Why do many people say that Li is better than Li?

Anyone who studies history will notice these two figures: Emperor Taizong and Emperor Taizong Li. They are very representative. One truth, one falsehood, one humiliation, one defeat, and two points of merit.

What kind of character was Prince Li of the Tang Dynasty? He has been a controversial figure for thousands of years. He stayed in the long river of history as a disgraced loser.

We can only understand the history of the early Tang Dynasty according to books such as Zhenguan Politician, Old Tang Book and New Tang Book. However, the wisdom of this so-called "wise" king lies not in the uniqueness of his administration, but in revising history and sorting out quotations. Li Shimin has asked for three times to personally watch Gao Zu Li Yuan and his own achievements. The first two times were euphemistically rejected by historians. The third time, he confessed his motives to the prime minister who supervised the revision of national history. Fang, Xu, li yanshou and Li. Then submitted the revised Records of Emperor Gaozu and Records of Emperor Taizong, each with 20 volumes. In the Records of the Two Dynasties revised as required, the images of Li and Li Yuanji are very ugly, and their achievements in the anti-Sui war have also been erased.

From the Song Dynasty to the present, there are many famous historians, such as Zhen Wu's Book of the New Tang Dynasty, Seventeen History of Qing Dynasty, Notes on Twenty-two History, Textual Research on Twenty-two History, etc. Especially in the research works of modern world famous historians Chen and Hu Rulei and Hu Ji, secretary-general of the Chinese Tang Historical Society, we can clearly see that the face can be described as heavy makeup.

But the lies written by Mo still can't cover up the truth. We open the books of Zhenguan dignitaries, Old Tang Shu, New Tang Shu, Records of Taizong, Zi Zhi Tong Jian and so on in the early Tang Dynasty, and we can clearly see Li's true side from those contradictory historical materials, especially the Notes on Entrepreneurship of Tang People:

First, about military capabilities:

Li took the lead in attacking Chang 'an, which laid a favorable military foundation for the Tang Dynasty to command the world.

In the early Tang Dynasty, Jinyang took the lead in setting up Xihe River, Xiajiang County, stationed in Yongfeng and entering Chang 'an. Li took the lead in setting an example and achieved remarkable results. Li took the lead in attacking Chang 'an, laying a military foundation for dominating the world. Historian He said: "As the eldest son of Li Yuan, Li made outstanding contributions before the Tang Dynasty empire was completed. It can be said that without the construction of Li Yuan, it would be difficult to become Tang Gaozu. In other words, the empire of the later Tang Dynasty was formed under the joint action of Li He.

After Li Yuanji, Li Yuan and Luo Chengping settled the Heita rebels in Hebei and Liu Shandong and retreated one after another, Li pleaded at the critical moment and led the troops to LiuHeita to pacify the rebels in Shandong and Hebei for many years. Li fully demonstrated his military talents. This also confirmed that Li's military achievements were consistent with a series of military activities in the early Tang Dynasty.

Admittedly, Li's military ability may be slightly inferior. But being an emperor is first and foremost a politician's ability, not a strategist's. Needless to say, Li's men also recruited Wang Jue and other talents who later became famous officials of Zhenguan generation. It can be seen that Li is also good at recruiting talents. In the second battle with Liu Heita, he adopted Wei Zhi's advice, mainly appeasement, supplemented by force, quickly and thoroughly quelled the rebellion, showing his ability to combine politics and military affairs perfectly.

Two. Political ability:

Li actively pursued the policy of resuming production and developing economy. It laid a solid economic foundation for the prosperity of Datang in the future.

As the founding king of a generation, Li Yuan is by no means mediocre. The Tang Dynasty was newly built and full of dangers. After Li Jianli became a prince, he stayed in Chang 'an to help Li Yuan handle the internal affairs. Everything was done fairly and there was no big mistake. This shows that he has a strong ability to handle government affairs. He has made outstanding achievements in assisting state affairs in formulating the laws of the Great Tang Dynasty, restoring the economy, stabilizing the situation, stabilizing the country, guarding the frontier, pacifying civil strife, and eradicating subversive activities of spies such as Korea and Turkey. Li Jian laid a solid economic foundation for the Tang Dynasty, promulgated and implemented well-known codes such as the Military Morality Law and the Law of the Tang Dynasty, promulgated and implemented the "Land Equalization Order" and the "Rent-and-Rent Adjustment System", developed agriculture, resumed production, prospered the economy, and enriched the people and strengthened the country.

3. Character cultivation:

Li is a modest gentleman, influenced by the standard Confucian culture "cultivate one's morality and keep one's family in harmony".

In order to whitewash the rationality of usurpation, ancient history books demonized Li as a "reveler". Among all the history books, Zi Jian's record is the most plain and reliable, which affirms Li's "good nature". As for the fact that he likes drinking, womanizing and hunting, as a feudal ruler, such a small problem is really not enough to be criticized. More importantly, Li Shimin does not have these problems?

According to historical records, Li Yuanji expressed his passion in front of Li many times, hoping to kill him himself. On one occasion, Li Shimin followed Tang Gaozu to King Mi of Qi, and Li Yuanji hid an assassin to assassinate Li Shimin during the dinner. On the contrary, Li was kind-hearted, caring for his brother and flesh and blood, afraid of being frightened, and stopped his behavior in time. In the fierce power struggle, Li's life of stopping Li Yuanji from attacking several times can better reflect his generous nature.

In the "Wen Yang Dry Incident", Li was framed, and the civil and military staff of the East Palace advised him to start an army according to the city, but he chose to go there according to the purpose, which on the one hand showed his wisdom and on the other hand confirmed that he had no rebellious heart, so he was smart and confident to see right from wrong and find out his innocence. Sure enough, when the mind is clear and calm down, and you come to their senses, it is really outrageous to realize the chaos immediately, and nine times out of ten it is caused by framing.

In a word, Li is by no means the kind of narrow-minded person who has no virtue or talent as recorded in history books. If he can inherit the throne, there are sufficient grounds and reasons to believe that his achievements can at least be comparable to those of Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty. Based on Li's kindness, virtue and talent in economic construction, historian He said: "The first thing a monarch did when he came to power was to lightly serve ... This is certain, and it was determined by the conditions at that time ... Under the leadership of Li, these ministers involuntarily created another Tang Dynasty, and this Tang Dynasty is real because it was created by the real quasi-emperor Li ..."

In the eyes of historians, Li's civil and military achievements and his kind and generous tragic life are deplorable and sympathetic!

When it comes to Li Shimin, as long as you study the history books carefully and read between the lines of those contradictory shattered glass, you will clearly see that Li Shimin is shrouded in the aura of "hero" praised by thousands of people and is known as the wise Emperor Taizong of SHEN WOO. This is actually an illusion of "hypocrisy":

1. Repeated military failures. Push too many people and praise yourself.

Historians commented that Li said it was as quiet as water; Li Shimin is very sexy. Anxious Li Shimin was defeated by Guo Ju, Shimi, Song Jingang and Liu Heita. According to historical records, Li Shimin suffered from malaria and was ill in the military camp when he first performed Snow Chrysanthemum. He entrusted the relieving to Liu Wenjing and Yin Kaishan, asking them not to send troops easily. But the two men did not listen to the instructions and sent troops privately. As a result, it was attacked by snow chrysanthemum in shallow water and was defeated. The death rate of foot soldiers was as high as 56/ 10, and many generals were captured. Li Shimin had to lead down archers back to Chang 'an to avoid "capital turmoil" ... No matter whether Li Shimin was really ill or not, arrogant soldiers could not shirk the responsibility of defeat. Besides, with Li Shimin running the army strictly, Liu Wenjing has been his deputy for a long time. What reason is there to send troops without listening to orders?

Li Shimin's much-vaunted Hedong Road defeated Liu Wuzhou and Song Jingang, which was actually the result of emperor gaozu Li Yuan's personal expedition. At that time, not only failed, but also was removed from the position of Qiu. Li Shimin's reputation is extremely bad, because he went out and raided a bloody massacre.

When suppressing the rebels in Hebei and Liuheita, they were almost captured alive by Liuheita rebels. Finally, the kindness and prestige of Prince Li went hand in hand. The prince "learned that the prisoners were released, the family members were released, and the comfort was sent away, and the people began to settle down." Put down the rebels in Shandong and Hebei for many years in one fell swoop. In the seventh year of Wude, Emperor Gaozu ordered Li to leave, while he left Bingzhou to attack the Turks. As a result, Li won a great victory, but was defeated by the Turks and lost Bing. Zhang Jin died in battle and was scolded by Gao Zu, who replaced the authority of Shaanxi Road Station in Li Shimin with Li Yuanji.

Many people don't know the historical facts, and casually tout that "Li Shimin, the king of Qin, laid the foundation of the world in the Tang Dynasty ..." In fact, some historical materials confirm that the king of Zhao County of Li laid half of the land in the Tang Dynasty, and Li swept the south of the Yangtze River. After the Xuanwumen incident, Zhao Jun's military genius Li was also under house arrest.

2. Despicable personality and low moral character.

Li Shimin made a mistake in the country, forcing his father to death, killing his brother, killing his brother, stealing his wife, and bloody usurping power. Li Shimin knew that "it is disloyal to seek a monarch by a minister; It is unfilial to force the father with children, and it is heartless to wash the two palaces with blood; It is unjust to kill one's brother with one's brother, which is difficult to justify in Confucian morality and legalism. "In order not to be reviled by future generations, he ordered the historians of this dynasty to compile the Tang Dynasty history books that distorted and covered up the historical truth, and dressed himself as a wise king. In order to create a reasonable basis for Xuanwumen's plot, he poured sewage on his father, brothers and most heroes in Wude years, and attributed all the credit to himself, all the blame to others, and tried his best to give himself gold.

According to historical records, after the Turkic retreat, Li Yuan ordered the three brothers to shoot the corner to win, and Li Xiang paid the inferior horse. As a result, the bad horse tripped three times in a row, and Li Shimin jumped off his horse in time to avoid the pain. Historians have raised four questions about this matter: first, how did they become their fall guy after a long period of infighting with Li, and how did he get involved? Second, how did Li Can Cheng Jian use such clumsy skills in front of his father? Third, Li Shimin is battle-hardened and has excellent riding skills. How can he not understand bows and horses? Fourth, even if you ride a broken horse because of your feelings, you should change it at one stroke. How can you do it three times?

Another case was solved two or three days before the change of Xuanwu Gate, which was also a decisive event. In June of the ninth year of Wude, Li and Li Yuanji invited him to the palace for a banquet to poison him. As a result, Li Shimin's heart suddenly ached and he vomited blood several times. To quote historians, I'm afraid this story is even more fabricated than the previous example. The contradiction between He, Li and Li Yuanji has intensified to an unmanageable level. The two camps are at loggerheads and have frequent conflicts. How can I have a banquet? Even at the banquet, how dare Li Shimin drink the wine of Hong Men? What is even more ridiculous is that Li Shimin's internal strength is profound, and he can "vomit blood for several liters" after drinking wine. Or did Li get confused and buy fake and inferior products from the black market? Ironically, Li Shimin, who vomited blood several times, was alive and kicking in front of Xuanwu Gate two or three days later, holding a strong bow, and an arrow pierced the heart of his eldest brother Li!

Planning a mutiny to frame Lee. Although Li has no intention of making trouble, he has fallen into a position of suspicion. At that time, I was around, and Li Ziran dared not go alone. Once Tang Gaozu followed Li Shimin's advice, he might worry about his life. So at that time, someone in the staff of the East Palace suggested that Li Qi should go to Chang 'an, but if Li listened to this suggestion, it was exactly what he wanted. Because in this way, no matter whether Li had any intention of rebellion at first, he had already caused the fact of rebellion. If Li Shimin goes out to suppress and kill him in disorder, it will be justified. Not only did there not exist the criticism of "Brother Blade", but instead, it was "traitor and traitor, everyone was punished", and he became a family-oriented hero. When Li was framed, he chose to go as instructed. On the one hand, it shows his wisdom, on the other hand, it also proves that he has no rebellious heart, so he has a bright heart, and he is confident that Tang Gaozu will distinguish right from wrong and find himself innocent. .

Li was accused of having an affair with his father's concubine, but it was not proved. He took his younger brother Li Yuanji's concubine as his own, and gave birth to a son Li Ming with that Yang. Later, Sun Chang Wuji was afraid that Li Ming would rob his nephew's class and frame Li Ming. Li Shimin also killed his cousin Li Yuan, the king of Lujiang, and took away his wife, leaving his cousin with him.

One thing that can best illustrate Li Shimin's low moral character and hurt the soldiers and civilians in the Tang Dynasty: after defeating Liu Heita, Li Shimin went crazy and rushed to Mianzhou with the flood. When the enemy and our two armies fought, the levees burst and the water surged, which not only drowned countless soldiers on both sides; It also destroyed farmland houses and hurt innocent people. Li Shimin's practice of "only achieving the goal, regardless of the consequences" comes down in one continuous line with the Xuanwumen bloody case. The Xuanwu gate bloody case is even more despicable and cruel! What crimes did Li and Li Yuanji commit? What is the crime of killing more than 3,000 people in the Prince's Mansion and the King of Qi? What crimes have women and babies committed, must they be killed and then quickly? ! Originally, it was an appointment to confront the old emperor, but Li Shimin was timid and didn't dare to confront him, which just shows that Li Shimin's despicable behavior is shady? !

3. Governing the country is incompetent and ambitious.

People in later generations always tout Li Shimin's "chastity view". In fact, "the rule of Zhenguan" is an empty word. Wang Zhongshun, a historian, hit the nail on the head and pointed out: "feudal historians regard Zhenguan period as an ideal peaceful and prosperous time, which is far from the actual situation." The rule of Zhenguan is a bit exaggerated. Its hukou is less than 1/2, and some areas are still thousands of miles away. "

Those so-called "orthodox" historians kept praising Li Shimin, and put the so-called "rule of chastity" without any factual basis on Li Shimin as gold. As we all know, once the war-torn society is stabilized, there will be a period of economic recovery. Generally, any emperor in the stage of social and economic recovery and development, whether it is Wang Shimin, Zhang Shimin, Zhao Shimin, or you, me and him, as long as he is not an asshole, will bear the reputation of "the rule of XX". This is the natural law of social development, and it cannot be regarded as Li Shimin's achievement at all.

As a matter of fact, Guanzhong agriculture has achieved a bumper harvest due to the fact that Gaozu Li Yuan and Taizi Li have always implemented the system of land equalization and tenancy adjustment. However, shortly after Li Shimin came to power at the beginning of Zhenguan, the agriculture in Kanto was severely damaged, so that the people were in poverty and there was a serious famine in the rich Guanzhong. Li Shimin had to lead the people to eat in Luoyang.

Zhenguan politics entered the middle period, and the tenancy system was actually abandoned. Farmers' labor is extremely heavy, brothers go to their younger brothers, roads are endless, and people have peace. Although there are rewards and letters, there are only documents, but even some people don't go home until the autumn harvest ... But he even suggested that the people are proud, nothing is easy to escape, and labor is easy to do ... But Li Shimin is more ruthless than Yang Di, ordering all those who hurt themselves to commit crimes and continue to serve. He is increasingly extravagant, building projects, only to provoke border disputes, destroy Gaochang, set up Xizhou, and do not listen to Wei's words, resulting in a waste of people and property, and even more arrogant in the future. Accept the suggestion with an open mind and repeat it. As Wei Zhi said, "Listening to words is far better than the most holy, and deliberation is less than that of the Lord ..."

Li Shimin's incompetence in governing the country is also manifested in the appointment of the traitor Sun Chang Wuji. Sun Chang Wuji manipulated and abolished three generations of princes all his life, which is rare in history. He also broke his promise to Xue Yantuo, boasting about martial arts in Korea and conquering the West many times, which led to the connection between war and disaster. Taking in careerists and annexing western Turkic ministries turned out to be Tang Jun's expansion, which left a curse for the subsequent chaos and the war between Tang and western Turkic. Coupled with large-scale construction, competition is a luxury and the people are in dire straits. In Sichuan, Xiangxi and Hubei, Li Shimin invaded the North Korean shipbuilding state, and seven out of ten people died, while the rest fled in large numbers. Chongqing and Langzhong have almost become no man's land, and 100 has not been restored for more than a year. The only unbroken area of Emperor Yang Di was broken by Li Shimin. Li Shimin is really not much better than Emperor Yang Di. In terms of merit, he was still under Emperor Yang Di. The evaluation of Li Shimin by celebrities in previous dynasties can be seen:

Ouyang Xiu: "His (Emperor Taizong's) love, re-established, overjoyed, diligent and far-reaching, this is the master's consistent practice."

Zhu: "(Emperor Taizong) are hypocrites who pursue their own self-interest by thinking."

Lv Simian: "Emperor Taizong was just a China scholar. On the virtue of courtesy and thrift, it is not as good as Song Wudi, let alone Liang Wudi. " Its martial arts are not as good as Liang Wudi, not to mention Song Wudi and Chen Wudi. "

To sum up, the two comparisons show that Li He, the benevolent gentleman, and the despicable person are completely different. However, China, as a big country of Confucianism and a nation with Confucian ideas, can tolerate Li Shimin's disloyalty, unfilial and heartless behavior, such as "seeking the monarch by his ministers, forcing his father by his sons, and killing his brother by a butcher", while ignoring the historical truth and constantly beautifying Li Shimin's behavior! As a result, a strange phenomenon appeared-Li Shimin, who should have been "nailed to the column of historical shame", was constantly shrouded in the false aura of "wise SHEN WOO"! It turns out that Li Shimin, a sinner who should have been erased from the history of "Ming Army" in China, was shamelessly touted. Why is this? I think there are two main reasons:

First, the theory of power. It means "the winner is king, and the loser is kou." Li Shimin pursued bloody power rule by hook or by crook, and made historians revise history three times. History is written by winners, so it is inevitable to be distorted and whitewashed. Pushing forward, Sima Qian refused to revise history and was sentenced to prison by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Finally, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did not modify history. Li Shimin was the first person to create false history, which influenced the justice and truth of later generations. Li Shimin has committed unforgivable crimes against the civilization of the Chinese nation.

The second is shameless flattery. Many so-called scholars of literature and history in the past dynasties shamelessly sang praises and laid out facts for Li Shimin.

The so-called "chastity law" with no content is worn on Li Shimin like gold. Are these shameless touts encouraging more villains to "bring disaster to the country and the people" and "cheat the world and steal fame"? ! If our nation only pays attention to the success of generations without morality, and has no moral bottom line like Li Shimin, and is even praised by thousands of generations, then there will be more and more treacherous villains in this society, and gentlemen can't survive.

No matter what stage of social development, we need a moral gentleman like Li, not such a despicable person. A nation lies not in its temporary strength, but in its morality and soul. A nation without moral boundaries is not ashamed of human beings. Lack of morality is the failure of education. If all the people educated by a nation are hypocritical and cunning, can you say that this kind of education is successful? Can you say that this nation is excellent? No matter how great a nation is, there is room for profound reflection. Li's Prince of Datang (Tianjin People's Publishing House) brings great thoughts to every Chinese nation!

What has happened in history cannot be changed. History is written by winners. We should read between the lines of the historical works written by the winners, but we should read and think deeply. This is the mature performance of modern people! As a historical researcher, I think we should change the straight-line thinking of "the winner is king and the loser is the enemy". We should adhere to the principles of truth and justice. No matter when and where, we can't abandon the premise of morality, justice and legal system and talk about historical achievements.