In the third year of Wude in the Li Tang Dynasty, Li Tai, the second son of King Qin Li Shimin and his concubine Changsun, was born.
Li Tai’s courtesy name is Huibao and his small character is Qingque.
Although the birth of this green bird is not as spectacular as the birth of his brother Li Zhi, who was given the name Cheng Qian, nor is it as grand as the birth of his younger brother Li Zhi, it can be particularly useful to historians. Using words like "the most favored among all kings" to describe his status, one can imagine how much Emperor Taizong doted on this green bird.
In fact, judging from the existing historical data, it is not an exaggeration to say that Tang Taizong's doting on Li Tai is "too numerous to describe". Not to mention the actual deeds, there are several records in history books that clearly mention that Li Tai was favored by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty:
"Old Book of Tang": "King Tai of Wei was the most favored king among all the kings."
"Wei Zhenggong's Remonstrance Record": "The King of Wei was born to Queen Wende, and was favored by Emperor Taizong."
"Zhenguan Politicians": "The King of Yue was born to Queen Changsun. The prince's younger brother is extremely intelligent and favored by Emperor Taizong. ""Tang Huiyao": "Tai is loved by Emperor Taizong, and his etiquette is like that of a direct descendant."
"New Tang Dynasty". "Book": "The king is your majesty's beloved son."
"Zi Zhi Tong Jian": "The king of Wei is very favored by his superiors."
Not to mention those written in black and white in history books. Enumerated examples.
In the second year of Zhenguan, Li Tai was granted the title of Governor-General of Yangzhou, but Tang Taizong, who had no idea where he was going, gave this green bird as many as sixteen states! As for the other princes who were granted the title at the same time, they only had eight states.
In the eighth year of Zhenguan, Li Tai not only did not go to the fiefdom as usual, but while taking the governorship of Yanzhou from afar, he was also awarded the positions of Yongzhou Mu and Zuo Wuhou as generals. And where is Yongzhou, and what kind of official position is Yongzhou Mu?
According to the records in "Old Book of Tang Geography", Yongzhou refers to Jingzhao Prefecture, which is the place under the jurisdiction of the capital of the Tang Dynasty, so Yongzhou Mu is the chief in charge of Chang'an, Xijing. Such a prestigious official position was given to his beloved son by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty in an understatement.
In the tenth year of Zhenguan, Li Tai moved to the throne and was granted the title of King of Wei. He was the governor of Xiangzhou from afar and supervised the military affairs of Xiangzhou, Wei, Li, Wei, Ming, Xing and Bei. The remaining officials remained as before. However, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was not only reluctant to let his beloved son leave him to go to the fiefdom, but also once issued an edict to let his beloved son move into Wude Hall.
Speaking of Wude Hall, it is a palace very close to the East Palace. Wei Zheng once said that "Today's Wude Hall is close to the Queen of Chu" and "to the west of the East Palace". The importance of its geographical location can be seen A spot! What's more, considering that Li Yuanji lived in Wude Hall and exchanged opinions with Li Jiancheng, and considering that Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was in charge of politics in Wude Hall when he first came to the throne, it's no wonder that Wei Zheng tried his best to remonstrate with him.
However, the various extraordinary actions that Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty made because of his love for his son did not stop because of the strong advice of the ministers.
According to historical records, Li Tai had a "big waist and abdomen." However, when Emperor Taizong saw his son's chubby appearance, he was not worried about being too fat and affecting his figure, but that he was going to the court to pay homage to him. It would be very hard when he was there, so he was particularly distressed and allowed him to ride in a small sedan to the court. Because Li Tai loved literature, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty ordered a literature museum to be set up in the Prince of Wei's Mansion, allowing him to recruit scholars. Xiao Deyan, Gu Yin, Jiang Yaqing, Xie Yan and others who later compiled "Kuo Di Zhi" for Li Tai were here. Recruited at the time. As for the famous Furong Garden, which "resides in thirty hectares and travels seventeen miles around", it was also given to Li Tai by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. Not only that, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty also gave Li Tai a mansion occupying a whole square of land in Luoyang, the eastern capital. The Weiwang Pond and Weiwang Causeway in Luoyang, which are the most beautiful sights in the capital, were also given to him by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. Son's.
In the fourteenth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty personally visited Li Tai's residence in Yankangfang, and therefore pardoned the criminals with less than death penalty in Yongzhou and Chang'an, and exempted the people of Yankangfang from one year's rent. He also gave many gifts to the officials of the Wei Palace and the old people who lived in the same house.
In the fifteenth year of Zhenguan, the "Kuo Di Zhi" edited by Li Tai was completed. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was very happy. As if he had found a treasure, he not only collected this work in the royal library, but also published it one after another. He rewarded Li Tai lavishly - first "ten thousand pieces of property", and then a large amount of property every month. The amount even exceeded the specifications of the prince, which prompted Chu Suiliang to write a book to persuade him.
As a result, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty happily agreed with his point of view, but instead of reducing Li Tai's expenditure, he canceled the prince's expenditure limit, which was equivalent to maintaining Li Tai's excessive expenditure in disguise.
Later, Li Tai was admonished by Cen Wenwen for renovating the mansion. Tang Taizong still praised and rewarded Cen Wenwen, but he did not show any dissatisfaction with Li Tai's behavior. and stop.
On one occasion, Li Tai complained to his father that the ministers of the third rank and above in the court did not respect him enough. As a result, when Emperor Taizong heard that his beloved son had been wronged, he was furious and said nothing. The ministers were immediately called into the palace and questioned sternly. Fang Xuanling and others were so frightened that they did not dare to speak. Only Wei Zheng held his neck and argued hard. In the end, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty admitted that he had forgotten his official duties due to personal love. However, afterwards, his love for the green bird was still the same, and the ministers were helpless.
And Li Tai's son Li Xin was "especially loved by Taizong" because of his father, and was taken into the palace to raise him when he was four years old. As the saying goes, like father, like son, Li Xin was very well-behaved and smart at a young age. Queen Changsun asked him if he was still used to living here for the first time. He immediately cupped his little hands and said, "My grandson is lucky to live in the palace." , I am already very happy." Queen Changsun was surprised and happy when she heard this. She not only named him "Xin" herself, but also raised her grandson as her own son. As a result, Li Xin often played with his uncle Li Zhi, who was about the same age. The relationship between the uncle and nephew was extraordinary, so Li Xin, as the heir to King Pu, did not leave the capital for his own fiefdom until he was still young.
It is precisely because of Tang Taizong's love for Li Tai that went beyond etiquette that even historians had to sigh: "His love is so extraordinary."
However, it was precisely because of this endless doting that Li Tai had the illusion that he could ascend to the position of crown prince as long as he pulled his brother Cheng Qian off his horse. So Li Tai finally chose to embark on a path destined to be irreversible.
In the 17th year of Zhenguan, Prince Li Chengqian was deposed. Li Tai took the opportunity to act coquettishly to his father, claiming that he would kill his son in a hundred years and pass the throne to his younger brother Li Zhi. When Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty saw the chubby green bird falling into his arms, his heart softened immediately. When he heard such a guarantee, he immediately promised to make him the prince. However, such lies were exposed mercilessly by Chu Suiliang. Emperor Taizong calmed down and understood that it was impossible to kill his son to pass on his younger brother, so in order to ensure that his three beloved sons could survive at the same time, he decisively Li Zhi was made the prince.
However, Emperor Taizong was worried about how Prince Yi Li would deal with Li Tai, his beloved son. In the end, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty had no choice but to say sadly in the edict deposing Li Tai: "Li Tai, King of Wei, is my very beloved son. I really love this son. This son was very smart and hobbies when he was young. Literature, my love for him is so unusual... However, I can't let future generations think that the throne can be obtained through planning, so I demoted King Li Tai of Wei to the title of King of Donglai County."
Li Tai. It hurt his father's heart so much, but Tang Taizong still missed this green bird endlessly.
Less than four years after Li Tai was demoted, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty reinstated him as King Pu. Not only that, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty also took Li Tai's watch and said to the ministers around him: "Tai's beautiful words are not a talented man. You also know how much I miss him in my heart. But I can only reluctantly part with him. This is also preservation." Their brother's solution was to have both ends."
In the 23rd year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty died in Hanfeng Hall, and Li Zhi came to the throne that year. After Li Zhi came to the throne, he also treated his brother with special preferential treatment. However, Li Tai eventually passed away in depression within a few years.
In the twelfth month of the third year of Yonghui, King Pu passed away.
Li Zhi was very sad about his brother's death. Not only did he posthumously make him Taiwei and Yongzhou Mu, but he also specially resigned from the court for him and gave his family a large amount of property - "three thousand silk cloths". Duan had three thousand stones of rice and rice, and invited Zen Master Fazang to come and pray for his brother's death.
Looking at the first half of Li Tai's life, it can be said that the wind and rain will prevail, although his status is relatively small. He was less favored than his elder brother Li Chengqian, but he was as favored as his younger brother Li Zhi. More importantly, Li Tai himself was talented, and history records that he was "extremely intelligent" because he was not only very proficient in literature, but also very intelligent. The collection of books is as many as the royal library. He is also good at calligraphy and is quite good at appreciating calligraphy and painting.
According to the records of Zhang Yanyuan of the Tang Dynasty in "Records of Famous Paintings of the Past Dynasties", Li Tai had two seals for calligraphy and painting appreciation, which were divided into two seals: "turtle" and "yi", while King Zhou Mu's "Eight Horses" "Picture" is also passed down because of Li Tai. The "Kuo Di Zhi" edited by Li Tai cited extensive references and preserved many precious materials in the geography books of the Six Dynasties, which had a profound influence on later generations. The new genre of geography books he created also set the precedent for the general chronicle style of the Tang and Song Dynasties. After Li Tai's death, he left behind twenty volumes of collected works, but unfortunately, these collected works have been lost to this day.
This is the generation of such a proud man who is favored by his father and full of talents. In the end, he lost his way due to temporary desires. How can you not make people feel sorry and heartache!