Chapter 3 The question of succession that will forever plague those in power

Why did Emperor Taizong establish a weak and incompetent person like Jin Wangzhi, and be the one who will inherit the great rule after he lives forever?This was perhaps the greatest mistake of his life.Taizong had fourteen sons, born to ten mothers.The eldest son Changshan Wang Chengqian, the fourth son Wei Wangtai, and the ninth son Jin Wangzhi were all born to the virtuous eldest grandson Empress. All three of them have a very good chance of being crowned princes.But good bamboo will inevitably produce evil shoots, and the emperor will inevitably be unsatisfactory in terms of future generations.The crown prince was established for the first time, and the eldest son Chengqian was a vulgar and rascal who made friends with prostitutes, prostitutes and children.Once, he made his friends dress up as Turks, pretending to dance around the dead at a funeral, and he lay down on the ground pretending to be dead, and then jumped up suddenly to frighten them.He takes pleasure in it.Even though he invited famous Confucians in China to be his teacher, the emperor couldn't make him study morality.

Tai is the fourth son and should be established as the prince. Taizong has also secretly decided to pass on him.Tai was born handsome, dignified, learned, and good at poetry and prose. From all aspects, he would become a wise gentleman.Emperor Taizong made him live near Wude Hall, the main hall of the upper court, and allocated him more monthly expenses than other princes.Tai's power quickly became stronger, and the prince felt fearful.So the brothers were at odds, followed by violent quarrels, complaining about injustice, and the father was very troubled.Finally, the prince accepted Qian and rebelled.Although the court easily quelled the rebellion, Emperor Taizong finally regarded the prince as disgraceful.

One day after the court was over, the emperor ordered the virtuous minister Sun Wuji and two other ministers to enter the palace afterwards.After entering, Taizong was furious and said: "How can a person have such an unworthy son!" So he took off the sword from the wall and wanted to kill himself.Changsun Wuji naturally stopped him quickly.In Lingyan Pavilion, Wuji ranked first among the twenty-four heroes. He was loyal, upright and virtuous, and Taizong obeyed him. Taizong asked Wuji, "What should we do now?" At this time, Prince Chengqian had been deposed and had not yet been executed.The emperor had to make an important decision.If the fourth son Tai is made the crown prince, and brothers fight each other, one will be injured.Wuji said: "According to my humble opinion, the king of Jin should be established as the prince."

Taizong said: "Establish that thing? Your words may be right. The hatred between Chengqian and Tai is already deep. If Tai is established, Tai will kill Chengqian in the future, otherwise Chengqian will rebel and kill Tai. I dare to say. If Lizhi is Prince, in the future, Tai and Chengqian will be able to save the lives of Tai and Chengqian when he inherits the throne. Zhi is kind and loyal, but he is too weak, but... I really don't know what to do." Emperor Taizong of Shengming made a mistake.In order to save the life of a despicable prodigal son, he established Jin Wangzhi as heir to the throne.Jin Wangzhi was weak and incompetent, indecisive, and indeed did not have the ability to rule the Tang Empire.Taizong gradually became hesitant again.One day, he said to his eldest grandson Wuji, "You let me make Zhi the crown prince...I really don't know..."

No matter what, the issue of succession to the Great Reign must be resolved once and for all to avoid future disputes.So the emperor issued an edict saying: Since the former prince has been abolished and relegated to the outside world, the nine sons of Jin Wangzhi are now established as princes, who will inherit the throne in the future. At that time, Prince Zhizhi was twenty-two years old, married and had four sons.Although he is a good young man, he is cowardly and weak, and lacks wisdom.Because he was born with affection, loyalty and obedience, Emperor Taizong favored him.Taizong has chosen a virtuous woman for him, who will be the queen in the future, and is now living in the palace with Emperor Taizong.The status of the prince is different from that of the others. He has his own palace, Taifu, and accompanying officials.Even in Zhongnan Mountain, next to Emperor Taizong's palace, the prince also occupies the palace.

A few days before Emperor Taizong's death, he summoned two ministers whom he had always relied on to come to his bed.One is Taiwei Changsun Wuji, and the other is Zhongshuling Chu Suiliang.Chu Suiliang was loyal to the monarch, and Emperor Taizong always regarded him as a brother.To be summoned by the emperor today in order to carry out the emperor's will in the future is a great honor and a heavy responsibility.Emperor Taizong knew that when the crown prince ascended the throne, he would definitely need help in the future, and Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang were entrusted with important responsibilities.Emperor Taizong entrusted him, and history will prove it in the future, but there is one thing that Taizong didn't think carefully about - Gaozong's character.

〇 〇 Now, Chu Suiliang, Changsun Wuji, the prince, and the prince's wife are all in the bedroom of Emperor Taizong in Hanfeng Palace.Taizong held Chu Suiliang's hand and said: "Over the years, the two of you have been loyal and assisted to Gu. Now I have summoned Erqing to accept Gu's will. Both Qings know that the crown prince is kind and kind, and he is filial to him. I am a good son and wife. I entrust Erqing with good wishes As an assistant, seek good fortune and avoid evil, abide by the legacy of the widow, and protect the clan forever! In the future, state affairs will be fully in the hands of the second minister."

Since Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang were ordered by Emperor Taizong, they were ministers of Gu Ming, and they were like uncles to the young master.Of course, Changsun Wuji turned out to be Gaozong's uncle. Taizong turned to his son and daughter-in-law again, and ordered them to kneel on one knee and obey his will.And said to the prince: "With Suiliang and Wuji as your assistants, you will have no worries." So Chu Suiliang was ordered to write down his will.After Chu Suiliang finished writing, Emperor Taizong said to Suiliang: "Since the beginning of the army, Wuji has always been like a solitary right-hand man. When a solitary founding a country and ascending the throne, most of them have to be assisted. In the future, do not allow treacherous people to harm you. If you disobey my order, you will be disloyal."

After hearing this, Chu Suiliang made a solemn promise.Taizong knew that Suiliang promised a thousand gold, but he didn't expect that Suiliang would deal with a woman in the future.Now, the woman is in Taizong's house - just a maid.