Among all the great emperors of China, Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, did not reign long, only 23 years from 626 to 649, but his achievements and reputation were no less than any other in Chinese history. Home. It can be seen from Fan Wenlan's "Compendium of General History of China" that after Tang Taizong ascended the throne, the Tang Dynasty began to flourish. In addition, he was also a famous military strategist and calligrapher. He created the famous "Reign of Zhenguan" in history and pushed China's feudal society to its peak.
In the eighteenth year of Huang Kai, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin was born in Jingzhao Wugong. His father, Li Yuan, attacked the "Tang Guogong", which later became the famous "Eight Pillar Kingdom"; my mother, Ge Dushi, was also from a noble family, the daughter of the high-ranking Du family, and was very prestigious at the time.
Li Shimin is the second son of Li Yuan and Queen Mother Dou. Above him, there is a big brother. Under him, there are third brother Xuanpachi and fourth brother Yuanji. When he was four years old, a kind-hearted man saw him and said: "The appearance of dragons and phoenixes on this day will definitely help the world and the people when they are twenty years old." When he grew up, he was indeed personable and was famous in the world at that time. "Taiyuan Young Master".
In 615 AD, at the age of sixteen, he married a noble daughter at the instruction of his father. Shi was the later famous Empress Changsun. For the next two years, he participated in his father's rebellion against the Sui Dynasty. According to historical records, a large number of talents gathered around him at that time. For example, the second volume of "Old Book of Tang", "History of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty", once called him this: "Every time he beats a corporal, pushes money to meet guests, or steals a hero, he is unwilling to do so." When he first debuted, he led troops to capture Xihe. benefits. "Wen Daya also said in "Datang Entrepreneurship Notes" that he "secretly visited friends in Jinyang." Compared with his brothers, he was indeed a precocious political genius.
When Li Shimin was eighteen years old At that time, that is, in 617 AD, he and his father Li Yuan raised troops from Taiyuan. He led the army to fight against his master, and soon defeated the Sui army, invaded Chang'an, and destroyed the Sui Dynasty. The great hero was called the "King of Qin".
After repeated defeats, the separatist forces in various places were gradually eliminated: cutting off Li's traces, killing Xue's son, breaking Liu Wuzhou. The battle of Hulao Pass was eliminated. At that time, there were two major separatist forces in the Central Plains: Wang and Dou Jiande. From then on, Li Shimin's prestige became higher and higher, especially after he took over Chang'an after the Battle of Hulao Pass.
As he became more and more popular, the relationship between Li Shimin and his brother gradually became subtle. At this time, his fourth brother Yuan Ba ??was dead, and the eldest brother formed a coalition with his third brother Yuan Ji to deal with him several times. , but all failed.
At this time, the ministers also conflicted with each other, and they were divided into two factions: Prime Minister Pei Ji, Wang Jue, Wei Zheng, and General Xue Wanche of the East Palace, together with Cheng Jian and Yuan Ji. Du Ruhui, Fang, Qin, Duan and other generals followed Li Shimin and became another faction. Minister Sun Chang Wuji and others secretly supported Li Shimin, Xu, Yu and others.
June 4, 626. On the 13th, Li Shimin launched a coup at Xuanwu Gate, the north gate of Chang'an City, on the advice of his guests. His brother Wendell Dickinson eliminated the troops of Cheng Jian and Yuan Ji in one fell swoop, becoming the sole heir to the dynasty.
On August 9, he forced his father Tang Gaozu to abdicate and ascended the throne as Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. From then on, he ruled for 23 years. In the Tang Dynasty, when the country was strong, it was known as the "Reign of Zhenguan". In 69 years, he suffered from dysentery, and the treatment failed. On a mountain more than ten miles away, his posthumous title is "Emperor Wen".