Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

In August of the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo, Emperor Taizong secretly sent people to the people to listen to the words and deeds of the officials and the people and reported them. Wang Sizong, who had just been reinstated the previous year, sent officers and soldiers to arrest all these eyes and ears, and then escorted them to Beijing. A memorial was given to Emperor Taizong, and it said: Your Majesty does not appoint Tianzheng Xianjun, and he believes that this generation thinks that he has eyes and ears, and his ministers will not steal it.Seeing this, Taizong was very annoyed, and immediately issued an order to arrest Wang Sizong again and put him in the prison.

[A few years later Taizong amnesty, Wang Sizong was reinstated as an official, sentenced Chanzhou by Secretary Chengtong, and ordered people to plant thousands of trees on the bank of the Yellow River to strengthen the embankment.Soon, due to his good political performance, he was called to serve in Beijing. 】

In September, the official historian submitted fifty volumes of "Records of Taizu" (later called "Old Records"). Emperor Taizong summoned Qin Wang Tingmei and King Defang in the Chongzheng Hall. Xiu, now that the revision has finally been completed, I have also settled a concern. The content of the memorabilia records all the meritorious deeds of the late emperor. I have read it many times and asked people to revise it. I believe there will be no omissions. Tingmei, Both you and I are brothers of the late emperor, do you have any other opinions on the real record?"

"Brother Huang, when the first emperor and brother fought in all directions to pacify the world, my ministers were still young and saw very little, so I dare not speak falsely about the facts." Ting Mei said

"Well, yes." Taizong nodded, "Defang, you are the son of the first emperor, do you have any thoughts on the content of the memoir?"

"Uncle Huihuang, the content of the memorandum is very detailed, and His Majesty added it in person. My nephew and nephew are juniors, so I dare not make false statements." De Fang cupped his hands and said

"Shenxiang? Nephew Defang, do you have any other opinions on the details of the record?" Taizong looked at Defang

"Returning to Uncle Huang, my nephew has no opinion, my nephew thinks that what is recorded in the memorandum is all factual evidence."

Taizong nodded, "Okay, Zhen and Tingmei are the late emperor's younger brothers, and Defang is the late emperor's own son. If the three of us have no objection to the real record, then the "Taizu Veritable Record" will be placed in the palace for future generations to see." To know the merits of the late emperor."

"Your Majesty" Tingmei and Defang paid homage

Defang and Tingmei withdrew from the Chongzheng Hall, and they walked outside the palace. Tingmei said, "Defang, do you have no objection to the content of the memorandum?"

Defang looked at Tingmei, "my nephew doesn't understand what Uncle Wang means."

"Are you really not understanding or are you pretending not to understand?" Ting Mei said close to her, "Is this memoir really true?"

"Uncle Wang, His Majesty participated in the revision of the real record, witnessed by several historians, my nephew dares to speak nonsense, please stop asking Uncle Wang." De Fang bowed his head and said

"Uncle Wang understands." Ting Mei patted Defang on the shoulder, "Emperor and courtier, Defang, Uncle and you still have a long way to go, but the steps are difficult, so be cautious."

"Thank you Uncle Wang for teaching, Defang will keep it in mind."

Defang watched Tingmei's sedan chair leave, and sighed to herself. The content of "Records of Taizu" recorded the course of Taizu's conquests from east to west, made great contributions to the later Zhou Dynasty, and unified the land of the Central Plains, which is greatly praised That should be true, but regarding the interaction between Taizu and Taizong, especially the records in the last few years, Taizong has personally revised and added the revised content many times. It is really hard to say for sure, but what can Defang do?

Defang, who lived in the imperial palace all the time, saw Taizu and Taizong quarrel more than once. At the beginning of the eighth year of Kaibao, Taizu asked Defang to write in the study, and talked with Taizong himself. After a while, he was very angry with Taizong Said, "You are my own brother, why don't you understand my brother's intentions, and accepting your prince to give you military power is because it is difficult for me to have other trustworthy people. I want you to guard the country, not to fight for power with me! I will do whatever I say. ! Needless to say!"