If you talk about making a ranking list for ancient Chinese emperors, Tang Taizong Li Shimin can definitely enter the top three, Qin Huang, Han Wu, Tang Zong and Song Zu are not in vain. However, such a meritorious emperor who has a long history has gone astray in family education and dealing with the issue of succession, and the crown prince Li Chengqian, who was cultivated single-handedly, eventually rebelled, and Li Shimin's decades of hard work were ruined.
A true son of heaven
In the second year of Wude, that is, in 619 AD, the eldest grandson of the princess of Qin (that is, the famous eldest grandson empress in the following year) gave birth to an eldest son for Li Shimin. According to the historical records, because this prince was born in the Chengqian Hall of Taiji Palace, he was named after him, and his name was Gaoming, and his name was Li Chengqian. Some people feel that although "Cheng Qian" was originally the name of the palace, it has a profound meaning when used as a personal name: it symbolizes the noble mission of "inheriting the throne and ruling the world". Therefore, it is highly likely that this name was given to this imperial grandson by Tang Gaozu Li Yuan himself.
Time flies, and in the ninth year of Wude, that is, in 626 AD, Li Shimin ascended the throne as Emperor Taizong. In October of the same year, Li Chengqian, who was only eight years old, was officially canonized as the crown prince. The history books describe him as "extremely intelligent", "extremely intelligent", "dignified, benevolent and filial", and won the love of Emperor Taizong. Since then, Li Chengqian, as the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, began his noble life above 10,000 people and became the focus of attention.
Cultivation plan for target sages
In the early summer of the fourth year of Tang Zhenguan (630 AD), Tang Taizong issued a decree ordering the crown prince to "hear the lawsuit", and clearly stated: "From now on, if there is any dissatisfaction with the judgment of Shangshu Province, it can be appealed by the East Palace, and the decision will be made by Chengqian." Although this was a simple trial, it revealed Taizong's deliberate cultivation of Chengqian, and Li Chengqian at that time was only twelve years old. In the same year, Shangshu's right servant shot Du Ruhui who was ill, and Taizong ordered Chengqian to go to condolences in person to cultivate his benevolence.
In the following year, the fifth year of Zhenguan (631 AD), February was supposed to be the period for the crowning of Chengqian, but Taizong postponed the ceremony to October because of his compassion for the peasants. Unfortunately, Chengqian contracted a disease, and although Taizong did not believe in Buddhism, he made an exception and invited the Taoist priest Qin Ying to pray for his son. After Chengqian's illness recovered, Taizong made a big deal to send 3,000 people to become monks, build Xihuaguan and Puguang Temple, and even forgave the prisoners in prison to pray for blessings for his son.
In the seventh year of Zhenguan, that is, in 633 AD, Li Chengqian fell ill again. Out of deep concern for his son, Tang Taizong specially invited Bopo, a senior monk from Tianzhu, to come and pray for blessings. Under Bopo's blessing, Chengqian's condition gradually improved, and Taizong was deeply pleased with this, so he generously gave Bopo 60 pieces of precious fabrics such as silk and silk, as well as 10 exquisite clothes.
Due to Cheng Qian's poor health, in order to reduce his burden, Tang Taizong specially allowed him not to be too diligent in his studies, but only to discuss and comment on ancient historical events with Kong Yingda. However, Li Chengqian did not let this go, but worked harder to show his outstanding ability to govern the country and stabilize the country.
Once, Tang Taizong asked Cheng Qian to try to write an article on statecraft. Without hesitation, Cheng Qian quickly completed the three-page paper. The content was rich and valuable, and Tang Taizong was deeply satisfied after reading it, and even proudly boasted to his courtiers: "Cheng Qian first emphasized the importance of prison, which is indeed the key to governing the country, and he has the essentials of governing the country through the state. ”
The prince was rebellious and helpless
In the fourteenth year of Zhenguan, that is, in 640 AD, when Li Chengqian was building a house, his extravagant style aroused Yu Zhining's strong dissatisfaction, and he bluntly criticized it. And when Li Chengqian was playing and entertaining with the eunuchs, Yu Zhining was even more severely criticized, and even compared him with Qin II. In contrast, Kong Yingda's attitude was even more intense, and he did not hesitate to directly admonish Li Chengqian at every point of impropriety. The prince's nursing mother, Mrs. Sui'an, once kindly persuaded Kong Yingda, believing that the prince was an adult and should not be severely criticized in person frequently. However, Kong Yingda said that he has no regrets even if he suffers misfortune because of this. As a result, his admonitions became more and more intense, but Li Chengqian could not accept them.
As for Zhang Xuansu, his admonitions were even more frequent and urgent, and he was admonishing almost all the time, as if he hoped that Li Chengqian would immediately follow his advice. However, the result is also self-evident.
Li Chengqian doted on a handsome person who was good at singing and dancing, and affectionately called him "satisfactory". When Tang Taizong learned of this, he was furious and ordered Chengxin to be executed. Li Chengqian was deeply saddened by this, and he set up a sacrificial room in the palace for the deceased male pet, and let the palace people pay tribute day and night. He even erected a tombstone for Chengxin in the palace, gave him an official position, and often wept and shed tears for Chengxin's death. Since then, the rift between Li Chengqian and his father has become more and more obvious, and the relationship between the two has become more estranged.
The desperate Li Chengqian
Tang Taizong originally had no intention of replacing the crown prince, but Li Chengqian, because he was worried about his younger brother Li Tai, who was also favored by his father and had the intention of seizing the heir, tried to assassinate him unsuccessfully, so he conspired with Li Yuanchang, the king of Han, Duhe, Hou Junji, and Hou Junji, the princess of Chengyang, and planned to preemptively attack the palace. However, their plot was eventually revealed. Faced with this situation, Tang Taizong was heartbroken and helpless, and decided to confine Li Chengqian in a separate room, and ordered Situ Chang Sun Wuji, Sikong Fang Xuanling, Special Jin Xiao Yu, the military department Shangshu Li Tao, Dali Qing Sun Fujia, Zhongshu Lang Cen Wenwen, the imperial historian Ma Zhou, and the counselor Chu Suiliang to participate in the trial of the case, and all the facts were conclusively proven.
Tang Taizong then issued an order to depose Li Chengqian as a concubine and exile him to Qianzhou, thus saving his beloved son's life.
In the eighteenth year of Zhenguan, that is, in December 644, Li Chengqian died in Qianzhou. Tang Taizong was deeply saddened by this, decided to stop going to the court, and buried him with the rites of the prince.