In the 63rd chapter of A Dream of Red Mansions, Jia Rong said with a smile: "Each family is in another house, and who cares about whose affairs is enough. From ancient times to the present, even in the Han Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty, people still say Dirty Tang bastard, not to mention our family. If there is no romantic affair, don’t ask me to tell you. Even if Uncle Lian is so strong like that, Uncle Rui still misses him. Account. That one was hidden from me!"
The most powerful dynasty in the Han and Tang dynasties, but there were many "chaos" between men and women; especially the secret history of the emperors in the Li and Tang dynasties. It has become a laughing matter for future generations. The Zhenguan hero Li Shimin’s occupation of his sister-in-law Princess Qi has become an unforgettable stain in his life. But is it really because Li Shimin is lustful that Li Shimin seizes his sister-in-law? Actually it’s not!
The Li brothers live in all directions
Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji were originally brothers from the same mother. As for why Li Shimin and Li Yuanji ended up fighting each other, it boils down to one point - the imperial family inevitably struggled for imperial power.
In the thirteenth year of the Great Cause, Li Yuan launched an army to rebel against the Sui Dynasty. The three brothers Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji made great contributions to the capture of Chang'an. After Li Yuan captured Chang'an, Li Yuanji was appointed as the governor of Taiyuan County. , granted the title of Gu Zangjun Gong.
In 618, Li Yuan proclaimed himself emperor and established the Tang Dynasty. Li Yuanji became the king of Qi and was appointed as the general manager of Bingzhou.
Li Yuanji was brave and talented in military matters. After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, he and Li Shimin made great contributions to the unification of the world by the Tang Dynasty.
In 621, Li Yuanji followed Qin King Li Shimin to besiege Wang Shichong who occupied Luoyang. Li Yuanji commanded the Tang army and Wang Shichong's army to fight many times. In one battle, Li Yuanji set up an ambush and defeated Wang Shichong's army, beheading eight hundred people. Capture his general Le Renfang alive.
After Wang Shichong was pacified, both Li Shimin and Li Yuanji were rewarded for their merits.
In February 622, Liu rebelled against the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin and Li Yuanji went out again to quell Liu Heitai's rebellion. Liu Heitai was defeated and fled to the East Turks, so the two brothers attacked Lu King Xu Yuanlang. After Li Shimin returned to Chang'an, Liu Heitai took the opportunity to return to recapture Dou Jiande's hometown, but Li Yuanji alone could not stop him.
In October 622, Li Yuanji once again led an army to conquer Liu Heitai. In December of the same year, he joined forces with Prince Li Jiancheng to pacify Liu Heitai.
In 624, Li Yuanji and Li Shimin stationed in the prefecture to resist the Turkic invasion.
In Li Tang's great cause of unifying the world, Li Shimin made outstanding achievements, and gradually a battle for the right to inherit the throne gradually broke out between him and the prince Li Jiancheng. Li Yuanji chose to side with the prince Li Jiancheng.
They are born from the same roots, why rush each other?
After Li Yuanji fell in love with the prince Li Jiancheng, he made plans to kill Li Shimin. To this end, Li Yuanji secretly recruited and trained dead men. , shielding those who committed serious crimes, and at the same time secretly colluded with the concubines in the harem, bribed court ministers with large sums of money, and constantly framed Li Shimin. When Li Shimin accompanied Li Yuan to stay at Prince Qi's Mansion, he arranged for his confidant Yu Wenbao to assassinate Li Shimin, which was later stopped by Li Jiancheng.
Later, Li Yuan was preparing to go to the Palace of Supreme Harmony to escape the summer heat. Li Shimin and Li Yuanji accompanied him. Li Yuanji planned to get rid of Li Shimin again. It happened that Yu Sheshe of the Turks led his troops to the south bank of the Yellow River and besieged Wucheng. Li Jiancheng recommended Li Yuanji to replace Li Shimin and lead the army in the Northern Expedition to the Turks. The actual purpose was to eradicate Li Shimin's foundation in one fell swoop.
Li Yuanming knew about Li Yuanji's conspiracy but did not stop it. After Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng obtained military power, they made arrangements against Li Shimin. At this time, Li Shimin was also aware of Li Yuanji's conspiracy and was determined to get rid of Li Yuanji. and Li Jiancheng. For this reason, on the one hand, Li Shimin impeached Li Yuan to Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji for having an affair with his stepmother Yin Defei and Zhang Jieyu, and fornicating in the harem. On the other hand, troops are secretly mobilized for deployment.
Xuanwu Gate Incident, the two brothers fought to the death
On July 2, 626, Li Shimin launched a mutiny at Xuanwu Gate. Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji came to Linhu Palace and noticed that When the change came, he immediately turned his horse's head. Li Shimin was chasing after him. At this time, Li Yuanji first stretched his bow and shot an arrow at Li Shimin. Three consecutive arrows missed. Li Shimin launched a counterattack and shot the prince Li Jiancheng to death with one arrow. At this time, Wei Chigong led When the soldiers and horses arrived, he ordered to shoot arrows at Li Yuanji. Li Yuanji was hit by the arrow and fell off his horse.
However, at this time, Li Shimin's horse was frightened and led Li Shimin into the woods next to Xuanwu Gate. Li Shimin was caught by a branch in the forest, fell off his horse, fell to the ground, and could not get up for a while. . Li Yuanji arrived quickly, grabbed the bow, and was about to strangle Li Shimin to death. He was rescued by Yu Chigong. Li Yuanji knew that he was no match for Yu Chigong, so he let go and ran away. However, he was shot to death by Yu Chigong with an arrow. He was 24 years old. !
All his sons and nephews were exterminated, and Princess Qi was included in the harem
After the Xuanwumen Incident, Li Yuan abdicated. After Li Shimin came to the throne, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji's children were all executed.
These include: Li Yuanji's five sons: Li Chengye, king of Liangjun, Li Chengluan, king of Yuyang, Li Chengjie, king of Pu'an, Li Chengyu, king of Jiangxia, and Li Chengdu, king of Yiyang.
Li Yuanji’s princess Yang was brought into the harem by Li Shimin. Later, Yang gave birth to Li Shimin’s fourteenth son, Li Ming. Li Ming was later adopted by Li Shimin and given to Li Yuanji.
What is Li Shimin’s purpose in occupying the Yang family?
Is it really because of Yang’s beauty that Li Shimin occupied the Yang family?
In fact, it is not the case. As Li Yuanji’s princess, Li Shimin included Yang in his harem, which is against ethics. However, Li Shimin did this more to retaliate or humiliate Li Yuanji and let Li Yuanji die. The integrity of the name is not guaranteed. We can see this from the fact that Yang later gave birth to a son, Li Ming, for Li Shimin. Li Ming was later adopted into Li Yuanji's name.
In addition, as the Yang family was a member of the Sui Dynasty royal family, Li Shimin included the Yang family in the harem mainly to win over the hearts and minds of the Sui Dynasty courtiers and stabilize the country. We have to admire Li Shimin for his goal of killing two birds with one stone!