Since ancient times, emperors have been governing the country like starting a business, not only need to pay attention to the prosperity of the present world, but also need to continue the layout after death. It is more arduous to hold on to the country than to create, so the emperor's choice and entrustment are related to the rise and fall of the country.
Li Shimin, the brilliant founder of the Tang Dynasty, even if he pioneered"The rule of Zhenguan"The great achievements are still worried about the choice of ** people. In his early years, he knew and employed people, and gathered many capable ministers under his command, such as the heroes who fought side by side during the Qin Dynasty.
At first, Li Tao was the object of his dependence, but in the end, he entrusted himself to his eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang. What is surprising is that when he was dying, he actually asked Li Zhi to get rid of Li Tao, what is the deep meaning behind this?
* Li Shimin's wisdom and worries show that the emperor is very important, and a difference in one word may lead to the overall subversion.
Liu Bei's White Emperor City Tuogu, Zhuge Liang as an important pillar, widely known, then Li Shimin's story of Tuogu is also interesting. Different from Liu Chan's incompetence during Liu Bei's period, when Li Shimin died, although his son Li Zhi had reached the age of 21, he was worried about Li Zhi's lack of courage and inability to control complicated political affairs.
Therefore, out of deep concern for the country, Li Shimin also took the move of supporting orphans.
Under Li Shimin's careful consideration, the two important ministers he relied on, the eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang, were undoubtedly his most trustworthy people. The eldest grandson Wuji is not only Li Zhi's uncle, but also an unswerving supporter of the throne in the eyes of Li Shimin.
However, out of concern about potential disputes, Li Shimin deliberately selected Chu Suiliang, expecting him to maintain the harmony between Li Zhi and his eldest grandson Wuji at a critical time. As early as the beginning of the twenty-second year of Zhenguan, Li Shi appointed the eldest grandson Wuji as the checker of the Zhongshu Order, Zhishangshu, and subordinate affairs, and quickly gave him important positions in the three provinces, making his prestige unmatched in the imperial court.
The prestige of the eldest grandson Wuji is like a double-edged sword, which can not only help Li Zhi ascend the throne, but also potentially threaten his throne. It is precisely in view of this that the introduction of Chu Suiliang at the time of Tuo Gu was ostensibly to quell possible disputes, but in essence, it was to use his influence to balance the eldest grandson Wuji and reduce the potential threat.
So, why did you choose Li Tao when you first took care of orphans? Who is Li Tao? What is his place in the history of the Tang Dynasty? Let's unmask this key figure.
As an immortal legend of the late Sui and early Tang dynasties, Li Tao's great military exploits and survival wisdom coexist. From Zhai Rang and Li Mi's beacon smoke, to the turning point of Xuanwumen, to Taizong's Tuogu and the canonization of Empress Wu, his every choice is like walking on thin ice, although he holds the authority of the prime minister, he still maintains a cautious and low-key profile.
This is precisely his deep wisdom as a courtier. Whether it is the heroism of the frontier or the complex struggle of the imperial court, Li Tao plays an indispensable role in the brilliance of civil and military all-rounders.
He was an iconic figure of his time, and every page of history is branded with his name.
As a prominent member of the Lingyan Pavilion of Tang Taizong, Li Tao's loyalty to the Lord is like a mountain. In 619 AD, after Wang Shichong defeated Li Mi, the latter chose to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, and all the territories under his command were transferred to Li Mi for governance.
However, surprisingly, Li Tao did not take this opportunity to directly show his merits to the imperial court, but instead recorded in detail the list of prefectures and counties, the population and military strength, and delivered it to Li Mi, who had been surrendered, through the hand of the envoy, and he personally reported it to the imperial court.
Behind this, Lee's loyalty and contemplation make people speculate, and he chose to show his loyalty to the Lord in a unique way, rather than rushing for personal favor.
After the envoy revealed Li Tao's deep loyalty, Li Yuan was amazed by the noble sentiment of this courtier who did not forget to repay his kindness and not be greedy for merit in the face of adversity. In the face of Li Mi's rebellion and ending, Li Shimin not only did not fall into the ground, but fought for him for the right to be buried after his death, and this loyalty to his master can be seen.
It was precisely because of Li Tao's unswerving loyalty that Li Shimin did not hesitate to include him in the core when he entrusted the country. According to the records in the "Zizhi Tongjian", Li Shimin considered that Li Zhi was young and did not give Li Tao special attention, so in order to ensure his loyalty, he first demoted him, a move that demonstrated his far-reaching consideration for the future.
Li Shimin imparted wisdom to Li Zhi, and he pointed out that if Li Tao leaves immediately after receiving the derogation, and you recall him after his death, this will give you a favor to Li Tao.
However, if he hesitates, he must deal with it decisively"Hesitate or kill"。The implication behind this is that the key to the control of the courtiers is firm implementation. Li Tao did as soon as he heard the order, and did not stop for a moment, which shows that his loyalty is the same.
The highest example of loyalty for a courtier, I am afraid there is no greater than this.
Since the age of seventeen, Li Tao's life has been almost closely linked to the military, and his footprints have traveled all over the world, making great achievements for the unification of the Tang Dynasty. From following the glorious achievements of Li Shimin, the king of Qin, to helping to pacify Wang Shichong, he not only successfully defended Guanzhou, but also persuaded Zheng Guorongzhou to assassinate Shi with both wisdom and bravery.
Conquering Yangcheng and Bianzhou, his military talent was like a storm and unstoppable. In the fourth year of Wude, he outwitted Zhengzhou, and the late-night surprise attack showed his tactical cleverness, and in July of the same year, Wang Shichong bowed down to the courtiers.
After returning to the dynasty in triumph, Li Yuan's bravery and loyalty were highly affirmed by Li Yuan, and he left a strong mark in the merit book.
In the second year, Li Tao defeated Liu Heimin's fierce general Gao Yaxian in the Battle of Luoshui, and then his figure appeared in the battle of Xu Yuanlang, the king of Lu, and even won more than a dozen cities, showing outstanding military talent.
Whether it was the subsidence of internal strife at home, or the external defense against Turkic invasion and territorial expansion, Li Tao made great achievements. In the eighth year of Wude, in the face of the invasion of the Eastern Turks, he was ordered to repel the enemy army in Taigu as the governor of the march and defend Bingzhou.
With Li Shimin's ascension to the throne, Li Tao, together with other state assassins, accepted the command of Li Jing and continued to launch an offensive against the Turks, finally capturing 50,000 Turkic soldiers and returning to the dynasty in triumph.
At the critical juncture of the eighteenth year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin was faced with the choice of attacking Goryeo. Although the counselor Chu Suiliang held opposing views, Li Tao took history as a mirror and put forward the lesson of Wei Zheng's dissuasion to attack Xue Yantuo, advocating that he should not sit idly by and watch it develop and grow.
Therefore, Li Shimin made a decisive decision and personally conquered Goryeo the following year. Li Tao took wisdom as the first, commanded the Tang army to assemble in Youzhou, and used the strategy of "striking the east and attacking the west", and secretly went north to inflict heavy losses on the enemy.
In the twentieth year of Zhenguan, Xue Yantuo was in civil strife, and Li Shimin lost no time in sending elite soldiers to smash Huanglong. When Li Tao arrived at Yu Du Jun Mountain, the leader of the Xue Yantuo tribe had nowhere to flee but to surrender.
Li Tao's military exploits are brilliant, his bravery and resourcefulness surpass ordinary people, and he almost never misses a battle on the battlefield.
Li Tao is like a neutral magnet, whether it is martial virtue or Zhenguan, or the court situation of Yonghui, he maintains a detached attitude, and does not follow the trend in the whirlpool of struggle between the crown prince Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin or Li Chengqian and Li Tai.
His wisdom lies in staying out of the matter and guarding the stability of the court with a long-term vision. His last wish was even more deliberate, and he warned his younger brother Li Bi to avoid repeating the mistakes of the Fang and Du families who were involved in royal disputes and the decline of the family.
Huang Yongnian's evaluation is like a mirror, reflecting Li Tao's long-term vision of avoiding right and wrong to ensure the safety of the family.
Li Tao's deathbed testament shows a deep sense of distress through his own example, which is not only reflected in his loyalty to the country, but also in his deep affection for his family.
As the prime minister, his filial piety surpassed ordinary people, personally cooking porridge for his sick sister, and even scorching his beard in the fireworks, the temperature of this family affection was deeply touching. Even when he is old, he still does it himself, which shows his selfless dedication to his family.
As for the partners who fight side by side, Li Tao upholds the righteousness of the iron and blooded heart, which is not only the respect for others, but also the embodiment of his personality charm.
Li Tao, who once served in the Wagang Army, shared a life-and-death friendship with Shan Xiongxin. With Li Mi's submission to the Tang Dynasty, Shan Xiongxin turned to Wang Shichong, and Li Tao then chose to be loyal to the Tang Dynasty.
However, when Wang Shichong was defeated by the Tang army and Shan Xiongxin was defeated and captured, Li Tao showed a rare affection, and he did not hesitate to write to the court to ask for forgiveness and be willing to atone for his sins on behalf of his friends.
Although he failed to do so in the end, Li Tao's deep affection for the deceased did not diminish because of this, and he accepted and raised Shan Xiongxin's son. This kind of sticking to principles without losing the human touch is really admirable.
Shan Xiongxin Li Tao can be called a model of a gentleman with both civil and military skills, and his wisdom and courage have won the appreciation of successive monarchs. Although some people criticized him for being tactful and good at avoiding risks, his contributions to many emperors such as Li Yuan, Li Shimin and Li Zhi in the long history of the Tang Dynasty are immeasurable.