Chapter 2 The Ze of the Gentleman, beheaded for five lifetimes

In the 23rd year of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty (AD 624), in the beautiful Zhongnan Mountain, in the Cuiwei Palace surrounded by pines and green cypresses, the great-grandfather Emperor Taizong was sick in bed in Hanfeng Palace.That palace is the summer palace of my grandfather, and there is a valley connected with Chang'an. In the valley, the scenery is beautiful, and the clear stream runs through the valley. Along the Pearl River and Lake, there are row upon row of villas and villas.Continue to Zhongnan Mountain, and reach the towering Taibai Mountains.But Zhongnan Mountain is near Chang'an, about a thousand feet higher than Chang'an, and it is a plain of its own, secluded and quiet, and it is like a whole world.The palace in Zhongnan Mountain has a simple structure, it is a farm-style villa, built with timber that was demolished from an old palace.Emperor Taizong I

This is the style.With the dignity of the founding king of the Tang Dynasty, the palaces and towers never seek their splendor and magnificence.Living in the palace left over from the Sui Dynasty, he has made several small repairs, and he is satisfied, because he knows that in the past few decades, there have been wars and disasters, the common people have suffered misery, poverty has not recovered, and large-scale construction must be done. Raising taxes does not benefit the people.In the imperial palace, he did build the Lingyan Pavilion, but it was to commemorate the twenty-four founding heroes, because they escorted the country for many years, fought east and west, laid the foundation of the state, and made the people enjoy the blessing of peace again.Emperor Taizong attached great importance to morality and justice, and built Lingyan Pavilion purely to commemorate the soldiers and friends on the battlefield.The portraits of the heroes were painted on the Lingyan Pavilion, one to celebrate the achievements of the important officials, and the other to commemorate Taizong's own meritorious service.

Emperor Taizong contracted dysentery two months ago. Although it was mild at times, he was never completely cured.It seems that all the energy in his body has been exhausted, and now he has lost a lot of weakness.He felt that the day of his departure was not far away. Emperor Taizong is fifty-two years old, unfortunately he is seriously ill.Because as a warrior, although he is over half a hundred years old, he is very strong, and he is really kind to the generals and counselors, which is rare in ancient and modern times.Taizong believed that the heaven favored talents, led the people, and was straightforward and generous. If his ministers had mistakes, they would tell them frankly. If they had their own mistakes, they would also order them to speak out.Under Taizong's imperial court, there were a lot of talents and sages, for a time, they were resolute and honest, and they devoted themselves to the government.The benevolent and holy emperor has a heart of loving his ministers, and all civil and military officials have infinite respect for the emperor.I don't know why, although there are many courtiers, they feel that gathering all talents in one body is not as heroic and wise as Emperor Taizong.On the battlefield, Emperor Taizong did not avoid the danger of stones, arrows and smoke. He personally led an army to expedition to Korea, and commanded generals to conquer the Turks in the north, defeated the Turkic coalition forces, and expanded the western border to Turkestan, approaching the Caspian Sea.He also sent generals to attack India from the north, forcing Nepal to pay tribute to the Celestial Dynasty.Taizong was selfless and approachable.Although the beard is like a halberd and can hang a bow, it looks ferocious and fearsome, but in fact it is benevolent and loving for the people, just like a child.That is to say, this little love for the people constitutes the power of the Tang Dynasty that shines through the ages.Emperor Taizong won the hearts of the people, but the people's allegiance to the Tang royal family led to the shattering of Wu's dream.The above is just a comparison for the rest of this book.

Taizong once visited a prison and saw some prisoners who had been sentenced to death.He asked them, "Would you like to see your parents?" The pending prisoner was suspicious.Taizong said: "I am your emperor. I will let you go home. Go home and see your parents and children, and come back to be tortured next autumn." The prisoners were very pleasantly surprised when they heard about it, and they were all released and returned home.In the fall of the next year, he returned to prison for his sentence.Prisoners thought they deserved what they deserved, and they were happy to die without complaining.In that year, the determination of the cause of death had to go through three trials at the local level, and then appealed to Dali Temple, the highest trial. Dali Temple had to jointly try with representatives of the royal Menxia Province and Zhongshu Province.Emperor Taizong's decision to return the prisoner to his family is purely a temporary emotion, so it is naturally not enough as a lesson.But it can also be said that these things are indispensable, and there is no need for two, which is the true feeling of Taizong's generosity and benevolence.

Emperor Taizong was sick and weak, so he thought of inheriting the great unification.The prince was ruled by the king of Jin, and after the death of Taizong, he became Gaozong. In terms of family, Emperor Taizong was not lucky.A dear and good princess died some years ago, at the age of thirty-six.Empress Wende, the eldest grandson of Emperor Taizong, is really virtuous.Whenever the minister directly remonstrated and offended Emperor Taizong, she always supported the minister, insisting that the minister was loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and the emperor should accept his loyal words.Although Sun Wuji, the elder brother of Empress Changsun, is Taizong's good minister and counselor and the arm of the royal family, Empress Changsun never allows her elder brother to hold too much power.When she was dying, someone proposed to ask the emperor to promulgate amnesty, so as to move the gods.The queen said: "Impossible. This is putting my personal affairs above the national law. Human life is determined by God. If one act of kindness can prolong life for several years, I have never done evil in my life. If only doing good deeds cannot What's the use of praying for a long life?" At the end of her life, it was enough for her to be buried on a hill instead of building a mausoleum to save people's energy.She said that the meaning of burial is just to bury the dirt so that it is not exposed to the outside world.Empress Changsun deserves to be a virtuous and insightful daughter.With such a virtuous wife by my side, it is not surprising that the holiness of this sect is great.Unfortunately, in her prime, Empress Changsun fell ill and died.It is not for nothing that the name of virtuous virtue is admired by future generations.After the death of Empress Changsun, Emperor Taizong mourned deeply.When the minister was comforting, Taizong said: "Of course I know that people are bound to die. However, in times of crisis, the queen was always there to help and give good advice. Now that I have lost a good friend and a partner, I am so sad! It is so sad! Hey!"

After the death of Empress Changsun, Emperor Taizong was quite different from before, indulging in female sex, but a woman as virtuous as Empress Changsun would be hard to meet again.Although there were many concubines, Emperor Taizong never made another queen.Then the youngest Princess Jinyang died prematurely at the age of twelve, which really broke the emperor's heart.Princess Jinyang is elegant and lovely. When she was alive, she always followed Emperor Taizong. When the emperor came to court, she would be sent to Qianhua Gate.Princess Jinyang and Jin Wangzhi are childhood sweethearts.At that time Jin Wangzhi was the crown prince, and once when Jin Wang was about to go to the court to watch the court ceremony, she even cried, thinking that she would never see each other again.After the death of the princess, Taizong's sentimental personality was fully revealed.Within a month, he often cried by himself and didn't want to eat or drink.When the servant asked him to eat as usual, he said: "I love this child so much,

Sadness is irrepressible.What happened, I don't know. " Emperor Taizong was such a person: he was just and benevolent to the people, brave and fearless on the battlefield, his archery skills were like a god, his subordinates were brave and good at fighting, and the Turkic people were terrified; at home, he was gentle and kind.