However, after only half a year, Emperor Taizong personally created a storm of broken monuments and broken marriages. He ordered the dissolution of the engagement between Princess Hengshan and Wei Zhi's eldest son Wei Shuyu, and smashed Wei Zhi's tombstone. This move not only shocked the ruling and opposition parties, but also left a sample of sighs for future generations.
Why did Emperor Taizong do this?
According to records, during his lifetime, he supported Prince Li Chenggan, and highly recommended former assistant minister Du Zhongshu and official department minister Hou. However, after Wei Zhi's death, Li Chenggan ventured to launch the second Xuanwumen Rebellion, vying for the throne, but failed. Du and Hou are princelings. One of them was demoted and the other was killed. Emperor Taizong believed that both of them were recommended by Wei Zhi, so he suspected that Wei Zhi was also involved in nepotism. At this time, Chu Suiliang, who had always been highly valued by Wei Zhi, saw that the situation was wrong and took the initiative to report that Wei Zhi had shown this letter to the emperor before his death. After hearing this, Emperor Taizong became even more angry, and finally personally knocked down the Wei Zhi Monument.
Some scholars believe that the reason why Emperor Taizong was so angry with Wei Zhi was related to the Shandong aristocrats and Guanlong Group at that time. At that time, Wei Zhi's duty was to contact and monitor Shandong aristocrats and Guanlong Group, so as to achieve the purpose of separating and manipulating major political groups. Du Weixiang, who was born in Shengmen, Shandong Province, was recommended, and Hou Weiwei, a military commander belonging to Guanlong Group, was also recommended, which was equivalent to bringing together social forces from the East and the West.
Wei Zhi's behavior not only exceeded the authority granted by Emperor Taizong, but also was suspected of joining forces to seek power, which Emperor Taizong could not tolerate. Even after the death of Wei Zhi, Emperor Taizong took extreme measures.
After more than half a year, Emperor Taizong decided to fight Goguryeo and boasted that it was nonsense for Wei Zhi to persuade him not to crusade against Goguryeo before his death. Soon, Emperor Taizong was ashamed of his failure in sending troops and told his ministers that if Wei Zhi were here, he would never let me make such a mistake. After introspection, he ordered the tombstone of Wei Zhi to be rebuilt, so that Wei Zhi's son could inherit the title of Wang Wei.
It seems that although the monarch and his subjects had a sad break after the separation of Yin and Yang, they finally got a happy ending because of the repentance of Emperor Taizong. However, are these recorded in the history books consistent with the facts?