The Upheaval at Xuanwu Men

In the summer of the year 618, Li Yuan made himself the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty and was called Tang Gaozu.

During Li Yuan's rein, Li Shimin assisted his father to conquer Luo Yang and to oppress or crumble all kinds of peasant rebels. Li Shimin helped to reunite China altogether. For his competence and high prestige, his brothers and assistant Wei Zhi conspired to do away with him.

Thus, not long after, Li Shimin's brothers started to put their plans into action. They tried posion as well as many other methods. But each time they failed. Seeing the situation, Li Shimin knew that he had to take action first before he was murdered. Thus, the same evening, Li Shimin made a complaint against his brothers to Tang Gaozu. Tang Gaozu ask ed them to go to the palace the next day.

The next morning, Shimin laid some soliders low around XuanWu Men. Some time later, his brothers arrived as Shimin hurried towards XuanWu Men. One of his brother,Yuan Ji turned around and wanted to assassinate Li Shimin, yet was too nervous to pull the bow. Li Shimin, quick to see the situation, shot an arrow at his other brother, Jian Cheng, who soon fell down. Soldiers from the palaces of these three princes were engaged in fighting. Because of this event, out of option, Tang Gaozu had to listen to the other officials and decided to charge against Jian Cheng and Yuan Ji. In the same year, Tang Gaozu gave his seat to Li Shimin, Li Shimin was crowned, and this is Tang TaiZong.