Speaking of the Tang Dynasty, many people are like chicken blood, some people are full of red light with excitement, and some people can't stop spitting. Indeed, the Tang Dynasty had the rule of Zhenguan, the kaiyuan dynasty, and the great martial arts that boasted of the four seas and dwarfed the Song and Ming dynasties. However, there are eunuchs of the Tang Dynasty who have gained power and feudal towns, and the waves of government affairs in the court are also rarely matched. The brutality of the power struggle over the succession to the throne is equally jaw-dropping and breathtaking.
Tang Ruizong Li Dan was a neglected small role among the emperors of the Tang dynasty, and seemed insignificant. In fact, this is a misreading of him, he ascended the throne twice in his life, and the three worlds are a legend in themselves. Reading Li Dan is helpful for an in-depth understanding of Tang history.
Li Dan was the eighth son of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi and the younger son of Wu Zetian, and his first time as emperor was in the first year of Si Sheng (684), replacing his brother Li Xian as the Prince of Yu; the second ascension to the throne was in the first year of Jingyun (710), this time replacing his brother's son Li Chongmao as King Xiang. The two reigns of emperor were 27 years apart. During these 27 years, the political situation in the court has been dizzying. Li Dan was sideways, and it was not easy to be saved, and it was even more amazing to ascend to the throne twice. Li Dan's professional life is not a legend, but a legend, so it is a legend, and it is he who exerts a "let" word to the extreme.
Emperor Ruizong's first ascension to the throne was the day after Wu Zetian deposed Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian as King of Luling. At this time, Wu Zetian's control over the situation in the court was slightly insufficient, and the rash change of dynasty could only attract opponents. Li Dan was naturally established as the new monarch as a transition.
As a result, Li Dan became another puppet emperor after his brother Li Xian.
In the first year of Yongchang (689), Wu Zetian began to use the Zhou calendar. The following year, Wu Zetian made a new move and changed his name to Cao. Soon, tens of thousands of people petitioned Wu Zetian to change the dynasty. When Li Dan saw the situation, he also asked his mother to be honored with the title of Dabao, and pleaded with him to give him the surname of Wu. While Ruizong gave his mother Wu Zetian a step down, he was also equivalent to buying a huge ping an insurance policy for himself.
After twisting and turning, Wu Zetian agreed to the request of his son and his courtiers to change To Tang Jianzhou. Emperor Ruizong gave him the surname Wu, and his name was changed to "Wheel".
The first time Ruizong let the world go, it was not out of his own heart, it was obviously a trend.
In March of the first year of the Holy Calendar (698), Wu Zetian recalled Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian, who had been deposed as the King of Luling. Wu Zetian took Li Xian back to the palace, both for the consideration of residential surveillance and for observing who was better in the two sons of Li Xian and Li Dan. In her old age, she must consider the issue of succession, and taking back Li Xian, at least shows that this son has inheritance rights.
Li Dan, who was careful to live in the shadow of his mother, immediately understood his mother's intentions, "Counting the number of sick people is not in the dynasty, please give way to Zhongzong." Tang Ruizong showed his knowledge and interest, adding a lot of points to himself.
Wu Zetian could push the boat along the water to re-establish Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, while avoiding the brothers' walls. Li Dan's humility protects Li Xian's safety, and at the same time frees himself from his mother's close surveillance.
In the first year of Shenlong (705), Zhang Kamzhi and others launched a coup d'état, killing the brothers of Erzhang (Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi), forcing Wu Zetian to abdicate and support Emperor Zhongzong. In order to express his gratitude to his brother, After Emperor Zhongzong's restoration, he made Li Dan the Prince of An Guoxiang, and he also made him the emperor's brother-in-law.
For this title, Li Dan resolutely resigned, and Li Xian had to give up.
In June of the fourth year of Jinglong (710), Emperor Zhongzong was poisoned by Empress Wei and his daughter Princess Anle. Li Chongmao, the young emperor of Wei Houli, was actually his own ruler. With Wei Hou in his power, Li Dan showed superb political wisdom, and as always, he was obedient and escaped Wei Hou's political persecution. Due to perverse behavior, Wei Hou eventually embarked on the last road. Li Dan's third son, Li Longji, contacted the forbidden general Yongjun to enter the palace, killed Wei Hou, deposed the young emperor Li Chongmao, and supported his father to re-ascend the throne.
In the second month after Li Dan ascended the throne, as a political reward, he made his third son Li Longji crown prince, and at the same time, changed his name to Yuan Jingyun. Soon, a fierce power struggle broke out between Li Dan's sister Princess Taiping and Li Longji. Seduced by Princess Taiping, Li Dan once moved the mind of deposing the prince.
In July of the first year of Yanhe (712), "the comet came out of the west" was originally a very common celestial change, but the Princess Taiping sent a warlock to her brother to rumor that the celestial signs had changed, indicating that in addition to the old Buxin, the prince would rebel against the following crimes. Princess Taiping was originally manipulating right and wrong, hoping that her brother would abolish Li Longji, who knew that self-defeating, Li Dan actually made the decision to "pass on virtue and avoid disasters". When Li Longji heard about it, he hurried into the palace to see his father, and he loyally asked his father to take back his life. Li Dan said with a heart of heart: This son of mine was also won for me by you, and Providence is like this, since you are a filial son, why wait for me to die before taking the throne before taking the throne?" (If you are a filial son, why wait before the coffin and then take the throne?) ）
On August 25, 712, Li Dan, who had been emperor for more than two years, once again abdicated the throne and passed the throne to his son Li Longji, calling himself "Emperor Taishang". At this point, Ruizong's third abdication was also completed. Originally, Li Dan was planning to retire naked, but he didn't know which tendon he had smoked, but when the matter came to the end, he changed his mouth and said, "Although liturgy has passed on the throne, have you forgotten your home country?" Its military and national affairs should be both provincial and provincial. ”
In the end, the political compromise reached between Li Dan and his son was that Li Longji, an official below the three pins, had the final say, and the appointment of officials above the three pins had the final say, and every five days he would also receive a tribute from the courtiers at the Taiji Hall. The New Book of Tang says that the emperor "listens to small things" and the emperor "listens to big things."
Li Dan became empress dowager, but Princess Taiping still did not stop, and even intensified her fight with Li Longji.
The young and vigorous Li Longji was also not a good master, and in July of the following year after he ascended the throne, Li Longji claimed to have received ironclad evidence of Princess Taiping's rebellion, and the day before the incident, he preemptively attacked and led an army to wipe out Princess Taiping's political power and force his aunt to commit suicide.
Li Dan's reaction to the news is unknown, but it is certain that his son's result in the killing was confirmed, because the day after the incident, he announced that he would give up all his powers ("From now on, all military and state punishments will be punished by the emperor.") Yuanfang has nothing to do to cultivate his will, in order to fulfill his heart. "), and took the initiative to move out of the Taiji Hall of the Imperial Palace on the same day.
Ruizong's three concessions to the world were actually reluctant. The greatest benefit of Jean is to be able to live in the prosperous world without dying. In the Zizhi Tongjian, Sima Guang commented: "King Xiang was generous and respectful, and he was peaceful and good, so the world of Jingwu and Wei was saved from difficulties." ”
It is not that Li Dan is willing to let go, but he feels that power and life are compared, and living is the last word. Let it be slow, and it is inevitable that there will be a fear of life. Li Dan's life experience, modern people call it beautifully - do not forget the original heart, to always have!