Tang Taizong Li Shimin, an ambitious king, aspires to become a Ming monarch and usher in a new era.Wei Zheng, who was originally a confidant of the crown prince Li Jiancheng, had repeatedly suggested that Li Jiancheng get rid of Li Shimin.
However, after the Xuanwumen Change, Li Shimin did not hold a grudge against him, but appreciated his talent and uprightness, and reactivated him. This also reflects Li Shimin's broad-mindedness.
Wei Zheng had a strong personality and often confronted Taizong Li Shimin in person, he was outspoken and made many important suggestions to Li Shimin, helping him deal with national affairs and stabilizing the Tang Dynasty's regime.
Tang Taizong once asked Wei Zheng:
How can a monarch distinguish between right and wrong, and what does it mean to be mediocre? ”
Wei Zheng replied: A monarch who can listen to opinions widely can distinguish between right and wrong, while a monarch who only trusts a certain person is called mediocre. ”
This is what people often say: "If you listen to both, you will be clear, and if you believe partially, you will be dark."
Wei Zheng died of illness, Tang Taizong came to mourn, weeping bitterly, he said:
With copper as a mirror, you can be dressed; With the ancient as a mirror, we can know the rise and fall; With people as a mirror, you can know the gains and losses. Now Wei Zheng died, and he died in one shot. ”
Wei Zheng's death made Tang Taizong deeply regret, and he also remembered Wei Zheng's words, using copper as a mirror, ancient as a mirror, and even more people as a mirror, constantly reflecting on his own mistakes.
He opened his mind and listened to the opinions of all sides, which made the Tang Dynasty politically clear, economically prosperous, and culturally prosperous, and created the famous "Zhenguan Rule" in history.
The eternal story of Tang Taizong and Wei Zheng has been admired by later generations and created a model of Ming monarchs and virtuous ministers.