Briefly evaluate Li Shimin

Tang Taizong Li Shimin

Li Shimin was born in the late Sui Dynasty, a turbulent era. He has been familiar with military books since he was a child and practiced martial arts diligently. After he became an adult, he followed his father Li Yuan to fight everywhere. He continued to make achievements and became the mainstay of the army. He also attracted many peasant rebels to join him, which made the Li family's army continue to grow. Finally, he conquered Chang'an and established the Tang Dynasty. During this period, he launched many campaigns to unify the country. In the battle, Liu Heita, Dou Jiande, Liu Wuzhou and other separatist forces were eliminated. Since then, Li Shimin's reputation has been very high, and he has won the trust of Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty. He was specially approved to establish an independent institution - Tiance Mansion. As a result, Li Shimin gathered a large number of civil servants and generals around him, such as Yuchi Jingde, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng and other influential figures.

Li Shimin made great achievements in his life, and his rule of Zhenguan was praised by people. However, the Xuanwumen Incident became a source of criticism. Throughout history, it seems that the bloodshed in the palace and the killing of brothers are not surprising. Although Li Jiancheng was established as the prince, his military achievements were not as outstanding as Li Shimin's, and his popularity among the people was not as high. After returning from a battle, Li Shimin was greeted with the courtesy of an emperor by the soldiers and civilians, which shows his status in the hearts of the people. Therefore, the conflict between the Li brothers is inevitable. As the saying goes, great achievements shake the master, so we must guard against them. Just three days after the Xuanwumen Incident, Li Shimin was established as the new emperor, seizing actual power from Li Yuan. After ascending to the throne, he established new policies for governing the country, appeasing the people, reducing taxes, revising laws, and implementing the imperial examination system. He emphasized putting the people first and often said: "The people are the water; the king is the boat. Water can carry the boat and also overturn it." Since then, he created the rule of Zhenguan. In addition, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was also willing to exchange science and technology and culture with other countries, attracting a large number of foreign students and immigrants, and Chang'an became a world-famous metropolis. In terms of political system, Li Shimin established a system of three provinces and six ministries, with each department checking and balancing each other, and in a sense limiting the imperial power. It can be said that if Li Shimin had not accepted this idea, this system would have been in name only. After all, it was the feudal era, and all attempts to resist imperial power ended in failure. All in all, under the leadership of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor and his ministers were harmonious, the whole country was united, and the economy quickly improved. By the 89th year of Zhenguan, cattle and horses were everywhere, the people had enough food and clothing, they didn't close their doors at night, and they didn't pick up things on the street. There was a prosperous scene of Shengping.