Li Shimin, one emperor through the ages

Chapter 64
Xu Hui is a native of the Great Wall in Huzhou. He is intelligent and talented. He could speak at the age of five months. He could read "The Analects" and "Poetry" at the age of four, and he could write essays by himself at the age of eight.What's more, Li Shimin was born beautiful, gentle and virtuous. When Li Shimin saw her, he engraved it in his heart, and soon recruited him into the palace.It's just Xu Hui, who was in the cardamom age, Li Shimin always spoke with him, witty and understanding.Li Shimin was overjoyed when he saw it, hugged him in his arms, and said pleasantly, "It's the rebirth of the son and eldest grandson of the empress." Therefore, when there is any trouble, he will come to the harem to find Concubine Xu.This day Li Shimin came when the court was over, and the two talked and laughed until midnight before going to sleep.When the sun came into the curtain, Li Shimin embraced the little beauty, but he did not wake up.Someone came to report:
"Master Wei died of illness at home."

As early as three days ago, Wei Zheng, who had just become the prince and grand teacher, fell ill and was bedridden.Li Shimin once sent someone to visit him, and when he came back, he reported: Wei Zheng's house is too simple, with only a few side rooms, not even a main room.Li Shimin was filled with emotion when he heard the words: Wei Gong was clean all his life, it's because I didn't care enough.Immediately ordered that the materials for the royal palace be built and the big house be built for Wei Zheng.Unexpectedly, Wei Zheng died of illness at home before the big house was completed.After hearing this, Li Shimin went to offer condolences in person, wept bitterly and said:
"Using copper as a mirror, you can straighten your clothes; using ancient times as a mirror, you can know success and failure; using people as a mirror, you can know gains and losses. I always keep these three mirrors to prevent my own mistakes. Now that Wei Zheng has passed away, one mirror has disappeared. "Back to the harem, Li Shimin asked Wei Zheng to find out the "Ten Gradually Unable to End Shu" and "Ten Thoughts" played by Wei Zheng last year, and said to Concubine Xu: "This is what Wei Gong played last year when he saw that I was becoming more and more lazy. Ten changes in political attitudes from the beginning of the administration to today. I can still recite the "Ten Thoughts" today. As he spoke, Li Shimin recited:

"When you see what you want, you think about contentment; when you are in danger, you think about humility; when you are full, you think about loss; Satisfy, slander evil, think of rectifying oneself, practice honors and rewards, think of joy and arrogance, and punish, think of anger and abuse."

Concubine Xu hugged Li Shimin tightly after hearing this, and said in a sobbing voice: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty is the most wise emperor in the world. If you can treat the memorial to your ministers like this, the ministers will not die, and Duke Wei will not die."

After hearing this, Li Shimin took it seriously, nodded seriously, and recalled: "In the past, I once discussed major events in the world with Duke Wei, and I said, "Looking at the ancient emperors, there were ups and downs, just like the dynasties and sunsets. Its eyes and ears do not know the gains and losses of current affairs, the loyal and upright keep silent, and the wicked and flatterers advance day by day.Since I am in Jiuchong, I cannot see everything in the world, so Bu Zhiqing and others think that I am my eyes and ears.Don't think that there is nothing wrong in the world and the world is peaceful, so you don't care about it... For the Son of Heaven, if there is a way, people will push it and take it as the master, and if there is no way, people will abandon it and don't use it.After hearing this, Wei Zheng said to him: "Since ancient times, the lords who have lost their country have all lived in peace and forgotten danger, and they have forgotten chaos when dealing with them, so they can't last long."Today, His Majesty is rich all over the world, clean inside and outside, able to pay attention to governing the way, often facing the deep and taking care of the poor, the country has a history, and he is naturally wise.The minister also heard the old saying: the king is the boat; the man is the water.Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. 'Your Majesty thinks it's awesome, just like the imperial decree. "I think Wei Gong's words are the foundation of governing the country.If the people are not sympathetic, the people will not be rich, and if the people are not rich, there will be chaos, and the world will not be peaceful! "

Concubine Xu nodded seriously, looked at her emperor, and said slowly:
"Governing the country is no different from healing the sick. When the sick are cured, they must be protected. If there is any offense, they will die. The same is true for governing the country. If the world is safe, you must be cautious. If you are arrogant, you will be defeated. Today's safety depends on the As for the emperor, be careful every day, even if you don’t rest. However, the ears, eyes, thighs and arms are entrusted to the seniors. Since justice is one, they should work together. The liver diaphragm is really a great harm to the country."

After hearing this, Li Shimin was deeply convinced, and thought: I and the prince and others are suspicious because of this, so we should be cautious.

17
Prince Chengqian and his cronies have drank the blood wine, they are like arrows on the string, only when the arrows go out will the matter be considered finished.Several people had a secret talk in the East Palace again these days, and Hegan and Chengjixing hurried over to report the good news:

Qi Wang Li You is about to start an incident in Qizhou!

King Li You of Qi was born to Concubine Yin, and was appointed governor of Qizhou in the tenth year of Zhenguan.Because he is not fond of reading, but only likes hunting, when Li Shimin reprimanded him, he forgiven him and dismissed his teacher, so Wan Ji went to educate him.After Wan Ji left, he was very strict with Li You, forbidding him to play outside the city, letting his eagle dog go, and scolding Li You's playmates Jun Mo and Meng Biao for not letting them play with Li You.Li You couldn't bear it any longer, and swung his sword to kill Wan Ji.Li Shimin was furious when he heard the words, and sent Liu Dewei, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, to Qizhou to arrest Li You.Under the persuasion of Jun Mo and Meng Biao, Li You raised an incident in Qizhou, and Liu Dewei, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, was not allowed to enter the city.After the prince heard this, he laughed loudly and said: "The prince lives in the East Palace, [-] steps away from Da Nei, and if he raises an incident here, can King Qi give us convenience?"

"Yes, we can quickly send people to contact Qi Wang Li You, with them as outsiders and me waiting inside, wouldn't we get twice the result with half the effort." Han Wang Yuanchang said
Prince Chengqian listened, nodded in agreement, and sent Hegan and Chengji to Qizhou to contact Qi Wang Liyou.

When Li Shimin learned that Li You was in trouble in Qizhou, he couldn't help shaking his head and sighing, and said to himself: I can educate all people, but I can't teach my own son alone!After saying that, Li Shimin ordered Li Ji, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Liu Wei to go to Qizhou to fight against the rebels.When the soldiers arrived, the defenders of Qizhou collapsed without a fight. Li Ji and Liu Wei captured Li You alive and returned.Li Shimin was extremely sad and indignant, demoted Li You to be a commoner, and died in introspection. He was sighing in the palace, and the Ministry of Punishment came to report. After interrogating the captured Hegan and Chengji, he learned:
The crown prince, Chengqian, is making extensive contacts to prepare for an uprising in the palace.When Li Shimin heard this, he was even more shocked, and made an order that night to put more than [-] people including Crown Prince Chengqian, Shangshu Hou Junji, Zuotun Wei Zhonglang Li Anyan, etc. into death row.Li Shimin stayed up all night, and the people who were imprisoned, the most unwilling to die were the crown prince and Hou Junji.

On the second day of court, Li Shimin said to the ministers: "The family and the country are not safe in the past, and the monarch will show his strength and can't bear to bring it to justice. I will beg for his life, and the minister will allow me?"

"Junji's crime cannot be tolerated by the laws of heaven. Please punish him in order to understand the great law." Just because Junji is always proud of being close to Li Shimin, no one sympathizes with him. a statement.

As early as at the celebration banquet for the pacification of Gaochang, Jiangxia King Li Daozong also said to Li Shimin: "The king gathers wisdom, speaks big, and behaves badly. If you look at it from the ministers, you must be the leader of the army." Li Shimin didn't believe it, and asked him: "How do you know it? Li Daozong replied: "Seeing that he has little merit, he is deeply arrogant, and he is ashamed under Fang Xuanling and Li Jing. Although he is a minister of the Ministry of Officials, he is not full of his ambitions. He is not destroying the talents of the time. He often has injustice."

After hearing this, Li Shimin said: "It can't be a billion degrees, Langsheng guesses two. His meritorious service is only useful, and he is omnipotent. How can I cherish the position? The first one has not yet been heard." After that, he treated Hou Junji as before.Unexpectedly, as a king, he has been civil and military throughout the dynasty, and he came to intercede with a courtier, but he encountered such unanimous opposition.

Li Shimin didn't want to go to court, so he left early, came to the prison, and said to Hou Junji, "I have bid farewell to the prince, and from now on, I can only see the prince in my dream!" After saying that, he burst into tears.

Hou Junji kowtowed again and again, weeping uncontrollably, and said: "Isn't Junji rebellious? He fell to this point! However, he was a general and destroyed the two kingdoms, which is quite a small achievement. To speak to your majesty, I beg for a son to guard the sacrifice."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin nodded in agreement, and said, "I will definitely keep your wife and a son behind."

17
Living in the Ganlu Palace in Chunri has always been extremely comfortable, not only quiet, but also surrounded by green grass and green trees, and the air is unusually fresh.In the past, when Li Shimin came here, he would bury his head in the book and talk with wise men, but today, he couldn't read a good "History of the Sui Dynasty".The carbuncle on his back hurts from time to time, making him very restless.This is what Li Shimin suffered from when he conquered Liaodong. It has been several years, but it has never recovered.

A good man is afraid of getting sick, so why not the emperor?It's just that apart from this illness, there is something more disturbing, which is the incident between the crown prince and King Qi.If I didn't have my own experience more than ten years ago, maybe I would think less.However, why has it happened again just over ten years ago.Fortunately, these two sons are not as courageous, insightful, authoritative and trustworthy as they were back then, and there are so many counselors and generals gathered around them!Now, the king of Qi is killed, the king of Han is killed, what about the prince?He is Empress Changsun and me...

Just as Li Shimin was thinking of this, Cen Wenwen, the servant of Zhongshu, said: "The eldest grandson Shunde died of illness." Li Shimin listened and remained silent.

Changsun Shunde is the uncle of his beloved wife, Empress Changsun, and also Li Shimin's uncle and father-in-law. During the Sui Dynasty, he served as Youxunwei. Later, in order to escape the Goryeo War, he sneaked to Taiyuan and followed Li Shimin to participate in the uprising.Over the years, he has participated in countless battles, and Changsun Shunde always took the lead in front of the battle, charging and killing the enemy without fear.Together with Liu Wenjing, he captured Qu Tutong alive and brought him back to the capital; in the bloody battle of Xuanwumen, he and Qin Shubao stubbornly resisted the established Changlin army.When Li Shimin came to the throne, he was granted [-] households in Shiyi, and a special gift for the maids.Unexpectedly, a scandal was caused because of being bribed by a palace slave.Although Li Shimin was indignant, he couldn't bear to punish him. Instead, he rewarded him with dozens of pieces of silk in public to stimulate Shunde's shame.And so on, it can be said to be well-intentioned, out of a sincere affection for the queen,
Afterwards, he told Fang Xuanling:

"In terms of status, Shunde is a foreign prestige; in terms of merit, Shunde is the founding father of the country. He has a high status, great title and wealth, but he can't set a good example with his words and deeds. It really hurts me. If he can do it Better, I will share the property of the treasury with him, so is it necessary to make these scandals of dishonesty, reputation, embezzlement and bribery?"

At that time, Hu Yan, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, once asked Li Shimin: "Shunde corrupted the law and committed an unforgivable crime, why should he be given silk?" Li Shimin said: "Everyone has spirituality, so giving him some silk is better than punishing him. If he still doesn't feel ashamed, he's a beast, and it's useless to kill him."

Unexpectedly, not long after the incident, Shunde and Li Xiaochang were greedy for gambling again, and were finally dismissed and let go.Not long ago when it was reported that Shunde was sick, Li Shimin said to the people around him: "Shunde is a man, not generous, but greedy. Now that he is sick, even though he is a relative, I don't want to see him." This time Shunde really passed away. Li Shimin couldn't help being a little sad, so he sent someone to express his condolences.

After arranging the funeral of his uncle and father-in-law, Li Shimin thought of the prince Chengqian in prison, Li Shimin, who was wise and martial, and unmatched in military affairs, but he was a little confused: why did his prince want to make a fuss?

This is actually a very simple truth. Imperial power has always been a product of violence, and the animal nature it contains is too heavy and too heavy.A country with imperial power is like a pride of lions, and the person called the emperor is not much different from the head lion in the pride of lions.The head lion can have the supreme right. The wild animals captured by the lion group are his first to enjoy. The most delicious things must be reserved for him alone. The female lions in the lion group are selected by him at will and mate at will , he has the right to deal with any dissatisfied like.However, he won all these by force. If one day, a lion stronger and more powerful than himself is born in the lion group, his end will come.In the kingdom of imperial power full of animal nature, who doesn't want to be a lion, or an emperor, who can have everything he can have?

Li Shimin doesn't understand this simple truth, because when he thinks about things, he is dominated by many human spirits that are separated from animal nature.After repeated thinking, Li Shimin finally decided not to kill his own son Chengqian.He made a decree at the time: Chengqian would be demoted to a commoner and exiled to the remote Qianzhou.

In the second year, Chengqian, who was so happy, died in sorrow and anger.As an emperor Li Shimin, although the concept of family is very weak, but due to the influence of "sage" books, the concept of family, especially the concept of family inheritance is still relatively strong.That fear of death caused him to have many thoughts about his eldest son, and when these thoughts were buried, he felt a deep sorrow.Li Shimin finally buried his eldest son Chengqian as the Duke of the state, this is a later story.

17
It's been a long time in the morning, and it should have been the time to go to court. Li Shimin is still lying tired among several imperial wives.The crown prince has been exiled by Qianqian, who will be the new crown prince?He is annoying.In the past, he was tired of killing, hunting, or studying, but now, he just wants to vent.He enjoyed a weary peace when he was exhausted from the woman, exhausted from exhaustion and bored.

The privilege of the head lion can occupy all the lionesses in the lion pride, and the privilege of the emperor can also occupy all the beauties in the world.Li Shimin has the right and the obligation to have regular sex with 120 concubines in the harem.Although he used to like Empress Changsun the most, recently he likes Concubine Xu Hui the most.However, for the emperor, this liking is only in comparison.Because the imperial power endows the emperor with whatever he wants, women can only be a tool for him to seek pleasure and vent.There are so many women waiting for him every day, and according to regulations, the emperor must at least fulfill his obligations to at least three of his 120 concubines every night.Over time, no matter how great the emperor is, his greatest joy is almost all in women.The great Li Shimin is naturally no exception.This is the favor of the imperial power to the emperor, and it is also the abuse, even cruelty, of the imperial power to the emperor!

Li Shimin finally woke up, a little dizzy, reluctantly opened his eyes, and looked at the fresh and tender bodies around him, without the slightest passion.Li Shimin looked indifferently at Zhang Zhang's charming face, then at the budding breasts, and struggled to get up... Walked out of the Suzhang Gate, came to the Qian Dynasty, and walked into the Hall of Liangyi with habitual habits. There awaits him.After performing the royal ceremony, Cen Wenwen said:

"Li Ji is so ill that he is lying down!"

"What disease do you suffer from, can you tell the imperial doctor to see it?" Li Shimin asked with concern.

"The imperial doctor has seen it, and said it is a strange disease, and the ashes of the dragon's beard are needed as medicine to cure the disease."

"Dragon beard?" Li Shimin looked at Cen Wenwen: "That means you need me..."

Cen Wenwen was intelligent and reasonable when he was young, and he learned a lot about classics and history. When he was 14 years old, his father, Cen Zhixiang, was framed and imprisoned. He could not appeal his grievances, so he went to the Sili office of the Sui Dynasty to appeal his grievances. Appreciate it, and the father's grievance is filed.In the first year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin appreciated his talent and became Secretary Lang, and later promoted to Minister of Zhongshu. Not long after Du Ruhui passed away, he became Zhongshuling.Not long ago, Cen Wenwen wrote a letter stating the way of governing the country, begging Li Shimin to look at the past and present, and to observe the opportunities for safety and crisis. The country is the most important thing, and the people are the people. Li Shimin appreciated him for being frugal and not forgetting his military equipment, and he thought he was a good minister like Wei Zheng.However, although Cen Wenwen said he was honest and upright and dared to speak out, he still couldn't open his mouth when encountering such a thing that demanded the emperor's dragon beard. He just lowered his head and said softly:
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"What's the crime?" Li Shimin laughed and said, "My dragon's beard can grow again after being cut, and it can save Li Ji's life. Wouldn't it be a pleasure!" As a medicine guide, Cen Wenwen was left behind and asked:

"Chengqian has been abolished, and I want to establish a new one. In the opinion of the prime minister, who is the most suitable?"

In recent years, Cen Wenwen has been by Li Shimin's side, and has heard his concessions, rewards and praises to Wei Wang Li Tai more than once.Because Li Tai liked Confucianism and was good at writing articles, Li Shimin issued an edict to allow his palace to set up a literary museum, and he could introduce his own bachelors, just like the great ancestor Li Yuan allowed Li Shimin to set up a library.Because of Li Tai's thick waist and big belly, Li Shimin also allowed him to take a small car to the court.Li Shimin was very happy to read "Kuo Di Zhi" edited by Li Tai's envoy. He issued an edict to store it in the secret pavilion, rewarded Li Tai with [-] pieces of brocade, praised him for his good writing and martial arts, and his talent for governing the country.And so on, it all shows that Li Shimin's closest relative is Wei Wang Li Tai.Cen Wenwen has a good relationship with Chai Shao's son-in-law Duwei Chai Lingwu, Fang Xuanling's ovary Yiai, Du Ruhui's son Du Chuke and others, and these people are the confidantes of Wei Wang Li Tai. Therefore, after hearing Li Shimin's question, Cen Wenwen said :
"Since the crown prince has been abolished, the most suitable person to inherit the position of His Majesty is Wei Wang Li Tai."

Li Shimin listened, pondered for a long time, and told Cen Wenwen:

"Go, order Situ Changsun Wuji, Sikong Fang Xuanling, and Minister of the Ministry of War Li Ji to discuss the establishment of a reserve in Liangyi Hall tomorrow."

Cen Wenwen took the order to leave, and Li Shimin fell into deep thought again.Back then, when I was still a teenager, I heard about his uncle Sui Yangdi who killed his brother and father. Later, Li Shimin, a great king of the Tang Dynasty, even killed his brother and brother. Now, his sons , For the throne, some people are killing each other, and some people want to kill themselves.Are the emperor's houses inhumane? !

Although this question is simple, it is not something that the emperor or Ming Jun can figure out.Under the imperial power, it is impossible to have "good people" in the general sense, only capable people and wise emperors. "Neng" means superhuman wisdom and courage, and "Ming" means understanding the truth in a general sense.Because the emperor is the fruit of the struggle of force, and the worship of force is the most.The worship of force is precisely a kind of animal nature.There are no "reasons" for beasts to follow. Only humans will respect and follow some principles to protect the weak among their kind.At this time, Li Shimin had unified a broken country and promoted it to prosperity. He was so humble and good at introspection, but he couldn't think of the confusion he was facing because the emperor was too beastly.

(End of this chapter)