The infighting between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin seems to be a power struggle within the imperial family of the Tang Dynasty, but it is actually an inevitable product of multiple factors such as history, character and environment.
First of all, from a historical point of view, the struggle for the throne has been bloody and brutal since ancient times. In the feudal system, the throne represents supreme power and glory, and in order to compete for this throne, it is not uncommon for brothers to turn against each other and fathers and sons to become enemies. Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin were both sons of Li Yuan, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and both were eligible to inherit the throne, which made the conflict between them foreshadowed from the beginning.
Secondly, from the perspective of personality, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin have completely different personalities. Li Jiancheng is generous and steady, paying attention to family traditions and etiquette; Li Shimin, on the other hand, was intelligent, decisive, and had a strong enterprising spirit and military talent. The difference between these two personalities makes the two often frictional when dealing with problems. Li Jiancheng is more inclined to maintain the status quo, while Li Shimin advocates change and innovation, and this conflict of ideas has deepened the contradiction between the two.
In addition, environmental factors also provide a breeding ground for infighting between the two. At the beginning of the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the country had not yet been unified, and the separatist forces of the four parties still existed. In order to consolidate his power, Li Yuan divided the work among his sons. Li Jiancheng was made the crown prince and was responsible for handling the government affairs; Li Shimin led the troops to fight and was responsible for pacifying the Quartet. This division of labor made Li Shimin accumulate a high prestige in the army, and at the same time, Li Jiancheng felt threatened. As Li Shimin's military exploits became more and more prominent, Li Jiancheng's sense of crisis became stronger and stronger, and the contradiction between the two intensified under such circumstances.
In addition, the interference of external forces also added fuel to the fire of the infighting between the two. During the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, many heroes and generals were involved in this battle for the throne. They each supported different princes, which exacerbated the contradictions between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin. The interference of these external forces made the infighting between the two more complicated and intense.
To sum up, the infighting between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin is not an accidental event, but an inevitable product of multiple factors such as history, personality and environment. This infighting had a great impact on the rule of the Tang Dynasty and left a profound lesson for later generations. Under the feudal system, the struggle for power often leads to the rupture of family relations and the decay of the family. It also reminds us that we should pay more attention to the rule of law and the building of democratic institutions in modern society to avoid the recurrence of similar historical tragedies.