Li Song, also known as Tang Shunzong, was the eldest son of Tang Dezong Li Shi and the tenth emperor of the Tang Dynasty. He held the position of crown prince for the longest time among Tang emperors, with a tenure of 25 years. Interested friends, let’s take a look with the History Encyclopedia editor.
Although born in a new era where the feudal system has long been abolished, we often see royal sons fighting fiercely for the throne. Almost no ancient costume dramas set in the palace are willing to give up this classic conflict. But there was a strange emperor in history who managed to survive nearly 26 years as crown prince, but quickly abdicated after ascending to the throne. Not only did they return to before liberation, but they also left behind a shocking unsolved case.
1、 The Old Prince and the New Life
In the spring of the 14th year of the Dali reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang Dynasty (779), he decided to crown the eldest son of Empress Zhaode as the Crown Prince. Li Song is the destined lucky one. Emperor Dezong had a total of 11 sons, including two adopted sons from the royal family. But the princes either died early or worked in vain, and in the end, only Li Song could legitimately become the crown prince. Therefore, even before he was crowned, Li Song was established as the heir to the throne of the Tang Dynasty, just one step away from reaching the pinnacle of his life.
However, what Li Song did not expect was that it would take nearly 26 years to reach this milestone. Because he was established as the heir, Li Song entered politics early on. When he was still young, this future emperor of the Tang Dynasty was forced to see through the treachery of courtiers and the chaos of politics. Therefore, he gradually developed the idea of reforming the government and gathered the main force of future reforms, such as Wang Shuwen and Wei Zhiyi, in the Eastern Palace. Later, Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, and Liu Yuxi, who went down in history, were also introduced to the Eastern Palace through Wang Shuwen and others.
For Li Tang, having aspirations and achievements as a crown prince should be considered a good thing. But as Emperor Dezong grew older, he actually went further and further on the path of “favoring petty people while distancing himself from wise officials”, until he even regarded his own son, who was personally appointed as the crown prince, as a thorn in his side. In the third year of the Zhenyuan era (787), Princess Gao, daughter of Emperor Suzong of Tang, aunt of Emperor Dezong of Tang, and mother-in-law of Li Song, was imprisoned for an affair. Li Song, as his son-in-law, was also implicated. At that time, Emperor Dezong had doubts about Li Song, and suddenly the case of Princess Chang of Gao appeared. Li Song was almost replaced by his younger brother Li Yi. Li Yi was the adopted son of Emperor Dezong, and his biological father was Prince Zhaojing Li Miao
The Old Book of the Tang Dynasty · Biography of Weiqumou also shows that Dezong once wanted to put his eyeliner in the Eastern Palace. But because Emperor Dezong trusted notorious figures such as Pei Yanling and Li Shi. Therefore, even though Emperor Dezong had already sent people under Li Song’s nose, Li Song found it difficult to accept them, and these people could not provide Emperor Dezong with any leverage that could threaten the Crown Prince. But this groundless “fighting method” continued for nearly 26 years until the death of Emperor Dezong, and Li Song succeeded to the throne smoothly, becoming Emperor Shunzong of Tang.
2、 Short career as emperor and deep conflicts between the court and the public
Although it was Emperor Shunzong of Tang, Li Song’s path to becoming emperor was not smooth. After ascending to the throne, Emperor Shunzong immediately began his long planned reforms, intending to reverse the chaotic situation of eunuchs interfering in court politics. Wang Shuwen was promoted to the position of Hanlin Bachelor and Zhongshu She Ren, and was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Salt and Iron in charge of finance. Wei Zhiyi was appointed as the Prime Minister, and Liu Zongyuan, Liu Yuxi, and others were also highly valued. But as the reform progressed, Shunzong first developed a rift with his confidant Wang Shuwen.
The reform implemented by Wang Shuwen was an indiscriminate suppression of eunuchs. On the one hand, Emperor Shunzong was dissatisfied with the eunuchs who held absolute power, but on the other hand, he trusted the eunuchs around him, such as Li Zhongyan. Therefore, as Wang Shuwen suppressed eunuchs and strengthened his own power, the conflict between Shunzong and him continued to intensify, until it evolved into Wang Shuwen’s monopoly on power, confronting Shunzong’s imperial authority.
Later, the relationship between Wang Shuwen and Shunzong was completely shattered due to the establishment of the heir apparent. When Emperor Shunzong succeeded to the throne, his highly respected eldest son Li Chun had already reached the age of 27, and it was almost natural for him to be appointed as the heir. But Wang Shuwen was afraid that the emergence of a crown prince would divide his own power, so he vigorously obstructed Shunzong’s appointment as heir and even sent people to supervise Li Chun. This not only accelerated the establishment of the heir apparent, but also excluded Wang Shuwen from the Eastern Palace.
The strength of Wang Shuwen ultimately stems from the trust of Emperor Shunzong. As Emperor Shunzong distanced himself from him, his power naturally dissipated, and the reformist faction centered around Wang Shuwen gradually disintegrated. But the opposition, which was in opposition to the reformists, seized the opportunity and lost the powerful and even the only supporter of the reformists, making it difficult for Shunzong to resist. The astonishing trend of abdication emerged.
3、 End of life and Emperor Xianzong’s regicide
In March of the first year of Yongzhen (805), eunuchs such as Ju Wenzhen took charge of appointing Li Chun as the crown prince. In July, Ju Wenzhen and others issued an edict in the name of the fallen Shunzong, appointing Crown Prince Li Chun as the head of state affairs, essentially undermining Shunzong’s power. Therefore, just one month later, 186 days after ascending the throne, Emperor Shunzong reluctantly chose to abdicate in favor of Li Chun and proclaimed himself the Supreme Emperor.
In January of the first year of Emperor Xianzong’s Yuanhe reign (806), Tang Shunzong, who was 46 years old at the time, passed away. Because Xianzong only announced to the public the day before his death that Shunzong was seriously ill, there is a theory that Shunzong was assassinated. But in the matter of establishing the heir apparent, Shunzong stood on the side of Li Chun. And Li Chun is also a good son who is filial to the elderly and devoted to his family, loyal and righteous. Therefore, if it is said that Li Chun and the eunuchs harmed Shunzong, who had already abdicated, then in the case of Li Chun, it lacks persuasiveness. Furthermore, Wang Shuwen had a direct conflict with the eunuchs. Wang Shuwen was the one who was expelled and killed by Emperor Shunzong, Emperor Xianzong, and eunuchs. The major conflict has been resolved, and Emperor Xianzong has no reason to continue to take action against his father.
Although Shunzong’s succession lasted longer and his abdication occurred suddenly, his fate may have been predetermined without too many human factors. Otherwise, Han Yu may not have personally written the “Annals of Emperor Shunzong” for him, making him the only emperor in the Tang Dynasty to have left a complete chronicle.
