First, there are "two and a half" for the orphaned and heavy subjects.
In the 5th month of the lunar calendar in 649 AD, Li Shimin died in the Hanfeng Hall of Cuiwei Palace, and the crown prince Li Zhi cried a lot. But the problem is that now is not the time to cry at all. His uncle, the eldest grandson, couldn't help himself, and said with anger: "Let's not cry endlessly like the people of the big head, how many big things are waiting!" ”
In a word, Li Zhi stopped crying, but he looked like a lost lamb. Then, before Li Shimin died, the escort general Cheng Yaojin arranged to escort Li Zhi back to the palace with the Royal Forest Army to preside over the overall situation - first sit on the dragon chair and then say. The so-called kingdom cannot be without a monarch for a day.
Under the auspices of the eldest grandson Wuji, Li Zhi ascended the throne at the Taiji Hall three days later, followed by a general amnesty for the world, and after the new year: Yonghui!
The so-called emblem is a badge that represents a beautiful sign. Add a "yong" in front of it, the meaning is very simple, in a nutshell: forever inherit the good life since the "rule of Zhenguan"!
From the analysis of Li Zhi's era name, it is obvious that he still hopes to live in the era of Li Shimin. Because he has enough reasons to believe that although his father is gone, as long as he holds on to his father's legacy, Datang will still be the invincible "giant Tang". What's more, his father also arranged for him to be the eldest grandson Wuji, Chu Suiliang and Xu Maogong, the two and a half orphan ministers.
Xu Maogong is Li Ji, in order to facilitate reading, this article collectively refers to him as Xu Maogong.
So why is Xu Maogong half a trusted minister? Because before Li Shimin died of illness, he deliberately looked for a stubble to belittle Xu Maogong out of Beijing, and said to Li Zhi: "If Xu Maogong obeys, when I die, you will summon him back, so that Xu Maogong can be used by you." If he dares to stomp on him, don't say anything, kill him immediately! ”
Xu Maogong withstood this test, so he was recalled by Li Zhi, and because he lacked the eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang, the open status of the orphan minister, he could only be counted as half.
Li Zhi's beautiful hope seems to have really become a reality, the so-called monarchs and subjects are united, and Datang continues to march forward! But when the time came to November of the first year of Yonghui, all the good hopes ended with the bizarre "Chu Suiliang suppressed the purchase of land".
The so-called "ministerial conspiracy"
Wei Siqian, the imperial master, impeached Chu Suiliang and bought other people's land at a price far below the market price. Since this case involved the entrusted orphans and heavy ministers, Li Zhi has been very concerned from the beginning of the trial to the final conclusion. But the more he looked at it, the more he realized that there was a problem - why was the process of an uncomplicated case so strange?
Zhang Xingcheng, who had once been a subordinate official of the crown prince, was now shangshu of the Punishment Department, and his relationship with Li Zhi was extraordinary. He specifically approached Li Zhi and informed him that there was a "ministerial conspiracy" in the entire Chu Suiliang case. That is, there are friends in the imperial court!
This is terrible, the emperor is most afraid of the imperial court, the ministers form a friendship party, especially involving the trust of the lonely and heavy subjects. Therefore, soon, between Li Zhi and the eldest grandson Wuji, a wonderful dialogue occurred.
Li Zhi asked the eldest grandson Wujie: Since I ascended the throne, I have taken my father as an example everywhere, and have always encouraged my courtiers to advise me more and give more opinions, but why have I never seen any results?
The eldest grandson said: This is because His Majesty's cattle, the governance of the Tang Dynasty is perfect. Let those who want to rely on lip service to get promoted, have "no way to put their beaks", so His Majesty can not see the effect. But I must praise Your Majesty for speaking widely whenever it is good!
What is perfect nonsense? Look at the eldest grandson without hesitation! Foolproof. But if you taste it, it has a different taste.
First, where does the so-called contradiction come from?
Second, since Li Zhi ascended the throne, has the eldest grandson controlled real power without scruples, is this a boast of the emperor, or a boast?
Third, Chu Suiliang committed such a big thing, only a year later, he wandered back and became the "official Shangshu and Tongzhongshu Menxia Sanpin", the former being in charge of the promotion of Officials of the Tang Dynasty, and the latter being equivalent to the status of prime minister. Who's going to do it? It is the eldest grandson who is unscrupulous!
Therefore, Li Zhi immediately asked: What do you think of the recent incident in the imperial court, which has disregarded the law but has been sympathetic, so that there has been a matter of "harming the public because of selfishness"?
Li Zhi's sentence is aimed at Chu Suiliang's case. The eldest grandson, still dripping water, said, "This is the common sentiment of man, but it will get better under the enlightenment of the sages." Besides, Even Your Majesty, it is difficult to guarantee that you will not receive some little affection, right? ”
Li Zhi thoroughly understood that the so-called minister conspiracy (the partisan party) was obviously the eldest son Wuji and Chu Suiliang joining forces!
Why did Li Zhi have to kill the eldest son, if he didn't kill, he wouldn't be able to take back the imperial power, he could only be a puppet! But if he wanted to kill the eldest grandson, Xu Maogong, who was half entrusted with the lonely and important minister, he became a key figure.
Third, Xu Maogong, who is about the situation
Xu Maogong's most famous thing is the love between him and Shan Xiongxin. Because Zhai Rang, Shan Xiongxin and Xu Maogong were the original three giants of Wagang, but later Zhai Rang gave the boss position to Li Mi.
In datang, the vast majority of the Wagangshan faction was expensive in martial arts! Such as Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Xu Maogong and so on. A very important reason why Li Shimin was able to succeed was that he integrated the Wagang faction and received the support of these famous generals.
For example, if Qin Qiong had not defeated Wei Chigong in the Battle of Meiliangchuan, how could Li Shimin have the opportunity to persuade Wei Chigong to surrender? But when Li Zhi and the eldest grandson were ready to break their wrists, Qin Qiong was already dead. Although Cheng Yaojin had a great merit in protecting the lord after Li Shimin's death, he was also squeezed out of the circle.
Xu Maogong was given the status of half a trusted and lonely vassal, and how could he compete with the alliance of the eldest son Wuji and Chu Suiliang. Therefore, Xu Maogong and Cheng Yaojin are very low-key. Now, with Li Zhi and his eldest grandson unscrupulous, from intimacy to open strife and secret struggle, Xu Maogong was doomed to escape because of his status. That is to say, as long as he lives, he must choose a side.
In 655, Li Zhi launched the "Abolition Action" and then prepared to make Wu Zetian empress! The ultimate battle between Li Zhi and the eldest grandson also began.
Li Zhi selected the eldest grandson Wuji, Chu Suiliang, Xu Maogong, and Yu Zhining to seek advice, but was immediately violently blocked by Chu Suiliang for the following three reasons.
First: Wu Zetian is Li Shimin's woman, you marry again to become empress, shame on you?
Second: Before Li Shimin died, he took my hand and said: Entrust your majesty and empress dowager to me. At that time, you Li Zhi was also present.
Third: What is wrong with Empress Wang? No one has heard of it, so why scrap it?
The eldest grandson naturally supported Chu Suiliang. Xu Maogong and Yu Zhining did not take a stance.
But for Li Zhi, Xu Maogong did not express his position, which was the greatest support for him - at least he did not block the road, leaving a gap. In this way, Li Zhi began to operate again and again, enlisting the support of other ministers. However, the prime ministers Han Yu and Lai Ji, like Chu Suiliang, even compared Wu Zetian to Dai Ji.
It is reasonable to say that when the situation developed to this point, Li Zhi should have despaired, but Li Zhi once again found Xu Maogong.
This time, Xu Maogong did not disappoint Li Zhi and said: This is Your Majesty's family affair, why ask others? Li Zhi finally got the desired result.
It was not because Xu Maogong supported him to marry Wu Zetian, but because Xu Maogong's words represented the figures of the Wagang faction who held military power and had great influence in the army, all standing behind him.
As a result, Li Zhi took advantage of the "Wu Zetian Fenghou" incident to once again degrade Chu Suiliang and cut off the arm of the eldest son Wujie, and the situation immediately changed to the advantage of Li Zhi. At the same time, Li Zhi also vigorously promoted Xu Jingzong, Li Yifu and others to hedge against The Eldest Sun Wuji! He also reused the Wagang faction, such as appointing Cheng Yaojin as commander and conquering the Western Turk Ashina Helu.
In this way, the government and military power began to transfer to Li Zhi's hands! Therefore, the author said that Li Zhi's marriage to Wu Zetian was only an inducement, and Xu Maogong was the most critical.
In 659, Changsun Wuji was exiled to Qianzhou, and xu Jingzong sent people to force him to hang himself. However, I am afraid that no one at that time expected that the entanglement between Li Zhi and the eldest son Wuji would eventually complete Wu Zetian, of course, this belongs to another topic.