The terrain of Xuanwu Gate is actually quite unique.
It is the northernmost point of the imperial palace and, by extension, Changan City, and the northern side of Changan abuts a valley, where the terrain rises sharply at Xuanwu Gate.
If one were to occupy it, they could launch deadly charges or construct siege works from a position of altitude to hurl boulders directly into the imperial palace.
Therefore, in the era of cold weapons, Xuanwu Gate was the greatest vulnerability of the imperial palace.
When Li Shimin initiated the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he most likely bore this in mind.
Naturally, precisely because of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, this area is one that officials and generals of Great Tang would usually avoid at all costs.
Even in today's Great Tang, the generals stationed here are almost always the emperor's most trusted confidants!
