Why did Tang Suzong (Hengli) dare to welcome Xuanzong (Li Longji) back after he proclaimed himself emperor?

Tang Xuanzong experienced ups and downs in his life. In his hands, the Tang Dynasty re-entered the Zhongxing Dynasty. But the Tang dynasty was also in his hands, and it fell into civil strife, from prosperity to decline. So the world's evaluation of him is seriously polarized. After Mayi changed hands, the main power was gradually mastered by his son Tang Suzong.

But after Tang Suzong proclaimed himself emperor, he dared to take Xuanzong back. In addition to his affection for his father and son, he also needs to release the warm scene of fatherly love and filial piety to the outside world. If you don't welcome Emperor Xuanzong back, there will be an embarrassing situation for two emperors in the Tang Dynasty, which is extremely unfavorable to the rule of Tang Suzong.

Tang Suzong could not tolerate two emperors in the Tang Dynasty. Tang Suzong's father, Li Longji, was a great emperor. He led Datang back to Zhongxing, but because of him, Datang experienced an Anshi Rebellion and went downhill completely. Moreover, in the early days of the Anshi Rebellion, if it were not for the blind operation of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, the army of the Tang Dynasty would not have suffered such a tragic defeat in Tongguan.

Therefore, Tang Xuanzong led the minister of civil and military affairs to leave Chang 'an for Shu, which actually lost the hearts of the people. This is also the result of the sudden death of Yang and Yang Guifei when Tang Xuanzong was unable to control the troops around him during the coup in Mayiyi. In fact, at that time, the emperor's authority of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty had been swept away, and all ministers and generals also saw the weakness and powerlessness of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty.

In this case, Tang Suzong succeeded to the throne, although as a human being, it was disrespectful to his father to succeed in a place far away from Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. But facing the temptation of the throne, what is the affection between father and son? However, a country can't have two monarchs, and even its own father can't make an exception and do things that are detrimental to its rule. If Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty is regarded as the emperor's father, it is obviously beneficial to his own rule, and the whole Tang Dynasty will not fall into the dilemma of two emperors.

In order to publicize, it creates a warm feeling of fatherly love and filial piety for the outside world. In essence, Tang Suzong directly succeeded to the throne in Lingwu, Gansu Province without the permission of Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, which was tantamount to directly hitting Xuanzong in the face. However, after the Ma Yiyi incident, the prestige of Tang Xuanzong was swept away. For Tang Suzong, who was supported by the army and some ministers, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty had no capital to confront him.

And Tang Suzong also wants to take care of his father's face, so he must make a suitable arrangement for his father. Moreover, every king in ancient times must follow the rules of feudal etiquette when he ascended the throne to symbolize that he is a qualified dynasty ruler, among which filial piety is the most important. Therefore, whether to show his filial piety to the world or to show that he had a harmonious relationship with Emperor Taizong and Emperor Xuanzong at that time, Tang Suzong had to take back Emperor Xuanzong, who had passively become Emperor Taizong.

The recovery of Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty also represents the restoration of the central government's rule over the whole country in the Tang Dynasty. Tang Suzong's greatest achievement was the recovery of Chang 'an and Luoyang, which nominally symbolized that the Anshi Rebellion was gradually extinguished by the central government of the Tang Dynasty. For Tang Suzong, who just succeeded to the throne not long ago, this is a great contribution. Tang Xuanzong was driven out of Chang 'an by the Anshi Rebellion, so can he be greater than his father Tang Xuanzong?

Therefore, taking Xuanzong back to Chang 'an from Shu not only symbolizes the end of the Anshi Rebellion, but also represents the gradual restoration of the central government's rule over the whole country in the Tang Dynasty. It also represents that Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty obeyed his own arrangement, which is a positive signal for the establishment of his dominant position and the extension of kingship.

Therefore, Tang Suzong had to take back his father, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, whether out of filial piety or for the sake of consolidating the kingship. Putting Emperor Tai Shang in Shu, where the mountain is high and the emperor is far away, can't effectively monitor his every move. Although Tang Xuanzong may not have the idea and strength to do something, it always makes Tang Suzong feel uneasy.

Then take your father back, make yourself a dutiful son, let the world see an emperor who respects his father, and let his father return to Chang 'an before he dies. Why not do it?