The supreme ruling group of the Tang Dynasty was subject to frequent infighting, among which the struggle for the succession to the throne was particularly bloody, starting with the "Xuanwumen Change" in the early Tang Dynasty, which accompanied the Tang Dynasty almost all the time. When it came to Li Heng, the tragedy continued.

The battle between his eldest son, Li Yu, the king of Guangping, and his third son, Li Yu, the king of Jianning, hid many crises and eventually caused tragedy, but the history books are obscure about this.

Li Qi (?) —757), the third son of Li Heng, whose mother was a palace maid surnamed Zhang. During the Tianbao period, he was named the king of Jianning County by his grandfather, and concurrently served as the minister of the ad hoc national sacrifice department (awarded the Taichang Qing Tongzheng member). It was he who was the first to persuade his father Li Heng to give up entering Shu.

After the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion, on the way to Chengdu with his grandfather and father, he saw that the soldiers and civilians were in a panic, so he and the eunuch Li Fuguo advised his father, the crown prince Li Heng, to persuade him to pack up the remnants of the army and lead the resistance to the rebels.

This matter was extremely confidential, and all Li Heng could rely on at that time was Li Qi, Li Yu, Zhang Liangdi (later Empress Zhang), Li Fuguo and a few other people, who were the most core decision-making members at that time.

So, Li Heng decided to divide his troops and go to Lingwu after Ma Wei's change, and Li Qian took the initiative. Although his brother Li Yu agreed with him on this issue, Li Yu was at most a concursor at the time.

On the way north, Li led hundreds of elite cavalry to his father's guard. He charged forward every time he fought, using his life and blood to ensure his father's smooth arrival at Lingwu.

After that, Li Qi led the army to fight again, and repeatedly defeated the rebels entrenched in Guanzhong. His political foresight and military prowess overshadowed his brother. However, when he did not receive the strong approval and support of his father. Showing up too early can only bring misfortune to his political future and even his life.

After Li Heng became emperor, the competition for the status of the crown prince began between Li Qi and Li Yu. According to the records of the "New Tang Book", "Old Tang Book" and "Zizhi Tongjian". Because Li Qi couldn't get used to the two big celebrities around his father (favorite concubine Zhang Liangdi and Quan Eunuch Li Fuguo), he often blamed and complained about him. was hated by them, and was finally killed by his father under the false accusation that they joined forces.

Li Qi's death was very strange, which is a major mystery in Tang history. The suspicion is that the cause of death is unknown, the handling process is too urgent, and the historical records are too brief, and even the wild history does not mention a word.

It is precisely because of the paucity of records that things are all the more suspicious. As we all know, the royal family is fond of deleting and altering archival materials. We try to gradually restore the truth of this secret case:

Old Tang Book? There are two contradictory accounts of this incident in the Biography of Li Qi:

Statement 1: "Zhang Liangdi was favored at that time. Li Qi was upright by nature, because he repeatedly exposed Zhang Liangdi's arbitrariness in front of the emperor, and Li Fuguo's conspiracy to collude with courtiers to try to subvert the prince.

Since then, he has been framed by Zhang Liangdi and Li Fuguo every day, saying, 'Li Qi hates that he can't control the military power, and he is very likely to rebel.' Li Heng was furious and gave Li Qi to commit suicide. Later, when Li Heng came to his senses, he regretted it. ”

Claim 2: "In the winter of the second year, Li Yu recovered Chang'an and Luoyang. Send the secretary (judge) Li Mi to report the victory to his father.

Li Mi and Li Heng have long had a friendship, but when talking about the Li Qi incident, Li Heng's face changed and he said to him: "Li Qi has made great contributions in difficult times, and he has been sowing discord by the world for no reason. wants to harm his brother (Li Yu). For the sake of the stability of the country, I reluctantly cut my love and gave him to death. ’”

These two pieces of material originate from the same article, but they are full of contradictions. The former said that Li Heng listened to the slanderous rumors of Zhang Liangdi, Li Fuguo and others. thought that Li Qi wanted to seize the military power, and gave Li Qi death. Later, I woke up and regretted it deeply.

The latter said that Li Qi was used by the world to attempt to murder his brother Li Yu, the king of Guangping. Li Heng had no choice but to kill him for the sake of the country. In other words, the focus of the former was military power, and Li Heng was kept in the dark at the time; The focus of the latter is Li Yu's safety, and Li Heng knows it.

So, what kind of truth is hidden in these two contradictory materials? Why did Li Qi die, and did he have any plans to harm his brother?

What role did Li Yu play in this? Li Hengci killed him, was it because of the impulse to be blinded, or was he forced to cut his love knowing that he was wronged?

First, Zhang Liangdi and Li Fuguo's frames

Why did Zhang Liangdi, Li Fuguo and others frame and then eradicate Li Qi, the king of Jianning? This must first analyze their "motives". These people are going to be put to death for different reasons.

The main reason why Zhang Liangdi wanted to eliminate Li Qi was to eliminate a strong competitor for his son, Li 佋 (zhāo). Get rid of him, and his son will increase his chances of becoming a prince. Why did Li Fuguo frame Li Qi?

As a eunuch, of course, he could not be the emperor himself, so he must have the object of his support, which he used as a guarantee for the continuation of his power.

Among the many princes, he had the closest relationship with Li Yu, the king of Guangping. Li Fuguo has always been a supporter of Li Yu, and in the end, it was with his support that Li Yu was able to succeed to the throne smoothly.

Zhang Liangdi, who was proficient in power and scheming, also cunningly persuaded Li Heng to make Li Yu the crown prince, and then reappoint Li Qi as the commander-in-chief of the national armed forces (Marshal of the Soldiers and Horses of the World), in an attempt to create a greater contradiction between their brothers to divide them (if this is the case, there will be a contradiction similar to that between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin in the early years of the Tang Dynasty, and the consequences will be unimaginable).

However, this matter ultimately failed to succeed under Li Yu's persuasion, and Li Yu, as the eldest son, still served as the commander-in-chief of the national armed forces. Seeing that this plan could not be achieved, Zhang Liangdi and Li Fuguo tightened their conspiracy and planning.

Because they made great contributions in the process of Li Heng's coup d'état and seized power, they were in power for a while and arrogant. The two colluded with each other to cooperate inside and outside, which aroused the vigilance and dissatisfaction of Li Yu and Li Qi.

The mature Li Yuqi's reaction was not very fierce, but the resolute, upright, young and vigorous, and unscrupulous Li Qi couldn't help it, and he repeatedly complained to his father about the arrogance of Zhang and Li.

As a counterattack, Zhang Liangdi often blew wind in Li Heng's ears, telling right and wrong, saying that Li Yu wanted to murder his brother Li Yu because he failed to fight for military power, and Li Fuguo also echoed it with added fuel and vinegar. In this way, the competition between the two sides became fierce.

If Li Qi stared at the military power. It is likely to harm Li Yu, because the military power has been handed over to him. Li Heng saw that both sides involved the eldest son, Li Yu. They all stared at the position of the crown prince, worried that it would cause a catastrophe. A moment of rage. indiscriminately ordered Li Qi to be killed.

Second, the role of Li Mi

He was an active participant and one of the central figures in Li Heng's reorganization of the counterinsurgency, and he was very good at coordinating relations within the ruling group. Whether or not the relations within the ruling group are harmonious or not directly determines the success or failure of the group.

After Li Heng ascended the throne, when considering the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the whole country, he had planned to appoint Li Qi, the king of Jianning, who had outstanding talent and high prestige.

However, when consulted about Li Mi's opinion, he said: "Li Qi is capable and heroic, and he is indeed an excellent candidate for the post of marshal. But Li Yu is the eldest brother. You have the bearing of a king, and you have not yet officially made a prince.

Now that the world is in turmoil, the people of the world are most concerned about the marshal who commands the army and fights. If Li Qi leads the troops to fight and then succeeds, even if you don't want to make him the prince, the people who follow him will not agree.

Isn't the matter of Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) and Emperor Taishang (Li Yuan) an example? "The crown prince is a false name, and the marshal has real power, and the separation of the two will inevitably lead to a split in the regime. Isn't Li Shimin's lesson enough?

Li Mi is right. He is a visionary strategist. The road to success of Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty and Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty tells us that within the supreme ruling group in ancient times, the separation of administrative power and military power was extremely dangerous.

The relationship between other meritorious princes and the crown prince who has no military power, no military merits, and even the emperor basically cannot get along.

Eventually, Li Heng appointed Li Yu as commander-in-chief. It can be seen from this. The key person who prompted Li Heng to abandon Li Yu and decide to reuse Li Yu was Li Yu. Politically, Li Yu has always been a staunch supporter of Li Yu.

"Zizhi Tongjian" records: After Li Qi found out, he thanked Li Mi: "That's what I originally thought!" Of course, this can't be Li Qi's sincere words. It's just a high posture that he has to put on in the face of fait accompli.

Li Heng listened to Li Mi's advice. Li Yu was soon appointed. These practices not only reconcile the relationship between brothers. It also ensured the unity of the regime.

Since then, Li Yu has been pushed to the center of counterinsurgency. His marshal's palace was located in the palace, and Li Mi, who was unwilling to be the prime minister, served in the palace in the name of the national policy adviser and secretary general of the General Headquarters (the chief of the military state and the marshal's palace).

Li Mi and Li Yu are also teachers and friends, and they cooperate very tacitly. At that time, the military affairs were heavy, and newspapers from all over the country would be delivered at any time from morning to night. Therefore, even the keys to the palace gate, the talismans, and the handsome seals, Li Heng also entrusted the two of them to be in charge.

In the face of the very likely political turmoil, no one dares to gamble on their own future, and who dares to guarantee that what Zhang Liangdi and Li Fuguo said must not be true?

What if Li Yu succumbs on the surface, but is really unfavorable to Li Yu behind his back? The old and spicy Li Mi will naturally have his choice: cut the grass and eradicate the roots, so as to prevent future troubles! At a time when Li Qi was facing a crisis of trust in his father, a heavyweight like Li Mi could kill him with just one sentence.

The role of Li Yu, King of Guangping

After Li Yu ascended the throne, he still deeply "sympathized" with the "grievances" of his third brother Li Qi, and repeatedly pursued him. In the 6th year of his reign (768), he first posthumously crowned Li Qi as a first-class prince - King Qi (Li Qi's original "King of Jianning" was a second-class county king.

I feel that the king of Qi is really an unlucky title in the Tang Dynasty, and there are almost no good deaths for those who are crowned the king of Qi, such as Li Yuanji, who died in the Xuanwumen Revolution, and Li You, the fifth son who was executed by Li Shimin for "rebellion", etc.).

Soon, he issued an edict in the name of "at the critical moment of the situation, the first to put forward the correct strategy, and he is the hero of the Tang Dynasty", and named him "Emperor Chengtian".

He also made the decision to marry the 14th daughter of Princess Xingxin (Li Longji's daughter), Zhang, who had died, and gave the Zhang family the nickname "Queen Gongshun". He also ordered the relevant departments to choose an auspicious day for canonization in accordance with the procedures and specifications, and to move him to the tomb for burial.

The words of the canonization edict are full of family affection, including the eulogy of Li Yu's morality, intelligence, strategy, bravery, and great achievements, as well as Li Yu's attachment and remembrance of his brotherly friendship.

Such affection is indeed moving, and the aftermath of the third brother can be said to be extremely grand. It seems that the death of the third brother did leave a lingering mark on his heart.

But in fact, these very excessive actions (his posthumous and posthumous accusations are too illogical) make this matter even more confusing.

Because of such a fanfare rehabilitation, on the one hand, it is tantamount to telling the world about the ruthlessness of his father; On the other hand, judging from the history of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor gave his brother nothing more than the title of prince, and there were very few emperors.

Excessive seems to be hypocritical, and it is inevitable to suspect that there is something else hidden in it. Moreover, the posthumous edict is very interesting: "I have little virtue and merit, and I am ashamed to ascend the throne, and I didn't have time to give way to my younger brother." ”

This kind of confession that should not be confessed is tantamount to indirectly admitting that the third brother Li Qi also has the strength and qualifications to ascend the throne. Why did Li Yu repeatedly chase Li Qi, and the posthumous sealing specifications were so high?

And why is he so praised, is it just out of brotherhood, or does he really think that the third brother died too unjustly?

If it is really like the grievances mentioned in the history books, it is mainly caused by his father Li Heng, and there is no need for him to show unusually much favor to his deceased brother, unless he feels guilty in his heart! It's a feeling of guilt after success, or it's just contrived.

If Li Qi really had a plot to kill his brother and seize the throne, drawing lessons from the Xuanwumen Change, it would not be an exaggeration for Li Heng to execute him.

But the problem is that the history books only say a few words about such a "major case", and they are also very secretive about the causes and consequences of Li Qi's death. This kind of revelation without detailed and conclusive evidence is really like a "unwarranted" accusation.

On the contrary, there are many counter-evidences. When Li Mili advised Li Heng not to let Li Mi be the commander-in-chief, he did not get angry but thanked Li Mi, and has always had a deep relationship with Li Mi. And after Li Yu, who was the core party, took the throne, he also rehabilitated Zhaoxue with great fanfare for his younger brother, which shows that the so-called "harm" is absolutely out of nowhere.

The strange thing is that Li Heng actually believes in one or two empty words, and kills the most capable third son with lightning speed! Li Heng is not a faint monarch, he is a somewhat scheming monarch.

When he was the crown prince, he survived the three prisons set off by Li Linfu one after another and did not fall, and later quietly launched the Ma Wei Revolution and went north to Lingwu to set up another portal, which is an excellent explanation.

When it was about his son's life and death, how could he listen to it and not ask his eldest son Li Yu to verify it?

Of course, the royal family has never talked about flesh and blood, but the problem is that Li Qi had the first merit in the change of Ma Wei, and then fought all the way to protect his father, and he is undoubtedly the most heroic and extraordinary, both civil and military, and wise and brave among Li Heng's many sons. (To be continued......)