Sky Curtain: The Overlord Charges into Battle, Shocking Emperors of All Dynasties

Sui Dynasty, Kaihuang 20th year

Yang Jian and Empress Dugu looked at the little baby sleeping soundly in their arms.

Is this the Tang Taizong Li Shimin, whom later generations described as having the bearing of a dragon and phoenix, and a countenance as bright as the sun and the moon?

Yang Jian couldn't resist poking Li Shimin's little face in his swaddling clothes.

With a "snap",

Dugu Jialuo slapped Yang Jian's hand away and said irritably.

"You can't poke such a small child's face."

Holding Li Shimin in her arms and comforting him constantly, she radiated maternal warmth, just like when Yang Yong and Yang Guang were born.

"I was just curious."

Yang Jian gave an awkward smile and withdrew his hand.

His gaze then fell upon Li Yuan, who was kneeling below with his buttocks sticking out high, and his face was filled with jealousy.

He thought to himself: How come you have such a good son, but my son can't?

Yang Yong was a spendthrift. Although Yang Guang was not a spendthrift and even seemed somewhat wise, judging from how he managed to squander the huge fortune he had accumulated, he was probably just pretending.

The thought of the mountains of grain, the rotten copper coins, and the silk fabrics piled up in his treasury...

Thinking of the capable and battle-hardened generals and elite troops he had left behind,

He felt a pang of heartache when he realized that even these measures had failed to save the Sui Dynasty.

Unlike Qin Shi Huang, he did not undertake massive construction projects that drained the people's resources.

He left the second emperor an incredibly rich fortune.

He was even more extravagant than Qin Er Shi!

Based on Li Shimin's age, this means that the Sui Dynasty only had a little over ten years left to rule.

Yang Jian laughed in anger, "He's better than Qin Er Shi!"

It took more than a decade to squander his entire fortune!

Moreover, he had five sons in total. His eldest son, Yang Yong, lived a life of extravagance and had just been deposed as crown prince by him.

Yang Guang, the second son, is a definite actor, a fake.

The third son, Yang Jun, had been poisoned to death by his own wife several months earlier.

The fourth son, Yang Xiu, was a person who indulged in extravagance and was arrogant and domineering.

Yang Jian had a headache. He clenched his right fist and gently tapped his forehead, trying to find a better solution.

That leaves only the fifth son, Yang Liang, who was his most beloved son.

Yang Jian doted on this youngest son, granting him significant military power in Bingzhou in the north, giving him control over most of the military forces in the north.

Moreover, Yang Liang was kind and generous, but there was one thing that displeased Yang Jian.

Yang Liang lacked strategic acumen, was easily swayed, and lacked the decisiveness expected of an emperor, falling far short of Li Shimin.

But there's nothing we can do about it. Compared to others, he's already made the best choice. Anyway, he won't squander it all in just over ten years.

Yang Jian made up his mind; he would summon Yang Liang back to the capital and make him crown prince.

He looked at his wife, who was holding Li Shimin with obvious affection.

As expected of someone with the bearing of a dragon and phoenix, even as an infant, she could evoke a surge of maternal instinct in Dugu Jialuo.

However, Yang Jian wanted to add another layer of protection for the Sui Dynasty.

"Nephew"

Li Yuan shuddered and called me nephew, which meant it was a conversation between family members?

His anxiety finally subsided somewhat.

"I really like Shimin. Look at your aunt, she's holding him and won't let go."

"I've always felt I have too few sons. From now on, Shimin will stay in the palace!"

Yang Jian spoke earnestly and sincerely.

"Remember to take good care of my grand-nephew, Li Jiancheng!"

"He will inherit your title of Duke of Tang in the future."

Li Yuan was struck dumb. What did this mean?

Next time they meet, he'll have to call his own son his cousin?

Li Yuan quickly realized that he couldn't change anything, and that this was already the best outcome for him.

The eldest and second sons will never kill each other like they did in the sky.

"oops!!!"

Dugu Jialuo cried out in alarm, and Yang Jian, looking tense, quickly went over.

"What happened?"

Dugu Jialuo looked helpless, her chest soaked with sweat.

"Shimin peed..."

In the twentieth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, an imperial edict was issued from the palace and spread throughout the Sui Dynasty.

"My fifth son, Yang Liang, the Prince of Han, is kind and generous, and possesses a wise and discerning demeanor. He is suitable to reside in the Eastern Palace and is hereby established as the Crown Prince!"

In addition, news has spread from the Tang State Duke's mansion that his second son, who was not yet one year old, suddenly died of a violent illness.

Yang Jian announced some good news to the court and the public: Empress Dugu, at over fifty years old, had given birth to a son. Yang Jian claimed that he had not announced it to his officials immediately in order to protect the unborn child.

Thus, the Sui Dynasty welcomed its sixth prince, Yang Dun, whose childhood name was Shimin.

The Tang Dynasty after the An Lushan Rebellion

Many court officials wore sorrowful expressions and wept bitterly as they faced the sky.

They deeply missed Emperor Taizong and longed to return to the Tang Dynasty under his rule.

Military governors (jiedushi) seized control of their own territories, disobeyed orders from the central government, and even launched military campaigns against the imperial court.

Foreign tribes invaded one after another, border wars raged, and even the capital, Chang'an, was breached several times.

Eunuchs held absolute power, arbitrarily deposing and installing emperors, and controlling all government affairs. Some even went so far as to poison and murder the emperor.

"What on earth happened to the Tang Dynasty?!"

"How did our Great Tang Dynasty become like this?"

"Your Majesty, Emperor Taizong, please save the Tang Dynasty!!"

A large crowd surged in front of Zhaoling, the mausoleum of Emperor Taizong of Tang. At a glance,

It wasn't just officials in their robes; there were many more ragged, emaciated commoners.

He knelt on the ground and wailed, pouring out his grief in his cries.

The cries coalesced into a massive sonic wave, piercing through the crowd, shattering the white clouds floating above, and heading straight for Zhaoling Mausoleum.

The Zhaoling Mausoleum is planted with many cypress trees, which have grown into towering trees over the past hundred years.

A cry was heard, and a gentle breeze blew through the gaps in the leaves, causing the leaves to whimper like a human.

Li Shimin killed while crying, and historically, the Second Princess was indeed a crybaby.

Li Shimin only regretted killing Li Jiancheng; as for Li Yuanji, he only regretted not having ended his life himself.

Follow-up comment: If he hadn't killed Li Jiancheng, Li Jiancheng would have killed him first after ascending the throne. He just wanted to live; what did he do wrong?

Follow-up comment: Li Shimin: Hehe, I must survive!!

[Actually, Li Jiancheng was quite outstanding compared to ordinary emperors, but compared to Li Shimin, he was nothing, especially with Li Yuanji by his side, whose character was extremely poor.]

What did I ever do to you?!

During the Wude era, Li Yuanji suddenly kicked over the wine table in front of him and threw the wine cup in his hand fiercely into the sky.

He had already broken down; the imagery on the screen described Li Shimin as having the bearing of a dragon and phoenix, and the appearance of a god, showering him with endless praise.

It's said that Li Jiancheng, the eldest brother, was quite capable, but unfortunately, he met Li Shimin.

Why is it that when it comes to him, all you say is "extremely bad character"?

Li Shimin wiped the wine that had splashed onto his face from Li Yuanji's thrown wine cup, looking extremely disgusted.

"His character is absolutely terrible!"

Li Jiancheng wiped the wine that had splashed on him and, unusually, nodded in agreement with Li Shimin.

[First line: Emperor Gaozu lacked a crown prince, Emperor Shimin had no elder brother; Second line: Emperor Hongwu lost his eldest son, Emperor Di had no great nephew; Horizontal scroll: Father, you're not dead!]

Follow-up comment: First line: At Xuanwu Gate, the winner becomes the crown prince; Second line: At Xuanwu Lake, the winner becomes the emperor; Horizontal scroll: Succession.

Actually, Li Shimin was quite stingy. He only made his father the Retired Emperor. Look at Zhu Di, who personally added four years to his father's lifespan. Did Li Shimin have that kind of ability?

It hardened, its fist hardened.

Both Li Shimin and Zhu Di hardened their fists.

Can't those two understand?

How many emperors have usurped the throne throughout Chinese history? Why single out these two?