reign, to pass on the throne to the prince, but he died young. When he was in danger, he had to entrust the future affairs to Li Shimin, who was outstanding.
But who would have thought that Li Shimin would be so ruthless, not only killed his brother-in-law, but also his young nephew. What made Li Yuan even more heartbroken was that he was forced to Zen on the throne, from the dignity of the emperor to the emperor of the emperor, and all the power was under the control of Li Shimin.
Li Yuan did it himself and went through a lot of hardships on the battlefield to establish the Tang Dynasty. But when the ambition was not rewarded, all the hard work was in vain. He originally wanted to lay a foundation for the Tang family during his reign, and eventually pass on the power of imperial history to his eldest son, but he never thought that he would provoke the cruel rebellion of his heir.
After being forced to abdicate, Li Yuan was sad, and his heart was full of resentment and injustice towards Li Shimin. In order to maintain the stability of the country, Li Yuan had to reluctantly obey Li Shimin's mercy, but the hatred for his son in his heart grew all the time.
This old and young father and son, the contradiction has intensified to the peak. Although Li Yuan suffered great humiliation, he was helpless. Although Li Shimin won the imperial power, he was also infamous as a "rebel" and could not consolidate his dominant position in the government and the opposition.
The anxiety of two generations of heroes
For Li Yuan, his life's long-cherished wish is to revitalize China and create a peaceful and prosperous era. As the founding emperor, he wanted to lay a solid foundation for the Tang Dynasty during his lifetime, and eventually pass on the country to his eldest son forever. However, all these beautiful visions came to naught after Li Shimin's mutiny.
Li Yuan knew that as he grew older, it was only a matter of time before he died. His biggest worry is what will happen to this territory that he has bought with blood and sweat in the future? If Li Shimin continues to maintain system governance, then Datang may be able to continue in the future. But if Li Shimin is as mediocre as the Sui Dynasty, then this great cause of revitalization will be burned again.
But what saddened Li Yuan the most was that all his other relatives had been killed by Li Shimin, the foundation was cut off, and there were no heirs. In this case, Li Yuan had no choice but to hand over the power to Li Shimin. However, he has never been able to let go of his feelings, and he also deeply doubts whether Li Shimin can be qualified for the important task of having a successor after the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In fact, Li Shimin's Xuanwumen Mutiny this time was also out of similar anxiety. As the crown prince, he should have inherited his father's business and ruled the country. But the power at that time was in the hands of others, such as the prison army Lu Qinsui and others. They repeatedly clashed with Li Shimin, hindering Li Shimin's concept of governance.
What made Li Shimin even more anxious was that as the prince, he was repeatedly suspected by the ministers and his father Li Yuan. Li Yuan has been inclined to Li Jiancheng for a long time, and Li Shimin is worried that his position will be shaken. That's why he made a desperate gamble and staged a coup d'état to eliminate the threat and consolidate his dominance in the government and the opposition.
However, Li Shimin did not expect that this change would completely damage his reputation in the government and the opposition. Although he has ascended the throne as the emperor, he has been infamous as a "rebel son", and he is even more hated by his father Li Yuan. Li Shimin knows very well that if he can't quickly stabilize his rule and make great achievements in his lifetime, he will inevitably be regarded as a generation of faint masters, and eventually bury the Tang Dynasty.
It can be said that both father and son are burdened with a heavy historical mission, and they also have worries about the future in their hearts. Although Li Shimin controls the imperial power, he also knows that if he can't win the hearts of the people of the government and the opposition, the Tang Dynasty will still fall apart due to internal and external troubles.
Although Li Yuan is old and decrepit, as the founder of the country, he has always been worried about the future of the Tang Dynasty. He hopes to leave an eternal peace and prosperity to future generations, but now all these dreams are in jeopardy because of his son's desperation.
Although the two are of different classes, they both have the same ideal and ambition to revitalize China. In this process, they must go hand in hand in order to finally resolve the contradictions and antagonisms between each other and open up a broad road for Datang. Otherwise, even the great cause of revitalization that they themselves have exhausted will be in vain.
It is based on such anxiety that after the fierce contradictions and conflicts, the two will gradually let go of the mustard, fulfill each other, and jointly create a strong and stable Tang Dynasty.
Father and son reconcile to create a prosperous world
Although the contradiction between father and son was once white-hot, with the efforts of both parties, they finally turned the conflict into a jade silk and came together again.
In the fifth year of Zhenguan (631), after Li Yuan was forced to give in, he began his later life as the emperor. Although he lost his real power, Li Yuan was still courteous to Li Shimin and lived in Shangyang Palace. Every festival, Li Shimin will personally lead the civil and military forces to come to worship.
During this period, Li Shimin spared no effort to show Li Yuan his political achievements and talents. He greatly promoted the rule of culture, restored the old system, made great efforts, and inherited the titles of the meritorious heroes of the previous dynasty with An Taishi and Taifu. At the same time, he personally led the army to conquer Goguryeo, pacified the Southern Zhao, Tubo and other external troubles, and further consolidated the territory of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Shimin's series of actions gave Li Yuan great comfort. He saw that Li Shimin was not a mediocre tyrant, but a visionary and brilliant master. In particular, in quelling civil strife and eliminating external troubles, Li Shimin displayed outstanding military command ability.
At the same time, Li Shimin also devoted himself to filial piety, visiting Li Yuan's daily life from time to time and listening to Li Yuan's teachings. He promised to uphold Li Yuan's legacy, govern well, and bring peace to the world. Over time, Li Yuan's prejudice against Li Shimin gradually disappeared, and the two sides re-established the relationship between father and son.
In the ninth year of Zhenguan (635), Li Yuan died in Shangyang Palace. Before he died, he said to Li Shimin: "I am already old, I am lonely in the public, and I hope that the public will not be replaced!" This is a sign that the estrangement between father and son has been completely eliminated.
After Li Yuan's death, Li Shimin personally mourned for him and mourned deeply. Next, he made every effort to implement Li Yuan's will, so that Datang embarked on a majestic and magnificent road.
During the Zhenguan period, Li Shimin greatly promoted cultural and martial arts, successively rectified the rule of officials, established the system of three provinces and six ministries, and strengthened the centralization of power. At the same time, in diplomacy, it adopted the strategy of "promoting the country with military might, and neighboring with culture and education", so that the territory of the Tang Dynasty was expanding day by day, and the country was prestigious.
During his reign of more than 20 years, Li Shimin re-set the chaos and put things in order, purged the ruling and opposition parties, made great achievements in war, and had a vast territory. Coupled with his great education, diligence and love for the people, the Tang Dynasty presented a scene of peace and prosperity. As the saying goes, "since the day of the Khan, from the sentence mangmao to the hanging of Huichang, when there is prosperity".
Until the fifth year of Yonghui (655), Li Shimin died at the age of seventy-three. Before his death, he abided by his will and passed the throne to his eldest son Li Zhi. As a result, the Tang Dynasty was firmly continuated and lasted until more than two centuries later.
Li Yuan and Li Shimin, father and son, even though they once turned against each other, but in the end they worked together to create a prosperous Tang Dynasty. They used their wisdom and courage to save the endless Tang civilization from turmoil and push it to a new peak.
The foundation of the Tang Dynasty has a long history of Chinese civilization
Looking at the entire history of the Tang Dynasty, after Li Yuan and Li Shimin's father and son heroes, the national strength of the Tang Dynasty continued to rise, the government and the opposition were in full swing, and the country and the people were peaceful for more than two centuries. Among them, Li Yuan's meritorious service in founding the country and Li Shimin's outstanding contribution to long-term peace and stability can be said to be indispensable.
After Taizong, Wu Zetian, Tang Zhongzong, and Tang Xuanzong successively succeeded to the unification, and the territory of the Tang Dynasty was once vast and friendless, with Japan in the east, Tocharian in the west, Zhaogui in the south, and Tuoba, Dangxiang, Turkic and other ethnic tribes in the north, becoming one of the most powerful countries in Asia and even the world at that time.
Every emperor of the Tang Dynasty adhered to the legacy of his ancestors, was good at uniting all ethnic groups, governed well, and implemented enlightened policies. On the basis of Li Yuan and Li Shimin, they further strengthened their rule over the border areas, implemented the tuntian system, and consolidated their control over the key passes of the Northwest Silk Road. At the same time, they vigorously promoted the personnel selection system in the country, improved the administrative organs, established the enslavement system, and paid attention to the production of agricultural mulberry, so that the national strength was unprecedentedly prosperous.
It can be said that it is precisely with the dual efforts of the ancestors who founded the country bravely and martial, and the efforts of the descendants, that the Tang Dynasty was able to become strong step by step within a century, and finally became an unrivaled empire in Asia.
The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty has further promoted the inheritance and development of the entire Chinese civilization. During this period, China's cultural influence reached its peak.
Tang poetry was good at it in its heyday, and Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi and other literary circles were brilliant. In addition, the Tang Dynasty also emerged many outstanding thinkers and historians, such as Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, Liu Yuxi and others. Their works were not only widely circulated at the time, but also had a profound impact on later generations.
Coupled with the extremely powerful Silk Road trade of the Tang Dynasty, Chinese civilization had extensive exchanges and integration with other civilizations in the world. Buddhism reached its peak of sinicization during this period. At the same time, a large number of foreign materials and advanced technologies were also introduced, which injected new vitality into the cultural development of the Tang Dynasty.
In addition, the Tang Dynasty also made great progress in many fields such as politics, economy, science and technology. For example, during the Tang Dynasty, the population reached about 50 million, and the capital Chang'an became the largest city in the world at that time. In terms of science and technology, the Tang people invented printing and gunpowder, and made outstanding contributions to the progress of human civilization.
In general, the Tang Dynasty's 200-plus years of national strength are destined to become a milestone period in the long history of the Chinese nation. From the achievements of civilization pioneered by the Tang Dynasty, future generations of successors can draw rich wisdom and nourishment.
And the roots of all this can be traced back to the two heroes who opened the prelude to the Tang Dynasty - Li Yuan and Li Shimin. It was they who used courage and wisdom to overcome obstacles, clear all obstacles, and finally create a new era of prosperity at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty. The successors are just following the legacy of their ancestors and adhering to the grand aspiration of enriching the country and strengthening the army.
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Therefore, when we look back on the history of the Tang Dynasty, we should remember the immortal exploits of Li Yuan and Li Shimin, the father and son heroes. It is precisely with their hard work that Datang has been able to regain its vitality from decadence, and Chinese civilization has since re-shown its brilliant side.