It is said that Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, had quite a few sons! Empress Wang gave birth to Crown Prince Li Daqi and Prince of Nanjun Li Dalian; Consort Chen gave birth to Prince of Xunyang Li Daxin; Consort Zuo gave birth to Prince of Nanhai Li Dalin and Prince of Anlu Li Dachun; Consort Xie gave birth to Duke of Liuyang Li Daya; Consort Zhang gave birth to Prince of Xinxing Li Dazhuang; Consort Bao gave birth to Prince of Xiyang Li Dajun; Consort Fan gave birth to Prince of Wuning Li Dawei; Consort Chu gave birth to Prince of Jianping Li Daqiu; Consort Chen gave birth to Prince of Yian Li Daxin; Consort Zhu gave birth to Prince of Suijian Li Dazhi. As for the other sons, there are no records in the history books.
Let's focus on Prince of Xunyang, Li Daxin, courtesy name Renshu. He was a bright and talented child from a young age, especially skilled in writing. When he was only thirteen in the second year of Zhongda Tong, he was made Duke of Dangyang, with a fief of 1,500 households, and he was still just a grandson! In the first year of Datong, at the age of thirteen, he was appointed as Commissioner and Commander of military affairs for the five provinces of Ying, Nan, Bei, Ding, and Xin, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Governor of Yingzhou. Emperor Taizong was worried he might not grasp the people's sentiments due to his young age, so he specially instructed him, "Regardless of the size of the matter, leave it to your subordinates to handle; you don't have to worry about those trivial matters." Unexpectedly, although Li Daxin did not directly handle provincial politics, every word he said was reasonable, earning him admiration from everyone.
Seven years later, he was summoned back to the court and appointed as an imperial attendant, while also serving as military commander at Shitou Shu. In the first year of Taiqing, he was sent out to serve as General of Yunhui and Governor of Jiangzhou. Two years later, Hou Jing rebelled and attacked the capital. Li Daxin immediately recruited soldiers, and nearby people flocked to him. His forces quickly swelled to tens of thousands, and he led these troops to support the imperial palace. Three years later, the capital fell, and Marquis of Shangjia Xiao Shao fled south with the emperor's secret decree, while Li Daxin was promoted to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and General Who Pacifies the South. In the first year of Dabao, he was granted the title of Prince of Xunyang, with a fief of two thousand households.
At the beginning, the Prefect of Liyang, Zhuang Tie, surrendered to Hou Jing, and later brought his mother along to seek refuge with Hou Jing. Because Zhuang Tie used to be his old subordinate, Hou Jing treated him exceptionally well, entrusted him with many military responsibilities, and even made him the Intendant of Yuzhang. Hou Jing frequently dispatched troops westward for plundering, always sending Zhuang Tie to fight, defeating the enemy each time and preventing them from advancing.
At that time, Prince of Poyang, Fan Diao, withdrew from Hefei with his troops and camped at Zhakou, waiting for reinforcements to gather and prepare for a joint attack. When Daxin heard about this, he sent someone to invite Fan Diao to the west, stationing him at Pancheng and providing him with a large amount of provisions, preparing to eliminate the enemy together. However, Zhuang Tie turned against them in Yuzhang! Daxin then sent the Junior Army Advisor Wei Yue and others to fight against Zhuang Tie, who was defeated and came begging for mercy.
The Crown Prince of Poyang, Fan Sixian, had a good relationship with Zhuang Tie, seeing him as talented and a former subordinate of Hou Jing, wanting to use him for great things. He said if Zhuang Tie surrendered to Jiangzhou, Jiangzhou would definitely spare him, so he proposed they rescue him. Fan Diao agreed and sent General Hou Tian with five thousand elite soldiers to rescue Zhuang Tie, launching a midnight surprise attack and defeating Wei Yue and his men. Daxin was terrified upon hearing this, as the two fiefdoms were now at odds and morale was falling apart.
General Ren Yue of Hou Jing led his troops to attack Pencheng. Daxin dispatched Sima Weizhi to defend, but he was defeated. Daxin still had thousands of warriors under his command, and everyone said, "We have no more provisions and cannot hold out. I think we should travel light to Jianzhou to regroup and develop; this is the best way!" Daxin hesitated, but his mother, Chen Shurong, insisted, "The emperor is old, and the palace needs you. You have not served the emperor for so long and have not thought about paying him a visit. Besides, I am already old and do not want to go on such a dangerous road without provisions. Does that show filial piety? I absolutely refuse to go!" With that, she burst into tears, clutching her chest. Daxin then gave up the idea and finally made peace with Hou Jing. Two years later, Daxin was assassinated at the age of twenty-nine.
Nanhai King Dalin, known by his courtesy name Renxuan, was appointed as the Duke of Ningguo County in the second year of Datong, managing 1,500 households.
Nanhai King Dalin, known by his courtesy name Renxuan, had an impressive name. In the second year of Datong, he was appointed as the Duke of Ningguo County, overseeing 1,500 households, a proper small leader.
He exhibited intelligence from an early age. At the age of eleven, he mourned his mother's death deeply, showcasing remarkable filial piety. He enrolled in the national academy and excelled in the imperial examinations, eventually becoming a minister of the Imperial Secretariat and later a minister of the Yellow Gate, rising through the ranks.
In his eleventh year of service, he held the positions of Grand Preceptor and Palace Attendant concurrently. He was appointed as the General of Light Chariots and the Prefects of Langye and Pengcheng counties. During the chaos of Hou Jing's rebellion, he was appointed as the General of Authority and Benevolence, stationed at Xinting. Later, he was summoned back and stationed at Duanmen, overseeing military operations in the southern district of the city.
At the age of eleven, he was promoted again and became an Imperial Attendant while also holding other official titles. Later, he was appointed as General of Light Chariots, overseeing the Langye and Pengcheng commanderies, with his power increasing. During the rebellion of Hou Jing, he was appointed as Commissioner, General of Proclamation and Benevolence, stationed at Xinting. He was later transferred back to the capital city, stationed at Duanmen, responsible for military affairs in the southern city.
At that time, many people advised him to plunder the wealth of the people to reward the soldiers, but he said, "Resources are for rewarding the soldiers, and cows can be used to feed the army." He ordered the collection of cows and obtained over a thousand head, which fed the soldiers in the city.
In the first year of the Dabao era, he was enfeoffed as Prince of Nanhai, overseeing 2,000 households, and appointed as Commissioner and Commander of military affairs in Yangzhou and Nanxu provinces, General of Annam, and Inspector of Yangzhou. He later served as General of the East and Prefect of Wu commandery.
When Zhang Biao rebelled in Kuaiji, figures from Wu, such as Lu Linggong and Yu Mengqing, urged Dalin to join Zhang Biao. Dalin said, "If Zhang Biao succeeds, he won't need my help; if he fails, I will be implicated. I cannot join them." In the autumn of the following year, he was assassinated in the commandery at the age of twenty-five.
Prince Dalian of Nanjun, whose courtesy name was Renjing, was handsome since childhood, with a cheerful personality, good at writing, elegant in demeanor, talented, proficient in music, and skilled in painting. In the second year of Datong, he was granted the title of Duke of Lincheng County, overseeing fifteen hundred households. Seven years later, he entered the National Academy with the Prince of Nanhai to study and take exams, excelling in the exams and was appointed as a Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.
Ten years later, Emperor Gaozu went on an inspection tour to Zhu Fang, and Dalian and his brother Xiaolai followed. Emperor Gaozu asked them, "Do you ride horses often?" The brothers replied, "We have not received orders, so we do not dare to ride without permission." Emperor Gaozu then ordered each of them to be given a horse to try riding. The brothers showed excellent horsemanship and control, which greatly pleased Emperor Gaozu, and he rewarded them with his own steed on the spot. Later, they wrote a letter of thanks, which was also beautifully written. Emperor Gaozu later remarked to Emperor Taizong, "I met Dalian and Xiaolai the other day; their elegant demeanor is delightful and soothing to my elderly heart." Dalian was then promoted as an attendant at the Yellow Gate, then to the Palace Attendant, and soon after took on the additional role of military commander at Shitou Fort.
In the first year of Taiqing, he was sent to serve as an imperial commissioner, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Governor of Dongyang Province. When Hou Jing rebelled and attacked the capital, Dalian led forty thousand troops to the rescue. However, the city fell and the reinforcements scattered, and Dalian had to retreat to Yangzhou. Three years later, bandits led by Tian Ling from Mount Kuaiji attacked Yangzhou. Dalian ordered the participation of the army officer Zhang Biao, who subsequently killed Tian Ling. In the first year of the Dabao era, he was appointed as the Prince of Nanjun, overseeing two thousand households.
Hou Jing sent his generals Zhao Bochao and Liu Shenmao to attack Yangzhou, but the city was on high alert. However, General Liu Yi conspired with the enemy, opened the city gates, and surrendered. Dalian had no choice but to abandon the city, and Hou Jing's army captured it. Hou Jing appointed Liu Yi as the General of Light Chariots, acting as the Governor of Yangzhou, and later promoted him to General Who Pacifies the South and Governor of Jiangzhou.
After being captured by the enemy, Liu Yi always wanted to escape. He made a deal with Hou Jing: "I won't interfere with the army and the people. If you want to know whether I live or die, listen for the sound of the bell." He planned to meet with Hou Jing and escape at the right moment, and Hou Jing believed him. However, the plan ultimately failed. In the autumn of the second year of Dabao, Liu Yi was unfortunately killed at the young age of twenty-five.
Prince Anlu, Xiao Dachun (styled Renjing), was an avid learner from a young age. He was filial and cautious, tall and strong, with a waist as thick as ten spans! In the sixth year of Daitong, he was appointed as the Duke of Xifeng County, with a fief of fifteen hundred households, and later served as the Assistant Minister of Personnel. He later became the General of Ningyuan, in charge of the military affairs of Shitou Shu. When Hou Jing rebelled, Dachun fled to Jingkou and joined Prince Shaoling in the rescue effort. However, he was captured by the rebels during the battle at Zhongshan. After the fall of the capital, in the first year of Dabao, he was appointed as the Prince of Anlu Commandery, with a fief of two thousand households, and later sent to serve as the Governor of Dongyangzhou, holding the title of Commissioner and General of the Cloud Banners. Unfortunately, in the autumn of the second year of Dabao, he was killed at the young age of twenty-two.
Marquis Liuyang, Xiao Daya (styled Renfeng), was appointed as the Marquis of Liuyang County in the ninth year of Daitong, with a fief of fifteen hundred households. He was intelligent and handsome from a young age, and greatly favored by the Emperor. In the third year of Taiqing, when the capital fell and the enemy breached the city walls, Daya ordered his men to resist to the death. It was only when the enemy became overwhelming that he secretly slipped down from the city walls. This incident infuriated him, leading to his illness and eventual death at the young age of seventeen.
Xinxing King Xiao Dazhuang, courtesy name Renli, was appointed as the Duke of Gaotang in the ninth year of Datong, with a fief of 1,500 families. In the first year of Dabao, he was appointed as the Prince of Xinxing, with a fief of 2,000 families. He was later sent to serve as the Inspector of Nanxuzhou, holding the titles of Imperial Envoy, Commander of the Southern Army of Nanxuzhou, and General Xuan Yi. Unfortunately, he was assassinated as well in the autumn of the second year of Dabao, at the age of only eighteen.
Xi Yang King Xiao Dajun, courtesy name Renfu, was known for his calm and composed demeanor, never indulging in jokes. At the age of seven, the Emperor Gaozu asked him what he was studying, to which he replied, "The Book of Songs." The Emperor Gaozu asked him to recite it immediately, and he did so with clear and fluent pronunciation. The Emperor Gaozu was greatly pleased and rewarded him with a scroll of calligraphy by Wang Xizhi. In the first year of Dabao, he was appointed as the Prince of Xiyang, with a fief of 2,000 families, and later appointed as General Xuanhui and Intendant of Danyang. The following year, he was appointed to supervise Yangzhou, retaining his title as general. In the autumn of the second year of Dabao, he was also assassinated, at the age of only thirteen.
Wuning King Xiao Dawei, courtesy name Renrong, was strikingly handsome, with clear and refined features, as if he stepped out of a painting. In the first year of Dabao, he was appointed as the Prince of Wuning, with a fief of 2,000 families. The following year, he was appointed as General Xinwei and Intendant of Danyang. In the same year's autumn, he was also assassinated, at the age of only thirteen.
King Jianping, named Daqiu, styled Renting. In the first year of the Dabao era, he was appointed as the Prince of Jianping County, with a fief of two thousand households. He was exceptionally bright and mature for his age. When Emperor Gaozu was besieged by Hou Jing in the capital, he was a devout Buddhist and often swore, "If anyone should endure all kinds of suffering, I am willing to bear it for them." At that time, Daqiu was only seven years old. Upon hearing this, he said to his mother in astonishment, "If the emperor says so, how can I, a child, dare to refuse?" So he prayed to Buddha all day, saying, "I will bear the suffering for those who should endure it." He was always wise beyond his years. Two years later, he was appointed as the General of Light Cavalry and concurrently in charge of the military affairs of Shitou Garrison. Tragically, he passed away in the autumn of that year, at the age of only eleven.
Prince Yian, named Daxin, styled Renlang. When he was four years old, his mother Lady Chen passed away, leaving him deeply saddened and looking haggard beyond his years. After Emperor Gaozu passed away, Daxin went to comfort Emperor Taizong, crying inconsolably. Everyone around him saw this scene and couldn't help but cry as well. In the first year of the Dabao era, he was appointed as the Prince of Yian County, with a fief of two thousand households. Two years later, he was appointed as the General of Ningyuan, concurrently serving as the Prefect of Langye County and Pengcheng County. Tragically, he passed away before he could take office at the age of eleven.
King Suijian, named Dazhi, styled Renying. He was tall, strong, and brave from a young age. When the capital was captured, he sighed and declared, "A real man should eliminate the enemy and sacrifice himself for the country!" His nurse was taken aback and quickly covered his mouth, saying, "Don't speak recklessly; it will bring disaster!" Dazhi smiled and said, "Disaster does not come from me saying these words." In the first year of the Dabao era, he was appointed as the Prince of Suijian County, with a fief of two thousand households. Two years later, he was appointed as the General of Ningyuan, but tragically passed away at just ten years old.
Sons of Emperor Shizu: Xu Fei gave birth to loyal and valiant Crown Prince Fang Deng, Lady Wang gave birth to virtuous and wise Crown Prince Fang Zhu, and there is also Crown Prince Fang Ju (his mother is not recorded in this book but is mentioned in other biographies), while Xia Xianfei gave birth to Emperor Jing, who was highly respected. The other sons are not recorded in this book.
Crown Prince Fang Deng, style name Shixiang, is the emperor's eldest son, his mother is Xu Fei. He was clever and talented from a young age, skilled in horseback riding and archery, especially good at thinking creatively. He enjoyed the countryside and a leisurely life. He once wrote an essay stating, "Life in this world is like a passing white horse, fleeting. A pot of wine is enough to cultivate one's character; a bowl of food is enough to sustain the body. Living in a thatched hut while alive and buried in a ditch when dead, what's the difference between a clay pot and a stone coffin? I once dreamed of turning into a fish, then into a bird. How happy it felt in the dream; what worries are there after waking up? This is mainly because I can't compare to fish and birds; the gap is just too great. So fish and birds can fly and swim freely, do as they please; but my every move has to be cautious, restricted at every step. I'm afraid of touching something when I raise my hand, afraid of falling when I take a step. If I could truly play with fish and birds, leaving this world would be as easy as slipping off a pair of shoes!"
At first, Xu Fei fell out of favor due to jealousy, which left Fang Deng feeling uneasy. When the Emperor heard about it, he disliked Fang Deng even more, only increasing Fang Deng's fear. So he wrote this essay to express his aspirations.
The Emperor Gaozu wanted to meet the eldest sons of all the princes, so he sent Fang Deng to serve. Fang Deng happily boarded the ship, thinking that he could finally avoid those troubles and humiliations. However, when they reached the Yao River, they encountered a rebellion led by Hou Jing! The Emperor immediately recalled him. Fang Deng said to the Emperor, "In ancient times, Shen Sheng was not afraid of death. How could I, Fang Deng, care about my own life and death?" After reading his memorial, the Emperor sighed, realizing he would not return, so he gave him ten thousand infantry and cavalry to aid the capital.
Every time the enemy attacked the city, Fang Deng would rush to the front and personally shield against arrows and stones. When the palace fell, Fang Deng returned to Jingzhou, recruited troops and supplies, and many people answered the call. The Emperor truly recognized his abilities. Fang Deng also suggested building city walls and fences just in case. After the project was completed, the city walls and battlements extended over seventy li. The Emperor was extremely pleased and said to Lady Xu when he returned to the palace, "If I had another son like him, what else would I have to worry about?" Lady Xu remained silent, walking away in tears with her head down. The Emperor was very angry and revealed Lady Xu's disgraceful actions, posting her crimes in the main hall. Fang Deng felt increasingly uneasy upon entering the palace again.
At that time, the Prince of Hedong was the governor of Xiangzhou. He did not obey the orders of the commander's office, so Fang Deng requested the Emperor to take action against him. The Emperor agreed, appointed Fang Deng as the commander-in-chief, and ordered him to lead twenty thousand elite soldiers to march south to conquer. Before departing, Fang Deng said to his relatives and friends, "On this expedition, I will undoubtedly die; but to sacrifice for the country, how could I hold back my life!" When they reached Maxi, the Prince of Hedong led his army to battle, and Fang Deng fought with him, resulting in defeat and his eventual drowning. He was only twenty-two years old at the time. When the Emperor heard about it, he showed no signs of sadness. Later, the Emperor remembered his talents, posthumously appointing him as an attendant, general of the central army, governor of Yangzhou, bestowing upon him the posthumous title of "Loyal and Valiant Crown Prince," and held a memorial service in his honor to express his sorrow.
Fang Deng once annotated Fan Ye's "Book of the Later Han," but unfortunately, he never finished it; his works "Annals of the Thirty Kingdoms" and "The Quiet Stay" have been passed down to this day. It is said that the second son of the Emperor of the Liang Dynasty, Prince Zhenhui Xiaofang Zhu, styled Zhi Xiang, was the son of Lady Wang. He was bright and clever from a young age, very knowledgeable, proficient in "Laozi" and the "Book of Changes," and could speak eloquently about profound concepts. He was also handsome and particularly articulate, so his father, the Emperor, particularly liked him, and his mother Lady Wang also loved him dearly.
Later, Xiaofang Zhu participated in the rebellion of Xiaofang Deng and his group, and his involvement was discovered. The Emperor said, "Without eliminating some people, how can great things be achieved?" So he appointed him as a general, giving him a position to keep him occupied. Later, he sent him to Yingzhou to govern Jiangxia and appointed Bao Quan as his assistant, in charge of guarding the downstream area. At that time, the Emperor sent Xu Wensheng to lead a large army to confront Ren Yue under Hou Jing, and the situation was deadlocked. Xiaofang Zhu relied on Xu Wensheng's large army nearby and didn't pay much attention to military matters, spending his days drinking and enjoying himself with Bao Quan.
Hou Jing learned about this and sent his general Song Zixian with a few hundred light cavalry to take a shortcut and attack Jiangxia. It happened to be windy and rainy that day, and dark, when Song Zixian and his troops arrived. The locals came to warn him, but Xiaofang Zhu and Bao Quan dismissed it, saying, "Xu Wensheng's large army is right below; how could the enemy come?" They then ordered the city gates to be closed, but the enemy soldiers had already entered the city, and the city was quickly overrun. Song Zixian captured Xiaofang Zhu and took him back. When Wang Sengbian's forces arrived in Caizhou, Hou Jing had Xiaofang Zhu killed. Later, the Emperor posthumously honored him as Palace Attendant and Grand General, bestowing upon him the posthumous title of Prince Zhenhui.
The history books say: the sons of Emperor Taizong and Emperor Shizu, although they expanded the empire, lived in tumultuous times, and many fell victim to bandits, meeting mysterious and untimely deaths. Alas, how tragic it is!
