How is the relationship between Li Yuanying and Li Shimin

Li Yuanying is the younger brother of Li Shimin. I believe everyone knows the Tengwang Pavilion, one of the three famous buildings in Jiangnan, which was created by Li Yuanying. However, Li Yuanying was so fond of large-scale construction that even Li Shimin was very worried. In the end, Li Shimin decided to demote Li Yuanying to Suzhou. Although he was demoted, being able to stay away from politics is also a good thing for someone of his identity. There is no detailed record of the cause of death of Li Yuanying in history, he should have died naturally. Now let’s talk about the story of Li Yuanying to help everyone understand such a historical figure.
Although Li Yuanying’s fame is not great, the Tengwang Pavilion he built is known as one of the “Three Famous Towers in Jiangnan” by later generations. It is famous worldwide for the famous quote by the poet and lyricist Wang Bo, which goes: “The sunset and the solitary flock fly together, and the autumn water grows in the same color as the sky.
In the fourth year of the Zhenguan reign (630 AD), the 66 year old Emperor Taishang Li Yuan and his concubine Liu Baolin collaborated to give birth to their 22nd son, Li Yuanying, who was also the youngest son of Li Yuan and the youngest brother of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin.
In the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan reign (639 AD), ten year old Li Yuanying was granted the title of Tengwang and his fiefdom was in Tengzhou, Shandong. As Li Yuanying grew up, he indulged in extravagance and plundered the people in the fiefdom, building the first Tengwang Pavilion (which was later demolished) and causing public discontent.
During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, in order to appease the people of Tengzhou, demoted his uncle Li Yuanying, who was two years older than himself, to the position of Suzhou Governor. Later, he was transferred to the position of Governor of Hongzhou (now part of Nanchang, Jiangxi).
Li Yuanying did not change his bad habits in Hongzhou, and worked hard to save money. In the fourth year of Yonghui (653 AD), he built the second Tengwang Pavilion on the banks of the Gan River. This pavilion was towering and became famous in history for Wang Bo’s famous “Preface to Tengwang Pavilion”.
The Tengwang Pavilion in Hongzhou has been rebuilt 29 times and is known as one of the three famous towers in Jiangnan, along with the Yellow Crane Tower in Hubei and the Yueyang Tower in Hunan. It has been preserved to this day and has become a famous historical site both at home and abroad.
In the first year of Tiaolu (679 AD), Emperor Gaozong of Tang issued another edict, appointing Li Yuanying as the governor of Longzhou (Langzhong, Sichuan). Li Yuanying built another Tengwang Pavilion on the banks of the Jialing River, along Yutai Mountain, which the poet Du Fu called “Tengwang Pavilion in Langzhong”.
The reason why Tang Gaozong frequently mobilized Prince Teng Li Yuanying was to make this little uncle restrain himself, but Li Yuanying, who had accumulated a heavy burden, still went his own way.
Li Yuanying not only enjoys large-scale construction projects, but also has extensive knowledge in fields such as music, calligraphy, painting, and dance.
Objectively speaking, Li Yuanying created his own style of painting. During his exile to Longzhou, there were many butterflies in the area. He painstakingly studied butterfly painting techniques and within a few years, he won the reputation of “Tengwang Nymphalidae River Horse, a piece of paper worth a thousand yuan is not worth it” and was revered as the “founder of Tengpai butterfly painting” by later generations.
In his later years, Li Yuanying indulged in illegal activities and crazily amassed wealth.
The Old Book of Tang records that Li Yuanying was arrogant, unrestrained, and committed many illegal acts. When Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, passed away, he even summoned officials and subordinates to “drink and sing songs and dances, and have intimate relationships”, demanding hunting dogs and nets from the people to exploit them.
Li Yuanying once buried people in the snow as punishment, and even “used bullets to hit people, watching them dodge made them happy”. Li Yuanying once shot pedestrians with a slingshot and watched them panic and dodge, laughing heartily and enjoying endless pleasure.
According to the “Chronicles of the Court and the People,” Li Yuanying served as the governor of Hongzhou and was known for his corruption and bribery. When Emperor Gaozong of Tang rewarded the kings, he never gave them to Prince Teng or Prince Jiang, but creatively rewarded Li Yuanying with “two carriages of hemp, which were used to make money and coins
Rewarding Li Yuanying with two carts of hemp, which means twisting hemp ropes to string money.
Tang Gaozong had no choice but to use this stubborn little uncle in this peculiar way to satirize his greed.
Tang Gaozong also sarcastically said, “Uncle Teng and Brother Jiang have relieved themselves of their management duties and do not need to give them any gifts
Uncle Teng and Brother Jiang are both good at financial management and do not need my reward!
Faced with her nephew’s ridicule, Li Yuanying didn’t care at all and continued to embezzle money.
Li Yuanying is not only greedy for money, but also very lustful. She has many beautiful women and children in her family, and she even eats and falls in love with the pot. Surprisingly, she has physical contact with her subordinates’ families.
The “Record of Ear and Eye” records: “Prince Teng of Tang was extremely lascivious, and all the officials’ wives were equally beautiful. When he pretended to call his consort, he was immediately disrespectful
Prince Teng Li Yuanying was extremely promiscuous, and the young and beautiful wives of his subordinates became his prey, often falsely claiming to be summoned by Princess Teng and causing sexual harassment on the way.
One day, Prince Teng repeated his old trick and summoned Zheng, the wife of Cui Jian, to pay her respects.
Cui Jian was afraid that Prince Teng would not prevent his wife from going to the palace, but he was also afraid that his wife would be humiliated, so he was in a dilemma.
My wife Zheng said, “Back in the day when I was pregnant with Crown Princess Wang Huifeng, I would rather die than be insulted by the Hu people. Nowadays, in the world of Qing and Tai, everything is clear and prosperous. I don’t believe that Prince Teng dares to defy the great disrespect of the world
Zheng entered the small attic outside the main gate of the palace, and Prince Teng suddenly appeared, intending to act recklessly. Zheng shouted loudly, and the attendants on both sides said, “Why are you shouting? Even if you shout until you break your throat, no one will come to save you. This is the prince
Zheng said, “How could the prince act so lowly? He must be a servant of the royal family
So he took off one of his shoes and broke Teng Wang’s head, then scratched Teng Wang’s face with his hand, leaving his face covered in blood.
The queen heard the commotion and walked out of the palace, allowing the Zheng family to safely return home.
Prince Teng Li Yuanying felt ashamed and did not handle the affairs of the royal palace for about ten days.
This matter is not fabricated by unofficial historians, and there is a similar record in the “New Book of Tang”: “If an official’s wife is beautiful, she will be deceived into summoning her as a concubine and forcing her to do so privately. Trying to scold Cui Jian’s wife Zheng Man as a sign of honor, using her shoes to offset the blood flow on Yuan Ying’s face, but avoiding it. Yuan Ying feels ashamed and disregards matters after ten years