The word ‘charming’ has always been used to describe women, and it’s not that young girl, but a woman with a charming temperament. But in history, there have always been some strange things. Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, also described a person using the word “charming”, but the person he described was not a woman, but Wei Zheng. We know that Wei Zheng was a person who often gave advice to Li Shimin, but why did Li Shimin use the term ‘charming’ to describe Wei Zheng?
The relationship between Li Shimin and Wei Zheng as monarchs and ministers has always been a topic of great interest, and the two have become spokespersons for monarchs and ministers, like a pair of good friends, supporting the prosperity and atmosphere of the entire chaotic era of the Tang Dynasty. Of course, some people have their own rivers and lakes in the center, and there are conflicts and disputes. Li Shimin and Wei Zheng are no exception. Wei Zheng has repeatedly confronted Li Shimin face-to-face, causing him to be unable to come to power and even making Li Shimin have murderous intentions. Fortunately, Empress Changsun advised him to stop. At first, Li Shimin explained to everyone that Wei Zheng’s actions were slow, but I found him charming.
Li Shimin comes from a military background, with a majestic appearance and a full beard. He is very excited, explosive, and easily angered. When he gets angry, his face turns red, making those around him shudder with fear. This is the dominance he has developed over many years of military career. Fang Xuanling once said that Li Shimin has a strong aura. Even if Li Shimin is not angry and speaks to him kindly, he feels as if he is walking on thin ice with trembling fear. Not to mention Li Shimin’s raging anger. But the entire court only needed Wei Zhengyong to stroke his beard. So everyone admires Wei Zheng very much, saying he’s awesome, as long as Li Shimin says he’s being cute.
But ordinary people cannot understand this sentence, and even ordinary people have to figure it out. The famous literary figure of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Dai, also couldn’t understand it. Speaking of it, tenacity is about charm, and the earth is different. When it comes to Taizong’s combination, there is still much doubt left. Writer Zhang thought for a long time without understanding, until one day he saw the bamboo painted by Xu Wei, which jumped out with vigor and beauty, and suddenly became clear. Sighing, Emperor Taizong’s words are not unfounded. In fact, Zhang Dai’s confusion is also the confusion of ordinary people. It’s just that Zhang Dai, a learned scholar, can understand from his paintings that he attacks his own jade with stones from other mountains. We eat grilled skewers and drink beer every day, wandering in the secular world without realizing it.
In fact, not only Wei Zheng was charming, but Li Shimin also had charming moments. Li Shimin also knew that he was a dignified and solemn person, and everyone was afraid of him. Therefore, whenever someone reported a matter, he would always pretend to be someone else. Showing an aggressive attitude is to hear gentle advice and understand the gains and losses of politics and religion. Imagine, a fierce and powerful master who can hide his masculinity and show off his softness, giving you three parts of color to open a dyeing workshop. Isn’t this also a kind of charm. Therefore, Li Shimin and Wei Zheng have a mutual understanding, as long as Li Shimin can feel Wei Zheng’s charm and Wei Zheng can feel Li Shimin’s masculinity, the two complement each other.
But in his old age, Li Shimin put away his charming demeanor, and Wei Zheng also put away his careless demeanor. Li Shimin no longer accepted advice, and Wei Zheng no longer violated Yan’s advice. Specially picking up what Li Shimin loves to hear. Li Shimin asked him, why don’t you give me advice like before. Wei Zheng said that you were lacking in the past, so I made a mistake of giving advice. Now that you are a perfect person and have done everything right, one sentence is worth ten thousand words, so I have no more content to give advice. Li Shimin laughed heartily and realized that Wei Zheng was truly extremely charming. However, even so, Wei Zheng still made a fatal mistake by recommending Hou Junji as prime minister, and his body was exhumed and destroyed by Li Shimin after his death.
